My timing tensioner broke last week. I I was able to start the car the next morning but it is VERY rough. It sounds like it is running on 3 cylinders. My question is, what price range am I looking at to have this repaired? I understand it will be a wide margin but what is best case and worst case with labor at $100 per hour.
Thanks,
Jan

 

best case a few bent valves, worst case bent rods. If I where you I'd be looking for a replacement engine and labour would be 9-12 for out then the same again for install.

 

The first thing would be to not attempt to start the engine again. If the chain just skipped one tooth it would run rough, but no serious damage would result.

By removing the valve cover and turning the engine over manually the exhaust valve travel can be observed to see if one or more do not close completely. Even bent valves do not mean replacing the engine if the pistons are not badly damaged.

 

If you remove the exhaust camshafts you can run a compression check- if you have 0 on any cylinder then valves are bent, if not then you may have a chance-

I have purchased 5 jags w/broken chains and they all had no bent valves.

 

jandouglass---- I see that you joined the forum a year ago. Why didn't you address the timing chain tensioners before now????

I agree with dsnyder586 that it might NOT be bad at all.

I bought one of my XJ8s because it had a broken secondary chain for $500.
I removed the exhaust cam and performed a compression test. It show compression in all cylinders so I replaced all the timing components and I'm still driving it 5 years later.

Sometimes the cam stops in a 'happy-place'.

bob gauff

 

If the chain just jumped about how much sould that cost to repair? The reason I never addressed the timing tensioners is allt he money I all ready put in the car. I bought the car about a year ago and it is beautiful ran great and only cost $5050.00. Since then my "octopus hose blew, that I tried to fix myself but couldn't, $1300.00 later I got the car back.Water pump $350, tires $800. I've only driven it 2,500 miles and it seems to be a money pit now.

 

I hate to say this, but I'm afraid you are not a good candidate for owning a aging Jag. These cars are not expensive to maintain for those who are able to do the necessary repairs, a hobbyist owner.
If a secondary tensioner failed and the chain skipped a tooth, the repair would be about $300 if you did the work, $800 to $1200 at a indie shop. A broken chain would cost a little more if the valves are okay.
If the valves are bent, the head has to come off and maybe the engine can be saved, but even so you are looking at several thousand.
You need to find out what's wrong.

 

Search the forum for a series that a member (wonder what happened to him), Danielsand, wrote on the same issue. There are a series of threads, ca early 14, where he addressed the same problem.

Do not try to start the engine; if it seizes, your toast. If it can be turned by hand, maybe just putting in a new chain on that bank (and retiming) may be sufficient. IF YOU ARE LUCKY. No matter: if you are unable or unwilling to do the work yourself, get it towed to a good independent.