I'm a new Jag owner and first time poster. So, I've purchased this 2001 S-type 4.0 V8 at a good price and now I know why. It's got approx. 115,xxx miles. Upon a cold start there is a loud clanking noise coming from the engine. Once it returns to idle there is a noticable tapping. Once the engine is warmed up you don't notice the tapping. It sounds like it's coming from the drivers side front part of the engine. When I accelerate the noise increases in speed and sound. When I put the car in drive and hold the brake down AND give it some gas you can' t here the noise. When I decelerate you don't notice the noise. When on the freeway there is no performance issues, infact it drives very nice with no hesitation. At cruising speeds you don't here the noise. After the engine has warmed up I will turn off the car and restart it again and you don't hear that same clanking noise, rather it's more a tapping. My neighbor believes its a rod issue but from the reading on the forum I"m wondering if it's the timing chain tenionser and related parts. I don't have the option of parking the car for a number of days as it's my daily driver and I don't know if I have the funds to pay for either fix. Again, from reading other threads on this forum I should stop driving and fix it before it gets worse. I have a mechanic friend who has worked on imports but never a Jag who I might be able to pay to replace the timing chain tensioner and other related parts but I don't know how hard of a job it will be nor how long it will take. Is there a ballpark figure for parts and labor? I'm fearful that he might not be able to do the job correctly but that's neither here nor there as I need to diagnose the problem properly. I've read up quite abit here and I know that I've got a problem that needs fixing so I'm appreciative of any feedback, the good, the bad and the ugly. Other than this noise issue the car is in awesome condition. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

J. Spaulding

 

I'd say, timing chain tensioner, and it's quite a big job.

 

What city are you located in or near?...maybe someone can lend a hand or recommend a shop for you.

 

I live in Norfolk, VA.

 

The sound is getting louder and I've ceased driving the car. I bought a $350 junker to get back and forth to work. I'm still wondering if my troubles could be a rod knocking and if so can I access and fix it from underneath the engine or is it as big a job or more than the timing chain tensioner job. I'm thinking of taking it to my local import garage to have them diagnose it and then trying to sell it "as is" since either repair is more than I can afford. I guess a better understanding of what my problem is will guide my next decision.

 

Grab JTIS - free on here - to see full engine details, strip-down etc.

 

Is that in the tech tools tab? I think I saw it listed there at the bottom. I'll do that this week.