Page 2024 of 2490

located behind the trunk lid badge.
Occupant Restraints
Inertia reel seat belts with electronically controlled pre-tensioners are installed at the front seats. Supplementary occupant
restraint is provided for driver and front seat passenger by front airbags, and side air bags installed in the outer wing of
each front seat. Standard inertia reel type belts are fitted to all three rear seat positions. The front seat belts are provide d
with height adjuster units which are attached one to each of the 'B' posts. Where emergency locking retractor/automatic
locking retractor seat belts are provided, the belts have two operating modes.The inertia reel mode with emergency locking
retractor is for adult passenge r use only and operates to allow the occupant some freedom of tors o movement under normal
travel conditions.. The static reel mode which prevents belt payout and must be used when a ch ild seat is installed, is
activated by fully extending the belt to engage the ratchet me chanism,.then releasing the belt. Operation of the ratchet will
then be felt and the belt w ill become locked in that position. To revert to in ertia reel (adult passenger) mode, pay the belt
back into the reel to th e fully retracted position.
Body Structure
The XJ8 sedan body is produced in monocoque standard and lo ng wheelbase form. 70% of the body panels are zinc coated
to achieve optimum corrosion protection and a further 8% are constructed in high st rength steels to provide high torsional
strength and passenger impact protection.
Doors
Each front and rear door consists of a we lded, mild steel inner frame and an outer panel. The outer panel is welded to the
waist rail and cheater of the inner frame, then bonded and clinched to fo rm the door assembly. Cosmetic PVC bead is
applied to all clinch joints
Hood
The hood consists of one piece inner an d outer panels clinched and bonded toge ther, with cosmetic bead PVC sealant
applied to all clinch joints. The hood pivo ts at the front on two hinges each secured by bolts to the hood front underside and
the BIW front upper crossmember. Two gas struts secured to the hood by pi vot pins and snap-on couplings, support the
hood in the open position.
Trunk
The trunk lid is of similar construction to the hood, consisting of inner and outer panels clinched and bonded together and
PVC bead sealed. The trunk accommodates the spare wheel, the battery, an electrical carrier containing electrical fuses,
relays and modules and where premium ICE is fitted, a compac t disc auto-changer mounted on body bracketry. Carpet
covered trims line the trunk sides and front inner panel and a po lyurethane rear finisher is secured to the rear panel by
spring clips and fir tree fasteners.
B and C Post Reinforcement
Page 2038 of 2490

Body Closures - Door
Removal and Installation
Removal
Installation
WARNING: FOLLOWING REPAIR OR RENEWAL OF A FRONT DOOR, IT MUST BE ENSURED THAT A SIDE AIRBAG
WARNING LABEL IS AFFIXED TO THE REAR FACE OF THE DOOR.
• NOTE: The hinges are set during manufacture to achieve correct door fitment. This setting should on ly require adjustment
in the event of damage at the body or door hinge locations. 1.
Remove battery cover, and di sconnect ground cable from
battery terminal. Refer to 86.15.19.
2. Apply protective masking tape to overlap front edge of door.
3. Fully open door, withdraw harness gaiter from 'A' post,
disconnect multiplugs and posi tion them clear of 'A' post
aperture.
4. Remove door.
1. Slacken and remove the two screws securing check
arm to 'A' post and fully retract check arm into
door.
2. Slacken, remove and di scard hinge locking screws.
3. With assistance, lift d oor to clear hinge pins and
remove door from vehicle exercising care to avoid
damaging paintwork.
1. Using a thread chaser or gr ooved slave bolt, remove any
residual thread locking compound from locking screw locations.
Page 2122 of 2490

Seating - Front Seat
Removal and Installation
Removal
1. Move the seat fully rearward and slacken and remove the
front securing bolts.
2. Move steering wheel to fully forward position.
3. Ensure that squab is fully upright, then move the seat fully
forward.
4. WARNING: FOLLOWING DISCONNECTION OF THE
BATTERY A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE MINUTE MUST BE
ALLOWED TO ELAPSE BEFORE WORKING ON A FRONT SEAT WITH
A SIDE AIRBAG FITTED.
Remove battery cover and disc onnect ground cable from
battery terminal. Refer to 86.15.19.
5. Remove the slider covers an d slacken and remove the two
rear securing bolts.
6. Supporting and positioning the seat for access, disconnect
multiplugs.
Disconnect side air bag harness multiplug.
Release from retaining brackets and disconnect seat
harness multiplugs.
Disconnect seat control module harness multiplug.
Cut through and remove any ti es securing harnesses to
seat frame.
7. NOTE: Securing bolt remains captive with belt anchor.
Slacken and remove seat be lt anchor securing bolt.
Page 2123 of 2490
Installation
8. Exercising care to avoid damagi ng side air bag, remove seat
from vehicle.
1. Position seat in vehicle, align seatbelt anchor and fit and
tighten seat belt securing bolt.
2. Supporting seat for access, co nnect seat and side airbag
harness multiplugs and secure harnesses to seat frame using
new ties.
3. Fit, but do not fully tigh ten rear securing bolts.
4. Connect ground cable to battery terminal and fit battery cover.
Refer to 86.15.15.
5. Position seat fully rearward an d fit and tighten front securing
bolts
6. Position seat fully forward, full y tighten rear securing bolts and
fit slider covers.
7. Return seat to original position.
Page 2127 of 2490
Seating - Front Seat Backrest Cover
Removal and Installation
Removal
1. WARNING: FOLLOWING DISCONNECTION OF THE
BATTERY A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE MINUTE MUST BE
ALLOWED TO ELAPSE BEFORE WORKING ON A FRONT SEAT WITH
A SIDE AIRBAG FITTED.
Remove battery cover and disc onnect ground cable from
battery terminal. Refer to 86.15.19.
2. Remove front seat for ac cess. Refer to 76.70.01.
3. Remove Seat back finisher. Refer to 76.70.09.
4. Remove front seat headrest.
5. Release the squab cover to seat frame securing strips (6 on
Vanden Plas models)
6. Release the squab cover to seat frame lower securing clips.
7. Remove the four squab pad to squab suspension hog rings.
8. On Vanden Plas models only, sever the two ratchet straps
securing squab pad to squab suspension.
Page 2130 of 2490

Seating - Front Seat Backrest Heater Mat
Removal and Installation
Removal
Installation
1.
WARNING: FOLLOWING DISCONNECTION OF THE
BATTERY A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE MINUTE MUST BE
ALLOWED TO ELAPSE BEFORE WORKING ON A FRONT SEAT WITH
A SIDE AIRBAG FITTED.
Remove battery cover and disc onnect ground cable from
battery. Refer to 86.15.19.
2. Remove front seat for ac cess. Refer to 76.70.01.
3. Remove seat back fini sher. Refer to 76.70.09.
4. Remove front seat headrest. Refer to 76.70.14.
5. Remove front seat squab co ver. Refer to 76.70.15.
6. Routing multiplug through aperture, carefully release squab
heater adhesive stri ps from squab pad.
1. Remove protective backing pape r from heater self adhesive
strips.
2. Align heater to pad and appl y firm pressure to ensure
adhesion.
3. Route heater harness through pad aperture.
4. Position squab cover over squab pad and heater element,
ensuring that headrest gu ides pass through pad.
5. Connect heater harness multiplug and position multiplug in
mounting bracket.
6. Fit squab cover and pad. Refer to 76.70.15.
7. Fit seat back finisher. Refer to 76.70.09.
8. Fit headrest. Refer to 76.70.14.
9. Install front seat in vehi cle. Refer to 76.70.01.
10. Connect ground cable to batt ery terminal and fit battery
cover. Refer to 86.15.15.
Page 2132 of 2490

Seating - Front Seat Cushion
Removal and Installation
Removal
Installation
1. WARNING: FOLLOWING DISCONNECTION OF THE
BATTERY A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE MINUTE MUST BE
ALLOWED TO ELAPSE BEFORE WORKING ON A FRONT SEAT WITH
A SIDE AIRBAG FITTED.
Remove battery cover and disc onnect ground cable from
battery. Refer to 86.15.19.
2. Remove seat back fini sher. Refer to 76.70.09.
3. Remove seat cushion cover/pad assembly. Refer to 76.70.33.
4. Fold cushion sides inwards for access and remove cushion
cover to cushion pad hog rings.
5. Separate cushion cover from cushion pad/heater element.
6. Separate cushion pad from heat er element, routing harness
multiplug through cushion pad.
1. Position heater element in cushion pad and route harness
multiplug through the pad.
2. Position cushion cover on cushion pad/heater element and
secure with hog rings.
3. Position cushion cover sides over cushion pad and staple
cushion cover to lower edge of seat switch mounting bracket.
4. Position cushion pad and cover assembly on seat frame,
aligning switch mounting bracket with frame.
5. Fit and tighten the three switch mounting bracket to seat
frame securing screws.
6. Fit and fully seat switch in mounting bracket.
7. Lift cushion pad for access, connect switch harness multiplug
and reposition cushion pad.
8. Secure cushion cover front retaining straps to seat frame.
9. Pull cover over cushion pad and fit and fully seat cover edge
retaining strip on seat frame.
10. Return seat to upright position .
11. Connect cushion heater harnes s multiplug and fit multiplug
onto retaining bracket.
12. Fit cushion cover to seat fra me rear retaining strip.
13. Align rear edge of cushion cover with frame and fit and fully
seat six retaining clips.
14. Fit seat back finisher. Refer to76. 70.09.
15. Fit seat to vehicle. refer to 76. 70.01.
Page 2134 of 2490
Seating - Front Seat Cushion Cover
Removal and Installation
Removal
1. WARNING: FOLLOWING DISCONNECTION OF THE
BATTERY A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE MINUTE MUST BE
ALLOWED TO ELAPSE BEFORE WORKING ON A FRONT SEAT WITH
A SIDE AIRBAG FITTED.
Remove battery cover and disc onnect ground cable from
battery terminal. Refer to 86.15.19.
2. Remove front seat from vehicle. Refer to 76.70.01.
3. Remove seat back finisher. Re fer to 76.70.09 (76.70.09.50 for
Daimler models).
4. Remove the six cushion cover to seat frame retaining clips.
5. Release cushion cover retaining strip from rear of seat frame.
6. Invert seat for acce ss to underside, remove cushion heater
harness multiplug from retain ing bracket and disconnect
multiplug.
7. Release cushion cover front retaining straps from seat frame.