Hello, this is Martin in Menifee, CA.
My 2000 XK8 coupe has developed the timing chain rattle on cold start up.
I've quit driving the car until I can get it repaired.
My question is (after reading the literature and researching): can the upper timing chain tensioners be replaced with taking apart the entire upper and lower chain devices?
The full job looks like 9 to 12 hours, but wanted to know if the uppers can be replaced to solve the problem?
Thanks for all the advice from the Forum. I want to do this right but avoid unnecessary expense and I'm especially concerned about chain removal requiring special tools and possible reset ot timing
(and consequences of a mistake).
Regards,
Martin

 

This can be done by a DIYer. It's not a terribly big job, you must be careful though, of course. It would be very expensive if you could find a shop that would do it.
Check this out -

timing chain DIY - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

There's video in there that might help. It's for a supercharged X308, but the idea is the same, and easier without the supercharger. You use zip ties to make sure the cam timing doesn't get altered.

 

FYI I just recently got quoted 4k all in to do both sets of tensioners on an XKR, which is more hours due to removal etc. Let me know what quotes you get for a XK8 (no supercharger to remove, so should be a bit cheaper/easier, though not by much). That was in San Jose (in case I'm just getting charged +50% for the privilege of living in the Bay Area. This is a big enough job that I'd take a road trip of a few hours if it made sense to do so. Or I may attempt it myself, but haven't done enough homework yet, and I'm feeling less inclined right now having just done the diff oil lol.

As my 2002 with mk2 tensioners has no rattle, 34k miles and apparently had the rocker cover gaskets changed 2 years ago due to a leak, and the PO's mechanic did not highlight any tensioner issues when that was done, I have decided to wait for the preventative maintenance in my case, which is no doubt controversial. At some point soon I'll pull the valve covers to take a proper look for any plastic debris in the top tensioner area.

 

Martin look up the zip tie method for changing the tensioners. I did it and it took a day really as I am not the best mechanic, I worked very slowly and methodically, some of the bolts are really hard to get at (but it can be done), I had a real struggle with the oil dip stick. Personally I marked where the camshaft cap bolts were with tippex and then tightened them back to that position. I think there was some thread locker on the bolts which I'm guessing would play merry hell with torque settings.

So I am encouraging intelligent DIY!

 

All Forum response:
First, thanks for your responses to my questions.

I'm a bit of a special case because I work for a dealership (Not Jaguar) and will be looking into the repair with our heavy-line technician.
He has experience with Lincoln timing chain repairs, so hoping that there is some reasonable knowledge transfer there.

So any data I have on total pricing would be distorted by the fact that I work here. However, I'm happy to report the labor hours and parts used (So. CA prices).
Big question for me is can my tensioner problem be traced to secondary tensioners alone and can the job be limited to replacing the two secondaries?
Not only to save some cost, but also to leave the chains and timing calibrations undisturbed.
I could be wrong but hoping that the answer is to just replace the top tensioners.

My car is 55,000 miles, Phoenix Red with Black interior.
Thanks for all the advice.

Martin

 

I had the timing chains done at 60k by a good Jag specialist in UK. He did the whole job for £1500 and also did the auxiliary drive belt and put better stronger tensioners in. Mind that was in 2011 so might be more expensive now. But 100k now and have not had any problems since. If it basically a top of the engine rebuild, and if you are going to get it done I would definitely get the better modern stronger tensioners used and the auxiliary belt changed as a matter of course.

Just my VHO, but that was my experience.

Hope this helps.

Best regards 😀👍

 

PS - mine is a 99 R so I can't comment on the XK8 but if it were me then I would get the timing chains done as well as the tensioners and the auxiliary belt. My humble opinion is that it will be worth the extra cost in the long run and with the stronger newer tensioners you will have piece of mind for another 80K 😀👍

 

I replaced secondary only on several cars, both NA and SC. The zip tie method is easy, and none of the cars have experienced primary failure, to the best of my knowledge. One tip, from motorcarman I believe, is to not remove the dipstick. Just pull the tube up far enough to clear the cam cover and the dipstick will guide it back when you're done.

 

Just last week, I was quoted just over $3K including taxes for this job.