how can i tell if my 88 xj 40 has catalytic converters? it’s a 2.9
sovereign.
bill 88 xj40 174k.
Bill,
You look.
Cars with cats have two pre cats in the down pipes under the exhaust
manifolds, and two under the car.
They don’t look like mufflers, and have heat shields…
I think all the U.S. XJ40,s had them, while other markets
started around/after 1990 ?
Brett
1990 XJ6> -----Original Message-----
From: owner-modern@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-modern@jag-lovers.org]On
Behalf Of william cowell
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 1:59 PM
To: modern@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [modern] catalytic converters?how can i tell if my 88 xj 40 has catalytic converters? it’s a 2.9
sovereign.
bill 88 xj40 174k.
In a message dated 3/20/2001 2:25:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,
william_g_cowell@hotmail.com writes:
how can i tell if my 88 xj 40 has catalytic converters? it’s a 2.9
sovereign.
bill 88 xj40 174k.
Bill:
I have an 89 3.6L in the US and don’t know how the 88 2.9 was equipped in the
UK, but I’m sure that if the following advice which is based solely on the
Service Manual is incorrect, some nice person will quickly chastise me 
The Manual (Emissions, Section 17) shows the catalytic converter system as
the same for both engines (if equipped) with one converter at the right side
of the engine, about one foot below the exhaust manifold, and the other
beneath the car, in front of the rear or main silencers (the big collector
before the split to dual pipes.
If you look at your engine over the right wing, and follow the exhaust system
from the manifold downward & rearward, you either see:
(1) two separate pipes for several feet, which eventually merge, but with no
enlarged collector (no catalytic converter), or
(2) a large collector (converter), about 8" across, with an oxygen sensor
(3/4" diameter cylinder, about 2" long with wires coming out the end) in the
upper front of the converter. This is the upper or first converter which, on
mine, mounts directly to the exhaust manifolds.
I think William G. Cowell is a fine British name & wouldn’t think of changing
it, even in email, just because some Yank who had added an “r” to it decided
to act like a jerk
Now please nobody make fun of mine,
George Balthrop
I may be wrong but one method of determining whether a vehicle has cats is by
the fuel filler. It will only accept the narrower fuel filler nosel for
unleaded petrol.
Geoff
Bill,
I have seen the post explaining where to look so I won’t bore you
with that again. I only reply to say - my 1990 2.9l UK spec did not have a
converter on it so I wouldn’t have thought yours has either.
Have fun looking though 
Neil Bedwin
1989 3.6l Daimler - Dubai Cruiser
1988 4.2l Nissan Patrol - Dune Cruiser