Merry Christmas to all,

So everything is ready for the family to arrive for Christmas Day lunch and it's only 9:30 am. I figured I might as well throw this out there. I have an 02 XJ Sport with 105K miles in San Antonio, TX. The previous owner doesn't know if the timing chain tensioners have been upgraded or not. This is my drive to work car so that my 07 XKR doesn't ever have to go to high school again! I have inquired at the local Jaguar garage about the cost of replacing either upper or both upper and lower tensioners and was given an estimate of $1800 and $2700 respectively for the job and about $300 just to open it up to see if the job is needed at all. I suspect that this has not been done as the valve cover seals are slowly seeping, not enough to do anything about at this point, but not good and tight either.

First question; since this is an 02 with an August 01 build date, do the tensioners need to be addressed in the first place. I have read that they should be the new ones installed at the factory, but the local garage owner says no, and they need to be replaced soon or the engine will go boom. Anyone have a definitive answer?

Second question; is there anyone in the south Texas area who has done the conversion themselves and would like to help me out with the job for adequate compensation? I would feel better about having this done, but just can't find the $$$$ laying about the house anywhere. Can't imagine where I put that stuff...

Cheers and happy holidays.

Paul

 

i just read from a link in the FAQ sticky up there ^^^^^
anything after 2001 is ok , and that jaguar dealers can tell you if you give them the vin number .
i'm far from expert though .... (chasing up the specialist that worked on my new xj8 as soon as he opens iagain n the new year )

 

The conversion date to metal tensioners was August 18, 2001. Your engine serial number has the engine assembly date as its first 6 digits, i.e.; 081801xxxx. The serial number is available from the dealer with a VIN look up. My '02, with a vehicle assembly date of June '01 had the plastic, spring assisted tensioners with a serious crack in one body at 46k miles.

The tensioners are not difficult to replace, took me about 4 hours and I had never done that before. You will have to borrow/rent the special tools to lock the cams in place. That's easy also.

Going price at an independent is about $800, including parts. Speaking of parts, you can save about half by buying the Lincoln LS '00-'03 tensioners/gaskets. Same Jaguar engine. Total cost of parts is less than $200 that way.

Job can be done with a $10 set of ACE Hardware sockets plus a 10mm Allen wrench.

Here is a great link to a pictorial on the work:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=4747

I would be glad to help but you would have to drop by my place.