[xj] BW-66 -- Q. on Reverse

XJ
1

Haven’t put the check book away yet; maybe smart to keep it out for a
bit.

Late last week, after a 30 mile freeway run into town at 630AM (
Babysitting express), i pulled into Daughter’s neighbor’s driveway to do
a U turn. Put it into reverse. RPM’s fell immediately, down to 500 or
so (from 800 or so of idle) and engine rughed up and almost stalled. A
little bit of throttle, it pick up okay, i backed out, and parked on the
street.

Around town over the weekend, nothing noticed.

Pulling out of the driveway on a cold, overnight engine, both yesterday
morning and this morning, it acted normally. But both yesterday and
this morning, the same issue repeated itself as I did the “U” turn in
the driveway to park.

No other gear seems any different that it has over the last 6-8 months.

Any suspicions out there? Tonight I’m going to check fluid level
after the 30 mile home in very warm weather. I thought R & D-one were
sort of ‘together’, but 1st works like a champ.

I Last did a fluid and filter change at 135k, now at 169k. Is it time
for a service?

Thanks guys

Ken
1987 Series III VdP - “Road Runner”
169k Miles - Daily Driver
Space… Grace… Pace… And a new paint job.===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html

To remove yourself from this list, go to http://www.jag-lovers.org/cgi-bin/majordomo.

// please trim quoted text to context only

2

In reply to a message from Ken Davis sent Wed 17 Mar 2010:

It doesn’t sound like a transmission problem. It sounds more like
either a fuel or ignition problem.–
Tom Hishon, 69 E-type 2+2, 69 E-type OTS, 81 XJ6, 85 XJ6
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html

To remove yourself from this list, go to http://www.jag-lovers.org/cgi-bin/majordomo.

// please trim quoted text to context only

3

Ken Davis wrote:

Haven’t put the check book away yet; maybe smart to keep it out for a
bit.

Late last week, after a 30 mile freeway run into town at 630AM (
Babysitting express), i pulled into Daughter’s neighbor’s driveway to
do a U turn. Put it into reverse. RPM’s fell immediately, down to
500 or so (from 800 or so of idle) and engine rughed up and almost
stalled. A little bit of throttle, it pick up okay, i backed out,
and parked on the street.

Around town over the weekend, nothing noticed.

Pulling out of the driveway on a cold, overnight engine, both
yesterday morning and this morning, it acted normally. But both
yesterday and this morning, the same issue repeated itself as I did
the “U” turn in the driveway to park.

No other gear seems any different that it has over the last 6-8 months.

Any suspicions out there?

It’s a bit odd, Ken - the idle in reverse should be the same as in
‘drive’…

The converter just acts as a fluid clutch, ‘slipping’ to allow the
engine to turn while the wheels are stationary. Converter action is
independant on the inside of the box and acts exactly the same way in
forward and reverse - the box is ‘locked up’ either case by the
stationary rear wheels…

Any load on the engine in idle will drop rpms; typically the converter,
the AC and steering inputs by the servo. Also; reduced power form the
engine will drop its idel - though how this is relevant between forward
and reverse idle escapes me…:slight_smile:

You may elucidate on the particulars of the ‘U-turn’ described, and
other particulars - does this mean that when you stop dead ahead, with
no steering inputs, there is no drop? If you maintain steering inputs
the idle will drop…

Checking fluid levels is certainly a first step with a misbehaving box -
as Tom implies; from the symptoms there seems to be nothing wrong with
the box…

Service intervals are 45 000 km so that’s no natural reason…

Frank
xj6 85 Sov Europe (UK/NZ)> Tonight I’m going to check fluid level after the 30 mile home

in very warm weather. I thought R & D-one were sort of ‘together’,
but 1st works like a champ.

I Last did a fluid and filter change at 135k, now at 169k. Is it time
for a service?

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers

To remove yourself from this list, go to Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers.

// please trim quoted text to context only

4

In reply to a message from Ken Davis sent Wed 17 Mar 2010:

Hi Ken,

Every now and then my car will stall, usually while reversing out
of a parking space. Often with full lock on the steering as well.
Once restarted she’ll run fine.

By far the best explaination I’ve seen is written by another lister
here :

Regards,

Andy–
The original message included these comments:

Late last week, after a 30 mile freeway run into town at 630AM (
Babysitting express), I pulled into Daughter’s neighbor’s driveway to do
a U turn. Put it into reverse. RPM’s fell immediately, down to 500 or
so (from 800 or so of idle) and engine rughed up and almost stalled. A
little bit of throttle, it pick up okay, I backed out, and parked on the
street.
Around town over the weekend, nothing noticed.
Pulling out of the driveway on a cold, overnight engine, both yesterday
morning and this morning, it acted normally. But both yesterday and
this morning, the same issue repeated itself as I did the ‘‘U’’ turn in
the driveway to park.

–
Andy Blakey 1983 XJ6 III 4.2 (UK) '‘Jane Seymour’
London, United Kingdom
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers

To remove yourself from this list, go to Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers.

// please trim quoted text to context only

5

update time.

Spent quite a few hours today with the hood up and grease on the hands.

You see, I ran across a posting by a Bill Wolpert in 2003 who was
complaining about very similar problems with low idle and stalls in
reverse. Al and frank, cadjag, Tom, Doug all had advice pointing me in
a certain direction, that direction being look for something else, the
BW66 is pretty stable…

So, I did the following

  • Removed AFM, intake ducting and checked for .002 on the throttle
    plate. Nada. but loads of gunk. Acetone to the rescue, and after
    cleaning, .002 on the nose.
  • Found the ‘hat’ /boot venting the crankcase had a big tear in it.
    Duct tape to temporarily seal it.
  • OUCH!!! found the coil - distributor HT lead was faulty and shorting
    to whatever was close by, including me. Connector in the coil had
    separated from ht cable. Put in a new auto shop special.
  • Bumped the idle up from 700 in P to 850 in P. Went this high as in
    the coming summer there will always be an AC load, the Climate control
    on medium or high, and very often the electric fans running.
    -took Roadie for a run. Hot idle with almost everything on was up from
    700 or so to a tad over 800 when in D, just on 900 when in N or P, and

800 when in R.! No stumbling, no stalling.

I fixed 2, possibly 3 air leaks, adjusted idle and the problem has been
solved. So far anyway, i’ll watch it over the next week of Desert-City
Commuting for my Babysitting events.

Thanks Current and Previous members, yet again a problem identified and
resolved…

1987 Series III VdP - “Road Runner”
169k Miles - Daily Driver
Space… Grace… Pace… And a new paint job.> Haven’t put the check book away yet; maybe smart to keep it out for a

bit.

Late last week, after a 30 mile freeway run into town at 630AM (
Babysitting express), i pulled into Daughter’s neighbor’s driveway to
do a U turn. Put it into reverse. RPM’s fell immediately, down to
500 or so (from 800 or so of idle) and engine rughed up and almost
stalled. A little bit of throttle, it pick up okay, i backed out,
and parked on the street.

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers

To remove yourself from this list, go to Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers.

// please trim quoted text to context only

6

Well done, Ken.

Gregory,
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
1966 3.8 Mk 2, Pale Primrose
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas, Black Cherry
2002 X-Type, 5 sp. manual, Anthracite
2004 XJ8, Ebony-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Ken Davis
Sent: March-27-10 1:05 PM
To: Ken Davis; XJ List

No stumbling, no stalling.

I fixed 2, possibly 3 air leaks, adjusted idle and the problem has been
solved. So far anyway, i’ll watch it over the next week of Desert-City
Commuting for my Babysitting events.

Thanks Current and Previous members, yet again a problem identified and
resolved…

1987 Series III VdP - “Road Runner”
169k Miles - Daily Driver
Space… Grace… Pace… And a new paint job.

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html

To remove yourself from this list, go to http://www.jag-lovers.org/cgi-bin/majordomo.

// please trim quoted text to context only

7

Ken Davis wrote:

update time.

Spent quite a few hours today with the hood up and grease on the hands.

…

  • Bumped the idle up from 700 in P to 850 in P. Went this high as in
    the coming summer there will always be an AC load, the Climate control
    on medium or high, and very often the electric fans running.
    -took Roadie for a run. Hot idle with almost everything on was up
    from 700 or so to a tad over 800 when in D, just on 900 when in N or
    P, and >> 800 when in R.! No stumbling, no stalling.

Good work indeed, Ken!

You can try bringing down the idle a bit more, try 850 or even lower in
neutral - it will reduce the jerk when you change between ‘D’ and ‘R’.
Dropping only from 900 neutral to 800 in gear indicates that the engine,
with the work you have done, is in fine fettle and can stand it…:slight_smile:

Frank
xj6 85 Sov Europe (UK/NZ)> I fixed 2, possibly 3 air leaks, adjusted idle and the problem has

been solved. So far anyway, i’ll watch it over the next week of
Desert-City Commuting for my Babysitting events.

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers

To remove yourself from this list, go to Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers.

// please trim quoted text to context only