I have recently found out from reading this forum (symptoms: my car makes a metal rattling sound during cold start up and RPMs fluctuate a little when driving at slow speeds) and by my local mechanic that it appears my tensioners are bad in my 2004 Jaguar S Type. My current mechanic stated he has tried to fix the problem on 3 different Jaguars and was not able to do so, and now has learned his lesson and says to go to the Jaguar dealership.

My question is going to the Jaguar dealership the only way to get this fixed properly and if so does anyone have a ball park figure of what it may cost? I have called the local Jaguar dealership's service department and left a message but no one has called me back yet. I mean is this going to cost me thousands?

Thanks in advance.

Recording of Sound

EngineRattleOnStart.wmv

 

what model car do you have?

 

Something does not add up here??? Your 2004 has the latest and greatest 3rd generation tensioners from the factory. After Jaguar upgraded everything to this level no more failures have been reported.

Now again we don't have all the car details. Which puts me in guess mode. I would have Jaguar make this call instead of an independent shop.

If you have the 6 cylinder model your VVT solenoids "could" be causing this.

And remember that the tensioners you get now will be the same as what the factory installed. Now if the car has a lot of miles-say 250K or so maybe you do have worn tensioners.

Whatever you do be sure to get all your old parts!!!!
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I have also heard that the engine is very sensititve ensure that the correct oil is used

I know my 2.7D likes Castro; magnatec, I had an indy oil change and the oil he used left my oil pressure light on for about 1-2 secs on start up, got the correct oil in 2 days later oil light out straight away

 

The engines available in the USA/Cdn don't seem as fussy (in terms of your description - no diesels there).

 

By heck lad I would've thought the engines were the same and just as sensitive overpond

 

The diesel may be sensitive but isn't sold there. The other engines don't care which oil so long as it meets the quite wide specs in the handbook. Slight exception is cars much older than the OP's as Brutal has said. Otherwise any oil, cheap or not. But we have too many oil threads already.......

I wouldn't call them sensitive. They're just engines.

 

Thanks for the replies.


Car is a 6 cylinder 2004 Jaguar S-Type with 67,000 miles on it. The problem started after an oil change. Symptoms metal rattling noise when starting car coming from I believe the front left near engine, and the RPMs slightly fluctuate when driving around 35-40 MPH. Not sure if I answered all the questions or not, but appreciate all the help, and will answer anything else I can. Thanks again.

 

The chain tensioner issue was on the early V8.

 

The well documented troublesome chain tensioner was, no reason not to have a problem on a newer car.

 

Without hearing the noise it's not really possible to say what it is. (Maybe it could be a loose exhaust shield.) I don't think it's likely to be what's so far said. The revs is more likely an air leak or other of the commonish faults (O2 sensor, failing coil, failing battery, or whatever).

 

So I took it to another mechanic this morning amd so far they can't identify the problem as the rattling upon start up hasn't happened since they had it. Argh its loud and has happened everytime I start it. It makes no sense that its not happening now except I haven't driven it in 3 days and had it towed there. Maybe it sitting for 3 days made the noise stop temporarily. They said they will keep trying though.

 

Still sounds VVT. Check for eror codes even if no check engine light. Also search for Brutals suggestions about fixing this. Running some transmission fluid in the oil can provide great cleaning action.
But again if it is tensioners please post back because until now that has not been a problem with the 3rd generation tensioners.
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UPDATE

The local shop I took it to today finally stated they heard the noise, and said it sounded like the serpentine belt tensioners needed replaced. Does this sound like it may be causing the metal clanking sound?

 

Yeah your right man, its the VVT, my car is at the dealer as we speak and its VVT thats being changed. My car is done this week and I was planning on scanning the pages invoices to you guys.........

But since I have extended warranty, Its covering everything (almost)

Parkbrake Fault
VVT
Oil change $60
Serpentine belt tensioners
Front left control arm
All being serviced

 

Well it's easy to check if the belts are causing the noise. Just remove them and start the engine for a minute or two. Not long because the water pump is belt driven but it won't hurt anything for just a couple of minutes.
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Thanks for everyone's help so far.

Have you ever had that feeling that when you get your car back the problem will still be there????? That's the feeling I have. I hope the serpentine belt tensioners are the problem (because that's what's getting fixed), but I have a distinctive feeling it is something else. Argh. I will keep you guys updated, and appreciate your thoughts on this...thanks.

 

P.S. Call me stupid but the search for VVT is to short and returns no results. So a dumb question...what is VVT? Sorry, I tried to search.

 

Variable Valve Timing

 

This is how to find such things:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/j...le-site-60209/