My Jaguar XK8 suddenly overheats. When I had it checked, it turned out that the radiator hose has collapsed. What makes the radiator collapse or burst?

Radiator hoses have reinforcements to keep them from collapsing. If these reinforcements are already bad or some pieces are missing, that vacuum in the cooling system may cause the hose to break or collapse. The collapsed hose could be blamed as well on a faulty or damaged radiator cap, which is meant to sustain consistent pressure in the cooling system. If the cap fails to even out the pressure after the coolant mixture cools and vacuum is formed, the hose will break. You also have to check if the vacuum valve in the radiator is working fine.

When the engine hesitates, what could be the cause? When hitting the gas, it takes a while for the engine to respond. It seems to lack power. What could be the real problem here?

When you encounter engine hesitation, the ignition system should be checked. Engine performance may suffer because of fouled-up spark plugs, broken ignition wires, or a bad ignition module. Other things to look into are dirty or clogged filters. Replace the air or fuel filter if needed. It would also help if you empty the gas tank and do some flushing before refilling it with fresh gas.

What causes brake pedal fades, especially when under pressure? I experience brake fades when my XK8 goes through hard stops. However, when the brakes have cooled down, things will revert to normal. I'm not sure what to do about it.

What you've experienced should be enough reason for you to have the Jaguar's brake system thoroughly checked. Brake fade could occur if there's air in the system. The system should be bled to remove this. Another thing you should look into is the brake fluid. Check the brake fluid level as well as the color and quality. The brake fluid may already be dirty. In which case, it needs to be replaced. Use the preferred brake fluid for the vehicle. Don't just top off the brakes with anything you can grab at the moment's notice. Incorrect brake fluid could cause problems. You should also be looking for leaks, which may come from the master or wheel cylinders. The hoses and lines must be checked as well. In case you've found the leak, then the cracked or fractured brake component should be replaced as soon as possible. Otherwise, your driving safety will be compromised because of poor braking. As soon as you notice the brake fade or anything unusual with the brakes or the pedal, you should have things checked at once.

How do you deal with excessive brake pedal travel?

When you experience excessive brake pedal travel, it would help if you pump the pedal as you apply the brakes. While this may do the trick and save you some trouble, you should have this brake issue properly diagnosed to find the best fix. This problem should be solved right away because this can compromise your driving safety. Don't wait till the pedal runs out of travel before fully applying the brakes. Worn-out linings on the front or rear brakes, or even both, could cause this problem. Brakes that are out of adjustments could also be blamed. You must check for air in the brake lines. If there's air, then the system should be bled.

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