
3261 Jaguar XJ6
LIVING WITH YOUR JAGUAR XJ6
IntroductionPage 0•4
Notes for UK readersPage 0•4
Safety first!Page 0•5
Roadside repairs
IntroductionPage 0•6
If your car won’t startPage 0•6
Jump startingPage 0•7
Wheel changingPage 0•8
Identifying leaksPage 0•9
TowingPage 0•9
Weekly checks
IntroductionPage 0•10
Underbonnet check points Page 0•10
Engine oil levelPage 0•11
Coolant levelPage 0•11
Brake fluid levelPage 0•12
Screen washer fluid level Page 0•12
Power steering fluid level Page 0•13
Wiper bladesPage 0•13
Tyre condition and pressure Page 0•14
BatteryPage 0•15
Bulbs and fusesPage 0•15
Lubricants, fluids and tyre pressuresPage 0•16
MAINTENANCE
Routine maintenance and servicingPage 1•1
Servicing specificationsPage 1•2
Maintenance schedulePage 1•3
Maintenance procedures Page 1•6
Contents

These models are equipped with dual overhead cam in-line six-
cylinder engines. The engines feature a computer-controlled ignition
system and electronic fuel injection. Transmissions are a four-speed
automatic equipped with a lock-up torque converter. The transmission
is mounted to the back of the engine, and power is transmitted to the
fully independent rear axle through a two-piece propshaft. The
differential is bolted solidly to a frame crossmember and drives the
wheels through driveshafts equipped with inner and outer U-joints.
The front suspension is fitted with upper and lower control arms, coil
springs and shock absorbers. The rear suspension is an independent
type suspension which also have coil spring/shock absorber
assemblies and a lower control arm. The rear driveshaft acts as the
upper control arm.
Power-assisted Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) with four-wheel disc
brakes are standard equipment on all Jaguar XJ6 models covered in
this manual. Power rack-and-pinion steering is also standard
equipment.
Your Jaguar manual
The aim of this manual is to help you get the best value from your
vehicle. It can do so in several ways. It can help you decide what work
must be done (even should you choose to get it done by a garage). It
will also provide information on routine maintenance and servicing, and
give a logical course of action and diagnosis when random faults
occur. However, it is hoped that you will use the manual by tackling the
work yourself. On simpler jobs it may even be quicker than booking the
car into a garage and going there twice, to leave and collect it. Perhaps
most important, a lot of money can be saved by avoiding the costs a
garage must charge to cover its labour and overheads.
The manual has drawings and descriptions to show the function of
the various components so that their layout can be understood. Tasks
are described and photographed in a clear step-by-step sequence.
Notes for UK readers
Because this manual was originally written in the US, its layout
differs from our UK-originated manuals. The preliminary and reference
sections have been re-written specifically for the UK market, and the
maintenance schedule has been amended to suit UK vehicles.
However, it will be noticed that some references to componentsremain in the US style; the UK equivalent of US components and
various other US words is given in the Section headed “Use of
English”. It should be remembered that the project vehicle used in the
main Chapters of this manual was a left-hand drive US model;
therefore, the position of the steering wheel, steering column and
pedals, etc. will be on the opposite side of the vehicle on UK models.
References to “right” and “left” will need to be considered carefully to
decide which applies to UK models (eg the headlight dipped beams
should be adjusted to dip to the left of the headlight vertical line
described in Chapter 12, instead of to the right on US models). In other
instances, no reference is made to the location of a particular item, but
that item may be located on the opposite side of the vehicle on UK
models. Reference to the underbonnet photos at the start of Chapter 1
will give the reader the location of the engine compartment
components on UK models.
All specifications in the main Chapters of the manual appear in
Imperial form; the equivalent metric values can be calculated using the
“Conversion factors”page.
The only other major difference between UK and US models is in the
level of emission control equipment fitted to the vehicle. To meet the
strict emission standards present in the US, all vehicles for that market
are fitted with various emission control systems (see Chapter 6), most
of which are not fitted to the corresponding UK model, especially so on
early models. Therefore, a lot of the information contained in Chapter 6
is not applicable to UK models.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to Jean Preis, Rich Wilson and Ray Marcuse of
Silver Star Jaguar (Thousand Oaks, CA), Rick Calaci of Conejo Imports
(Newbury Park, CA) and Jim Strohmeier and Jonathan Lund of British
Motor Cars (Thousand Oaks, CA), for providing valuable technical
information. Technical writers who contributed to this project include
Jeff Kibler, Robert Maddox and Jay Storer.
We take great pride in the accuracy of information given in this
manual, but vehicle manufacturers make alterations and design
changes during the production run of a particular vehicle of which
they do not inform us. No liability can be accepted by the authors
or publishers for loss, damage or injury caused by any errors in, or
omissions from, the information given.
0•4Introduction
3261 Jaguar XJ6
Haynes mechanic, author and photographer with 1989 Jaguar XJ6

3261 Jaguar XJ6
0•6Roadside repairs
The following pages are intended to help in dealing with
common roadside emergencies and breakdowns. You will find
more detailed fault finding information at the back of the
manual, and repair information in the main chapters.
If your car won’t start
and the starter motor
doesn’t turn
MIf it’s a model with automatic transmission, make sure the
selector is in ‘P’ or ‘N’.
MOpen the bonnet and make sure that the battery terminals
are clean and tight.
MSwitch on the headlights and try to start the engine. If the
headlights go very dim when you’re trying to start, the
battery is probably flat. Get out of trouble by jump starting
(see next page) using a friend’s car.
If your car won’t start
even though the starter
motor turns as normal
MIs there fuel in the tank?
MIs there moisture on electrical components under the
bonnet? Switch off the ignition, then wipe off any obvious
dampness with a dry cloth. Spray a water-repellent aerosol
product (WD-40 or equivalent) on ignition and fuel system
electrical connectors like those shown in the photos.
Pay special attention to the ignition coil wiring connector
and HT leads.
Check the condition and security of the
battery connections.ACheck that the spark plug HT leads are
securely connected by pushing them onto
the plugs and distributorery connections.BCheck that the HT leads and wiring
connectors are securely connected to
the ignition coil.C
Check that the wiring connectors are
securely connected to the injectors and
various fuel system sensors and switches.D
Check that electrical connections are secure (with the ignition switched off) and spray them
with a water dispersant spray like WD40 if you suspect a problem due to damp

3261 Jaguar XJ6
Roadside repairs0•9
When all else fails, you may find yourself
having to get a tow home – or of course you
may be helping somebody else. Long-distance
recovery should only be done by a garage or
breakdown service. For shorter distances, DIY
towing using another car is easy enough, but
observe the following points:
MUse a proper tow-rope – they are not
expensive. The vehicle being towed must
display an ‘ON TOW’ sign in its rear window.
MAlways turn the ignition key to the ‘on’
position when the vehicle is being towed, so
that the steering lock is released, and that the
direction indicator and brake lights will work.
MOnly attach the tow-rope to the towing
eyes provided. On some models with energy-
absorbing bumpers there are no front towing
eyes; on these vehicles the tow-rope shouldbe attached around the rear arm of the lower
control arm so that the rope passes on the
inside of the coil spring.
MBefore being towed, release the handbrake
and select neutral on the transmission.
MNote that greater-than-usual pedal
pressure will be required to operate the
brakes, since the vacuum servo unit is only
operational with the engine running.
MOn models with power steering, greater-
than-usual steering effort will also be required.
MThe driver of the car being towed must
keep the tow-rope taut at all times to avoid
snatching.
MMake sure that both drivers know the route
before setting off.
MOnly drive at moderate speeds and keep
the distance towed to a minimum. Drivesmoothly and allow plenty of time for slowing
down at junctions.
MOn models with automatic transmission,
special precautions apply. If in doubt, do not
tow, or transmission damage may result.
Caution: On models with automatic
transmission, if the vehicle is to be towed
with its rear wheels on the ground, and
extra 1.7 litres of fluid should be added to
the transmission, prior to towing (this extra
fluid must be drained before driving the
vehicle). Even with the extra fluid added to
the transmission, do not tow the vehicle at
speeds in excess of 30 mph (50 kmh) or for
a distance of greater than 15 miles (25 km).
If towing speed/distance are to exceed
these limits, then the vehicle must be
towed with its rear wheels off the ground.
Towing
Puddles on the garage floor or drive, or
obvious wetness under the bonnet or
underneath the car, suggest a leak that needs
investigating. It can sometimes be difficult to
decide where the leak is coming from,
especially if the engine bay is very dirty
already. Leaking oil or fluid can also be blown
rearwards by the passage of air under the car,
giving a false impression of where the
problem lies.Warning: Most automotive oils
and fluids are poisonous. Wash
them off skin, and change out of
contaminated clothing, without
delay.The smell of a fluid leaking
from the car may provide a
clue to what’s leaking. Some
fluids are distinctively
coloured. It may help to clean the car and
to park it over some clean paper as an
aid to locating the source of the leak.
Remember that some leaks may only
occur while the engine is running.
Sump oil Gearbox oil
Brake fluid
Power steering fluid
Oil from filter
Antifreeze
Engine oil may leak from the drain plug......or from the base of the oil filter.
Leaking antifreeze often leaves a crystalline
deposit like this.Gearbox oil can leak from the seals at the
inboard ends of the driveshafts.
A leak occurring at a wheel is almost
certainly brake fluid.Power steering fluid may leak from the pipe
connectors on the steering rack.

3261 Jaguar XJ6
0•10Weekly checks
There are some very simple checks which
need only take a few minutes to carry out, but
which could save you a lot of inconvenience
and expense.
These "Weekly checks" require no great skill
or special tools, and the small amount of time
they take to perform could prove to be very
well spent, for example;MKeeping an eye on tyre condition and
pressures, will not only help to stop them
wearing out prematurely, but could also save
your life.
M
Many breakdowns are caused by electrical
problems. Battery-related faults are particularly
common, and a quick check on a regular basis
will often prevent the majority of
these.MIf your car develops a brake fluid leak, the
first time you might know about it is when
your brakes don't work properly. Checking
the level regularly will give advance warning of
this kind of problem.
MIf the oil or coolant levels run low, the cost
of repairing any engine damage will be far
greater than fixing the leak, for example.
Introduction
§3.6 litre engine
(others similar)
Viewed from right-hand side
AEngine oil level dipstick
BEngine oil filler cap
CCoolant expansion tank
DBrake fluid reservoir
EScreen washer fluid reservoir
FBattery
GPower steering fluid reservoir
Underbonnet check points

3261 Jaguar XJ6
Weekly checks0•11
Engine oil level
Before you start
4Make sure that your car is on level ground.
4Check the oil level before the car is driven,
or at least 5 minutes after the engine has been
switched off.
The correct oilModern engines place great demands on their
oil. It is very important that the correct oil for
your car is used (See “Lubricants, fluids and
tyre pressures”).
Car care
l If you have to add oil frequently, you should
check whether you have any oil leaks. Place
some clean paper under the car overnight,
and check for stains in the morning. If there
are no leaks, the engine may be burning oil
(see “Fault finding”).
lAlways maintain the level between the
upper and lower dipstick marks (see photo 3).
If the level is too low severe engine damage
may occur. Oil seal failure may result if the
engine is overfilled by adding too much oil.
If the oil level is checked
immediately after driving the
vehicle, some of the oil will
remain in the upper engine
components, resulting in an inaccurate
reading on the dipstick!
The dipstick is located at the rear of the
engine on the left-hand side (see “Under-
bonnet check points” on page 0•10 for
exact location). Withdraw the dipstick.Using a clean rag or paper towel remove
all oil from the dipstick. Insert the clean
dipstick into the tube as far as it will go,
then withdraw it again.
Note the oil level on the end of the
dipstick which should be between the
upper and lower marks. The “M” mark is
for use when checking the oil level after the
vehicle has been standing overnight; in this
case the oil level should be between the “M”
and upper level markings.Oil is added through the filler cap.
Unscrew the cap and top-up the level; a
funnel may help to reduce spillage. Add
the oil slowly, checking the level on the dipstick
often. Don’t overfill (see “Car care” left).
12
34
Warning: DO NOT attempt to
remove the expansion tank
pressure cap when the engine
is hot, as there is a very great
risk of scalding. Do not leave
open containers of coolant
about, as it is poisonous.
Car care
lAdding coolant should not be necessary on
a regular basis. If frequent topping-up is
required, it is likely there is a leak. Check the
radiator, all hoses and joint faces for signs of
staining or wetness, and rectify as necessary.
lIt is important that antifreeze is used in the
cooling system all year round, not just during
the winter months. Don’t top-up with water
alone, as the antifreeze will become too
diluted.
Coolant level
The coolant level should be checked only
with the engine cold. The level is checked
in the expansion tank on the left-hand
side of the engine compartment. Remove the
expansion tank pressure cap and check that
the coolant level is upto the base of filler neck.If topping up is necessary, add a mixture
of water and antifreeze to the expansion
tank until the coolant level is upto the
base of the filler neck. Once the level is
correct, securely refit the pressure cap.12

1•4Maintenance - component location
3261 Jaguar XJ6
1 Battery
2 Oil filler cap
3 Engine oil dipstick (not visible)
4 Automatic transmission
dipstick (not visible)
5 Brake fluid reservoir
6 Coolant reservoir
(expansion tank)
7 Air cleaner housing
8 Upper radiator hose
9 Spark plugs
10 Distributor
11 Windscreen washer fluid
reservoir
12 Power hydraulic system fluid
reservoir
13 Power steering fluid reservoir
Underbonnet view from the left-hand side of the vehicle Underbonnet view from the right-hand side of the vehicle
1 Battery
2 Oil filler cap
3 Engine oil dipstick (not visible)
4 Automatic transmission
dipstick (not visible)
5 Brake fluid reservoir
6 Coolant reservoir (expansion
tank)
7 Air cleaner housing
8 Upper radiator hose
9 Spark plugs
10 Distributor
11 Windscreen washer fluid
reservoir
12 Power hydraulic system fluid
reservoir
13 Power steering fluid reservoir

exhaust components will be warm during the
actual work, so try to anticipate any potential
problems before the engine and accessories
are hot.
5Park the vehicle on a level spot. Start the
engine and allow it to reach its normal
operating temperature (the needle on the
temperature gauge should be at least above
the bottom mark). Warm oil and contaminates
will flow out more easily. Turn off the engine
when it’s warmed up. Remove the oil filler cap
located next to the valve cover.
6Raise the vehicle and support it on axle
stands.
Warning: To avoid personal
injury, never get beneath the
vehicle when it is supported by
only by a jack. The jack provided
with your vehicle is designed solely for
raising the vehicle to remove and replace
the wheels. Always use axle stands to
support the vehicle when it becomes
necessary to place your body underneath
the vehicle.
7Being careful not to touch the hot exhaust
components, place the drain pan under the
drain plug in the bottom of the pan and
remove the plug (see illustration). You may
want to wear gloves while unscrewing the
plug the final few turns if the engine is really
hot.
8Allow the old oil to drain into the pan. It may
be necessary to move the pan farther under
the engine as the oil flow slows to a trickle.
Inspect the old oil for the presence of metal
shavings and chips.
9After all the oil has drained, wipe off the
drain plug with a clean rag. Even minute metal
particles clinging to the plug would
immediately contaminate the new oil.
10Clean the area around the drain plug
opening, refit the plug and tighten it securely,
but do not strip the threads.
11Move the drain pan into position under the
oil filter.
12Remove all tools, rags, etc. from under
the vehicle, being careful not to spill the oil in
the drain pan, then lower the vehicle.
13Loosen the oil filter (see illustration)by
turning it anti-clockwise with the filter wrench.
Any standard filter wrench should work. Oncethe filter is loose, use your hands to unscrew
it from the block. Just as the filter comes
away from the block, immediately tilt the open
end up to prevent the oil inside the filter from
spilling out.
Warning: The engine exhaust
pipes may still be hot, so be
careful.
14With a clean rag, wipe off the mounting
surface on the block. If a residue of old oil is
allowed to remain, it will smoke when the
block is heated up. It will also prevent the new
filter from seating properly. Also make sure
that the none of the old gasket remains stuck
to the mounting surface. It can be removed
with a scraper if necessary.
15Compare the old filter with the new one to
make sure they are the same type. Smear
some engine oil on the rubber gasket of the
new filter and screw it into place (see
illustration). Because over-tightening the
filter will damage the gasket, do not use
a filter wrench to tighten the filter. Tighten it by
hand until the gasket contacts the seating
surface. Then seat the filter by giving it an
additional 3/4-turn.
16Add new oil to the engine through the oil
filler cap next to the valve cover. Use a spout
or funnel to prevent oil from spilling onto the
top of the engine. Pour three litres of fresh oil
into the engine. Wait a few minutes to allow
the oil to drain into the pan, then check the
level on the oil dipstick (see “Weekly checks”).
If the oil level is at or near the H mark, refit the
filler cap hand tight, start the engine and allow
the new oil to circulate.
17Allow the engine to run for about a minute.
While the engine is running, look under the
vehicle and check for leaks at the sump drain
plug and around the oil filter. If either isleaking, stop the engine and tighten the plug
or filter slightly.
18Wait a few minutes to allow the oil to
trickle down into the pan, then recheck the
level on the dipstick and, if necessary, add
enough oil to bring the level to the H mark.
19During the first few trips after an oil
change, make it a point to check frequently
for leaks and proper oil level.
20The old oil drained from the engine cannot
be reused in its present state and should be
disposed of. Check with your local authority,
or with a local garage to see whether they will
accept the oil for recycling. Don’tpour used
oil into drains or onto the ground. After the oil
has cooled, it can be drained into a suitable
container (capped plastic jugs, topped
bottles, etc.) for transport to an approved
disposal site.
4 Spark plug check
2
1Spark plug renewal requires a spark plug
socket which fits onto a ratchet spanner. This
socket is lined with a rubber grommet to
protect the porcelain insulator of the spark
plug and to hold the plug while you insert it
into the spark plug hole. You will also need a
wire-type feeler gauge to check and adjust
the spark plug gap and a torque wrench to
tighten the new plugs to the specified torque
(see illustration).
2If you are replacing the plugs, purchase the
new plugs, adjust them to the proper gap and
then replace each plug one at a time. Note:
When buying new spark plugs, it’s essential
that you obtain the correct plugs for your
specific vehicle. This information can be found
in the Specifications Section at the beginning
of this Chapter, on the Vehicle Emissions
Control Information (VECI) label located on the
underside of the bonnet (where fitted)or in the
owner’s manual. If these sources specify
different plugs, purchase the spark plug type
specified on the VECI label because that
information is provided specifically for your
engine.
Every 7500 miles or 6 months 1•7
1
3.7 The oil drain plug (arrowed) is located
at the rear of the sump - use a ring
spanner or socket to remove it3.13 The oil filter is located on the left side
of the engine - use a filter wrench for
removal (tighten the new filter by hand)3.15 Lubricate the oil filter gasket with
clean engine oil before refitting the filter
3261 Jaguar XJ6
Note: It is
antisocial and
illegal to dump oil
down the drain.
To find the
location of your
local oil recycling
bank, call this
number free.