Only occurs on cold starts..

https://share.icloud.com/photos/02dh...PVPM_FojacI90A

 

The tensioner 'rattle' was addressed by Jaguar a few decades ago and it was common until OIL PRESSURE forced the tensioner to extend taking the slack out of the chain.

Continuing rattle could be the tensioner failing or chain extremely stretched.

The second generation tensioners only incorporated an assist spring but the plastic body would still fail.

The only way to be sure of WHAT generation tensioners you have is the remove the cam covers and LOOK!

I have a customer 1998 XJ8 coming to my shop with a left (B) bank secondary chain BROKEN.
The car is not in great shape and I THINK the exhaust cam stopped on a 'happy-place' so might have survived bent valves?
Damaged head will be a SCRAP CAR due to the relatively poor condition of paint and body.
Just chains probably justify a repair? (we will see)

 

Removing the cover means replacing the gaskets and I’ve no time to do that. The car does need to be booked in for a coolant leak.

The only thing I’ve done recently is add oil the car and I was concerned I had put too much in. Perhaps related?

 

No you can reuse the gaskets, I did when I replaced the secondary tensioners in mine. They are rubbery ones not old paper stuff. Takes about 20mins to lift the RH cam cover & confirm what's in there.

 

That's a great question, I hope someone here has the answer. I have a similar sound on cold starts. It's not quite as loud, but I'd be willing to bet that's what's going on.

I called a local mechanic that specializes in Jaguars, immediately got bad feelings on him when he said he's charge $150 just to listen to the car. He claims replacing the tensioners is a $5500 job. Sound absurd to me.

PLEASE SOMEONE WITH KNOWLEDGE CORRECT ME. From what I understand, the real issue is the SECONDARY upper tensioners which support the tensioner arms. When the plastic on the secondary tensioners fail, the arms crack and the chain loosens. When there is no damage, I believe you just need to replace the secondary tensions only, and maybe the arms if in bad condition. The technical bulletin shared by motorcarman shows that the manufacturers suggested BILLING time is 2.75hrs for an X302 XJ8.

I heard elsewhere online the preventative repair cost should be about $600-800.

Please give your thoughts, I don't want to let this get any worse.

 

Jaguar warranty time is extremely STINGY and we always used published LABOR TIME GUIDES like Motor, Chilton etc.

If a particular labor op was not listed, we would use WARRANTY TIME, TIMES TIME AND A HALF. (eg. 2 hours warranty x 1.5 = 3 hours)

I would charge 4.5 to 5 hours labor on an old car because I will run into some issues. New cars are cleaner and less likely RUSTED/CORRODED.

One broken stud/bolt turns the job into more than estimated.

 

Gabe, call around for an European car repair or type your search “jaguar independent car repair” and whatever area you live in. You don’t have to settle for the one shop you know of. Also if there’s a major city within an hour away, search there. Just don’t continue to press your luck. If it gets bad enough, **don't** start it again or else it'll just grenade itself.

 

DO NOT cheap out and only do the secondary adjusters! That is a common mistake and is usually done before they dump the car on the next fool to buy it. As for the cost since you can't do the repair how would you have any idea if the price was too high or not?

With old used Jaguars you will spend a TON of money at repair shops if you can't or won't DIY the repairs.
Your car needs a complete timing equipment overhaul.

Have you checked the oil level? That will tell you how full it is.
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With all that said, listening to your video, it doesn't sound like bad tensioners. But the only way to be sure is to pull one of the cam covers and check and if the secondaries are plastic, replace them.