I know, I’ve been lazy about blogging. Not typically the case, but it happens on occasion. I have been slamming out work in the shop trying to get ready for the season, so my nightly duties have fallen to the backseat. Awhile back I posted about separating a 944 rear hatch glass from it’s frame so we can reseal it. A common issue with these cars. This is typically where the separation occurs. It will not only rattle, but also …

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Since this 944 is in for some other repairs, the owner was complaining about the smell of fuel inside the cabin after filling the gas tank full. Since it is an early car, they have metal gas tanks which are known to crack on the top side. Unfortunately it involves removing the transmission and fuel tank from the bottom of the car as there is not top access. First thing to do is to access the top of the sending …

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Mar 19 2013 wes Editorial No Comments

And that’s a good thing.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the XJ8/XK8.  When treated well they are just great cars, period.  Fast, pretty, great interiors, roomy, and the best ride anywhere. This very tidy 2000 XJ8 limped in with stability management and cruise turned off by the ECU and placed in full “limp mode.” First thing found was a miss on bank 2, cyl 2 (or cyl #6 for everyone but jag) Not hard to run that …

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Mar 19 2013 wes Editorial 1 Comment

  If you have a Jag with the BBS wheels w/chrome trim ring this job is not nearly as bad as it looks.  I would recommend doing it the easy way.  Bring you Jaguar to RennsportKC and come pick it up finished 🙂 These wheels were hammered.  The PO was not kind to them.  I am pretty sure they were vision impaired and should not have been driving. Air inflation port. Pretty simple start, use a regular valve core removal tool …

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Had a friend drop off his 97 SL600 for a quick service and CEL diagnosis. Really cool car! Unfortunately the CEL is due to a bad catalytic converter, so we are researching options for that right now! Big V12 engine! VROOOOOM A quick oil change. There was a non factory drain plug gasket used by whomever changed the oil last, so I hope that is where the oil leak is from. Cleaned up, and oil changed with the correct drain …

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Knocked out another suspension install today. We have seen this a ton before, so just a quick recap 🙂 Old stock shocks ready for replacement. And the new rears in place with lowering springs. And the fronts installed. I was going to do front control arm bushings as well, but both arms have been replaced recently, so there isn’t a need. A few other small things to fix on the car, then off to alignment!

After the Boxster was done, the next patient was put on the table. This guy also had a horrible howl from the front end. With 197k miles on the clock, I was really worried it might be something in the differential. After stripping off the brake caliper and rotor, I was able to spin the front hub, but with all the 4wd stuff also turning, I wasn’t 100% positive. There was definitely a crunchy hang up in the system somewhere. …

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Had this little Boxster in the shop last week for a stuck O2 sensor and some howling in the front end when driving. The O2 sensors on these can be a little bugger to get off sometimes, but often it just takes a little tool selection to find something that works. The stubborn O2 sensor is up there, along with a couple of broken exhaust manifold studs. Pretty common on these old 986’s. After getting the O2 sensor replaced, then …

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Had this little TT come into the shop this week for a downpipe replacement and instrument cluster repair. As you can see, something is not right. Actually there are a lot of things not right, including non working LCD screens and non functioning gauges. A fairly common issue on these Audis. So out comes the cluster to be sent out for repair. My hands aren’t steady enough to solder these clusters, it takes a really fine touch, so I’ll let …

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Had this MB C280 come into the shop for a broken trunk spring attachment and a pair of floppy mirrors. The trunk spring was actually easy, the welded tab the spring attaches to broke off, but there was another area for attachment that worked just fine. I had to disassemble the rear trunk, remove the spring, install the spring in the new location, mounting it in the orientation that it will not come off, then reattach the other end. No …

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