Walter's jalopies, '07 Jag XJ8 L and '99 Miata

  • Thread starter wfooshee
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Jaguar has eaten the battery. Slow cranking after work Friday, again on Saturday morning, and had to get a jump at the store on Saturday.

Pulled the battery, found my receipt, and used the Miata to take it to store from whence it came. They put their tester thingie on it, it says "Replace battery." Turns out they owe me a battery because it's just over two years into a 3-year replacement warranty, but they don't have it in stock at any of their nearby locations. Saturday crew couldn't tell me anything about getting it in stock, so some phone calls on Monday, I guess.

After I had the battery out, I couldn't even close and lock the car properly! Battery is in the trunk, which has a soft-close lid, so no power for that latch motor. Can't work the lock levers in the doors without power, and only one door even has a keyhole. Powered the car at the main fuse under the hood with a battery charger set to 10 amps, got it all closed up.

I have to have the battery by this weekend, traveling to Orlando to see my sweetie for a few days. I could use the Miata if I had to, but I left my two cats there when I was there a week ago, rather than traumatize them with imprisonment in the carriers for the 6-hour trips so close together, and packing the carriers in the passenger seat of the Miata would be troublesome, to say the least. (She has 5 cats and a bunny, so what's a couple extra?)
 
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Never got the warranty replacement, they couldn't tell me when they would have one, so they refunded. I went to Sam's Club and found it there, for 15 bucks less. And I start a whole new warranty period! Car cranked fast this morning!
 
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The legendary Miata shifter, known far and wide for its lack of play, has suffered a setback, most likely the nylon bushing at the bottom of the shaft has broke and fallen off. No problem selecting gears, but...

Will be digging into it this weekend to confirm parts needs.
 
What I dug out of the car the other day. The lower boot is obviously shredded, but the looseness in the video above comes from the fact the the nylon busing that's supposed to be on the ball at the bottom of the shifter indeed no longer exists.
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