I bought a used 2000 S-type 4.0L with 91,XXX miles just before the holidays and I had it looked at it appears it needs a new oil pan gasket...it leaks a little bit...may need new valve cover gaskets as well. Do these gaskets fail a lot? I have little or no knowledge on Jaguars (Thank you for developing this site!) and if anyone knows of a good Jaguar certified garage that does a good reputable service in the St. Louis area that would be great as it looks like I will be spending $1000+ to get this stuff done once I return from my current deployment... I hope I do not have to replace the secondary tensioners as well. Any advice will be thankful!

 

I'd first worry far more about the tensioners since if not done and they fail you have no engine, whereas you can top up oil easily and cheaply.

 

Just so I get a good since of ownership...I paid $4900 for the 2000 Jaguar with 91,089 miles on it, I looked up the VIN # and it is the high series body style and is in very good-excellent condition...do you all think I got my money's worth? or I got got...just hit me, don't hold back! I think other than the oil pan gasket needing replaced and possibly the valve cover gaskets as very minor oil hits the exhaust manifold from the valve cover gaskets and since its a 2000 V8 it may need secondary tensioners although there is no rattling noises when started even when cold. Is there a way to know if I have the 4.0 L v8 or the 4.0 L v8 S/C engine as the # on the VIN's are the same?

 

PREFIX 1 to 3PREFIX 8PREFIX 10 World manufacturing IdentifierEmissionModel or Year Change SAJ = JaguarX = 1999 Model Year A = ECS 1Y = 2000 Model Year PREFIX 4B = ECS 21 = 2001 Model Year Market & Airbag SpecC = ECS 32 = 2002 Model Year A = Rest of WorldD = ECS 43 = 2003 Model Year B = CanadaE = ECS 54 = 2004 Model Year D = USA F = ECS 65 = 2005 Model Year E = USA (1)G = ECS 76 = 2006 Model Year F = Canada (1)K = ECS 10 J = USA (2)N = ECS 13PREFIX 11 K = Japan (1)P = ECS 14Assembly Plant P = Mexico (1)R = ECS 15J = Castle Bromwich S-TYPE 2.5V6 R = Mexico (2)S = ECS 16F = Castle Bromwich S-TYPE 3.0V6 W = USA (3)T = ECS 17G = Castle Bromwich S-TYPE 4.0V8 & 4.0V8 S/C X = Canada (3)U = ECS 18H = Castle Bromwich S-TYPE 4.2V8 Y = Mexico (3)V = ECS 191 = Castle Bromwich S-TYPE 4.2V8 S/C W = ECS 207 = Castle Bromwich S-TYPE 2.7V6 Diesel PREFIX 5X = ECS 21 Transmission & SteeringY = ECS 22PREFIX 12 to 17 A = Automatic LHS1 = ECS 23Production Serial Number B = Manual LHS2 = ECS 24 C = Automatic RHS3 = ECS 25 D = Manual RHS4 = ECS 26
PREFIX 6 & 7PREFIX 9 Body CodeCheck Digit ? 01 = S-TYPE 4-door High Series 02 = S-TYPE 4-door Entry Series 03 = S-TYPE 4-door Sport Series

 

this is what I was trying to say...

G = Castle Bromwich S-TYPE 4.0V8 & 4.0V8 S/C

 

I know about the tensioners, and the car is sitting now as I am currently overseas deployed...I figure if I am going to replace the valve cover gaskets and all the little o-ring gaskets for the spark plugs and such, I could have the tensioners checked/replaced at the same time. I know its going to be very co$tly...maybe $2K?

 

Be sure and do both primary and secondary tensioners. It's just a matter of time and yours are now 13 years old with 91K on them. They have done their job and are now waiting to fail.

Have the coils, plugs and cam cover gaskets been changed?

Also you have the 5 Speed Ford transmission. Have the fluid changed. How is it shifting? They are well known for shift solenoid problems but this can be changed while the tranny is still in the car.

The S Type never got the 4.0 SC engine so you only have the NA 4.0L V-8.
.
.
.

 

I own the same car and have put lots if money into it and it now has 56,300 miles. I did the work myself by google searches and the forum. If you have any engine mechanical abilities use them because you will spend a lot more than the car is valued at. Also look for water leaks from the base seal on the windshield into the engine area or you will have coil misfires. You can seal the windshield wiper arm in the center of the cowl because it leaks into the engine also.Also seal the coil cover for added protection of the coils. Good luck.

 

For the 2000 MY - there were only 2 engines available - 3.0 V6 and 4.0 V8 - no supercharged 4.0 V8 engine available for the S Type platform...

 

What if the tensioners have already been replaced? I have some receipts for this car from previous owners and some of the them are over $2K, that being said when I get the valve covers changed I will have them look at the tensioners for me. And if they need done I will have them done. I do have some mechanical abilities...the valve covers I could probably do myself but the tensioners...probably not without all the right tools to keep the cam from rolling and such!

Thank You!

 

Check they are the metal-bodied tensioners.

 

I traded in my 2000 s-type for a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GTS, which suits me and a whole lot easier/cheaper to fix! Thank You all for helping me and giving your advice! And owning a jaguar without making six figures just doesn't make much since if you cant afford to fix it!