I have looked over and over at a lot of threads on the tensioner issue. Some say it rattles on start-up and thats how you know its bad. Or I have heard that it will rattle at idle. Moore Jaguar in Saint Louis Missouri told me that there isnt any signs, the chain just breaks and its about a 4000 repair unless the chain breaks. Mine has a noise at startup, but it isnt bad. For those of you that have had experience with what it sounds like or if its a start-up thing or idle thing, please let me know. I took a video of it starting and if you listen carefully you can hear the noise the second it starts. It only does it after it has sat overnight, and it has to be kind of chilly out before it will do it, otherwise it doesnt make the noise. Click on the link below. Thanks

http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e8...t=100_2389.flv

 

Pretty high tech, nice job. I'd say that is chain noise from a tensioner that has bled down, and extends once it gets oil pressure. I would change the secondary tensioners and expect that would cure the noise.

 

lol. Nice job.
I would definitly take off the cam covers and have a look see.

 

What do I look for? LOL

I heard you can replace the secondary ones with just those covers off, is that true? I also heard that the primary ones usually dont go out. Of course I have heard divided sides to that.

Blaze

 

You can do secondaries with just cam covers off. You want to look to see if the shoes on the tensioner are worn away or missing. If they are replace the tensioners before they explode. You also then want to remove the oil pan and clean out the plastic pieces.

 

or your oil pressure light may come on.. and have no oil to vital parts..

 

To clean the old pieces out of the pan, do I remove the lower pan or the whole pan assembly? They have it listed as having a lower pan and then a oil pan assembly.

Blaze

 

Roddy,

Just the lower oil pan, it's easy and requires just a gasket. You may also want to get the O ring seal for the oil pickup tube, if you remove it to clean the screenI wouldn't risk re-using the seal.

Removal of the structural sump requires dropping the front crossmember for access, or pulling the engine.

 

I just did that in a 2008. What a crap job. Oil pan body. Had to yank engine to get it out.
Was an experience for sure.
As Ohio said, get oil pan gasket and pickup tube o-ring and clean it out.

 

They have the valve cover gasket set from jaguar and what I was wondering, does it come with the oring deals for the spark plug holes, does anyone know?

Thanks

Blaze

 

So far, I have to replace the spark plugs, valve cover gasket, shock bushings and then there is the weight on my mind of the transmission. I dont know if I should service it or not. It is doing okay, but at almost 80,000, I'm sure it needs changed.

Blaze

 

If you got 80k on the trans, do t flush it. Chances are you will kill it.

 

What about not doing a flush and just changing the filter and what fluid is in the pan? Or should I just make sure it is full and run it it till it dies?

Blaze

 

That is entirely your call. Either way keep a rainy day account for that day the trans starts to pour.

 

Do you know if the factory valve cover gaskets come with the little ones for the spark plug holes?

Blaze

 

there are several different types of rocker cover gasket sets for these cars

the AJ26 engine has the middle cover bolt seals with joined together bolt/spark plug seals , ( small ring seal joined by two large ring seals , ) and no variable cam solenoid seal.

the later AJ27 engine, revised elements ,uses independent bolt seals and spark plug hole seals, you will need your engine number to determine the correct set,

In the UK, the AJ27 engine was introduced in 1999 , all engines before that were the AJ26 , post 2001 Jaguar went to the 4.2 , for the X350 series,

this also goes for the S-Type car

the faint marks of my ( separate ) seals can be seen on the head in the picture below


the spark plug holes are the four large ones down the middle, still with plugs in then, there are two smaller holes that bolt down the cover in between the plug holes, there is also a whole seal that goes round the outer edge, and on the AJ27 engine , there is a seal for the variable cam solenoid that sticks out the top over the chain section

here in the UK, a complete set for both sides cost £75 from Jaguar,

i changed all mine when i changed my tensioners, ( its in another thread on here )

BB

 

There are several ones available from Jaguar? I only see one and its about 30 dollars.

Blaze

 

You need to call the dealer with your last six of vin and they will tell you correct ones. I don't remember if yours is XJR or not. If so there is no VVT onthere. Easiest way to tell is if the VVT are on top like picture above or if they are bolted to front of engine.

 

Mine is just the XJ8L. So it has VVT. It has the solenoid looking thing on the valve cover. FJT, what oil filter brand do you recommend?

I have decided to check the transmission fluid and if it still looks good, Ill change it, if it doesnt then Ill leave it alone. Heck, I dont even know if the stuff is pink like regular transmission fluid or if its some other color. But you are definitely right on the transmission bit. My Dodge conversion van had 160,000 miles and I seen the fluid looked like slightly used motor oil. I took it in and they just changed the filter and what was in the pan. 800 miles later it lost second gear. But the fluid looked bad and there was a bigtime excessive amount of clutch material in the bottom of the pan.

Thanks

Blaze

 

I personally run the factory filter on the VDP. Seems to be just fine.