Jaguar

Vital Since Day One
Hi, I’m Marty Fay. I opened Motor Works’ doors to the DeKalb and Northern Illinois public in March, 1984. We are a one-stop-shop offering every conceivable automotive amenity. An essential part of that commitment is Jaguar service and repair. Our Jaguar experience started almost 30 years ago. Please see All Burned Up And No Place To Go at the end of this article.

History Personified
Jaguar is a storied name. It almost needs to be uttered in hushed tones. With a racing heritage dating back to the early 1950’s, this unique brand has built some of the most desired automobiles ever to grace a twisting road.

I’d love to name off half a dozen old models I adore, but for the sake of brevity I’ll jump to the chase. My favorite car on the face of the earth is the classic 1960’s Jaguar E-Type 4.2. Why? Don’t ask me that! Do you how long this article is going to be? Let me instead quote two peerless sources.
1) In 2004, Sports Car International Magazine placed the E-Type at number one on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.
2) When the first E-Types hit the public, the man himself, Enzo Ferrari call it “The most beautiful car ever made.”

Today’s Jags: Gorgeous, Fast, Opulent, And Incredibly Complex
It would be hard to want more from any automobile, but all the superlatives just named come at a price. These cars are delicate. They have a higher frequency of repair than other cars. And maintenance is not an option, it is a must. Motor Works excels in all these areas.

Tools And Schools
Jaguars employ the latest automotive technology. Our technicians receive constant training to stay current with their ever changing systems. Our commitment to the brand includes thousands of dollars of unique tooling and computer scanners. In addition, we have three ASE Master Certified Specialists on staff. Motor Works is determined to be the Dealership Alternative!

From The Smallest Service To The Biggest Repair
We offer everything from light bulbs to transmission overhauls, “check engine lights” to motor replacements. We are comfortable with all the manufacturer’s models and strive to deliver the service you deserve.

Jaguar owners in DeKalb and Northern Illinois choose Motor Works because of our reputation for excellence, we hope you’ll choose us too.

Schedule Today!
If you would like to bring your Jaguar in for repair or service please schedule an appointment online or call us at 815-756-2882 to speak to our friendly staff.

All Burned Up And No Place To Go
Very soon after opening Motor Works I was presented with a unique challenge. An insurance company phoned and asked if I would look at a 1976 Jaguar XJ12 Sedan that had burn damage under the hood. Nobody else would touch it, including the dealer. Being a little cocky back in those days, and not quite understanding what I had let myself in for, I said “sure, bring it over.”

Upon opening the discolored hood, (a bad sign already), I stood utterly stunned. Before me was a massive V12 engine totally covered by burned carbon and worse yet, chemical fire extinguisher residue. Fire extinguisher dust is vicious stuff. Highly corrosive to exposed metal, it’s also hell on the lungs.

And so began a two month job. I located dozens of used parts, spliced wiring harnesses for days on end, and replaced every bit of rubber under the hood. This included belts, insulators, and vacuum, coolant and gas hoses. Especially the injector feed hoses. The fire had started there. One of the injector hoses had split, spraying the engine with gas which then ignited.

The cost went way over the projected estimate. The insurance company should have totaled the car, but bless them, they stuck with their customer and me. An aside: today insurance companies instantly total fire and water damaged cars. So the project got finished. The car now ran better than before the fire. The customer was thrilled. The insurance company probably less so, but I hope proud of standing behind their customer. And I, no wiser, keep doing burn jobs for customers who love their cars. I guess maybe I’m still a little cocky. Or maybe we could dignify it a bit and call it “maturity tempered non risk adverse.” Bye for now, thanks, Marty.