Hello All:

I'm picking up a 2001 VDP today. During the test drive, I noticed that the car seems to idle a bit unsettled... not perfectly calm. Not terribly harsh, but just like it seemed like it needed some adjustment. Upon backing up, it was more noticeable and seemed to "pulsate" if that makes sense.

The dealer (a used car dealer, not a Jag dealer) said he had it checked... checked compression... and said it was ok. He said he checked another Jag and it does the same thing.

I know little about these cars--and I'm learning more from you guys--but before I plunk down my payment, I'd like more than a cursory, "It's OK."

The car is seemingly in great shape... great AutoCheck, etc, but none of this really matters if something is about to blow. I test drove it and besides this issue, everything else seemed OK.

I had asked if I could bring the car to my mechanic... they wouldn't allow, but would allow my mechanic to come to them. I know of no qualified mechanic that does house calls.

Can anyone suggest what this might be?

Thanks so much...

SirJag

 

SirJag, to me it sounds like you are looking at the 4.0L timing chain/tensioner issue. If you can do the work yourself, it is a semi-cheap fix, but if you have to pay someone to do it for you, it is going to cost you a pretty penny.

Now, I am going off of what you are describing. So, I could be way off base here. You may want to get over to the XJ forum and ask them about the 4.0L tensioner problem and see if the symptoms you are seeing match up to what they know. They would know a lot more than I would.

Granted, it could also be something as silly as the throttlebody has some gunk inside of it and the butterfly valve is sticking a little bit, causing the idle to jump. But, I would think that this would have been one of the first things that they would have checked/corrected since it is very simple to do.