I recently purchased a Jag XJ40, 4-litre auto (J Reg). I didn't notice any problems on the first day I got it, but twice today I've had a problem where I start the car up and it ticks over fine (though the car does judder a bit more than I would expect - timing out perhaps, or maybe sparks need replacing? it does idle at about 750 rpm - is that too low?) but as soon as I shift the box into reverse or drive it stalls. This happens 3 or 4 times and then it sets off fine, and hasn't stalled at traffic lights or anything.
The oil pressure in the car seems fine (usually just over half way on the dial - 5-ish), temps OK and there are no warnings reported by the ECU. I followed the instructions in the manual for checking the gearbox oil level, but couldn't get a very good reading.. that is, after I clean the dipstick and push it in/pull it out again, there's a thin film of oil all the way up the stick (past the "hot" marker), no matter how many times I repeat the measuring process. I'll have to have another go at this, but the gearbox seems to work fine after the initial stalling episode.
Two things I am wondering about - when I bought the car the guy at the garage said that when they got it they had to change the battery and they got standard cheap one from their regular supplier.. indeed, the central locking didn't work at first, but it had been sitting for 4-5 weeks at the garage and after I drove it the 100 miles or so home and took it around town a bit the locking suddenly started working and it's worked without fail since. However, do Jags have a heavier duty batteries fitted to them normally, given all the electrics they have in them? If that is the case, is it possible this is the cause of the stalling (OK, maybe that's daft since it starts first time and it's only when you shift it into gear that it stalls, but I have to ask as I'm no mechanic!).
The other thing is that I thought I had read somewhere in a bit of documentation that came with the car (there was loads of stuff!) that the car would take 95 ot 97 RON unleaded.. but when I was going through the manual I found a bit that said "use only premium unleaded".. isn't "premium unleaded" the 97 RON stuff? could that cause the stalling maybe?
Any ideas on this stalling issue, or for that matter - how to get a clean reading from the auto box dip stick!?
Thanks Ian