I have a 1999 XJ8 and am told that the timing chain slipped. Is there a way for me to replace the chain and have the correct timing? I also have an Audi A8 and know that if the timing belt slips you have to take it to a dealer because there are no marks on the cams nor belt to regain correct timing. HELP

 

Timing chains (almost always the secondary) don't slip, but skip a tooth and seldom without a catastrophic event. In other words it is possible, but unlikely you just have a skipped (or more likely a broken) secondary, and usually caused because of a broken ski off the tensioner.

If it were mine, the first step is DO NOT TURN OVER THE MOTOR! Leave it just where it is. Remove both cam covers and start with the secondary chains and tensioners if everything looks to be in place (probably not) then you can consider rotating the crankshaft by hand (MUST BE CLOCKWISE, NEVER Anti-clockwise on an AJV8). Rotate until you can see all four cam flats (2 pairs) on the same planes. At that point you can try to pin the crankshaft which would verify primary timing and/or a skipped tooth chain. If you do have a skipped tooth on the secondaries though, you'll never get all four cam flats (2 pairs) in common planes, which tells the story.

Sorry for the winded answer and even this is incomplete, but the first steps in diagnosis. We can go further if you get this far and don't discover it is really something else.

Also, BTW, you're in the wrong section. Have one of the mods move this string to the X308. You'll get better answers there.

 

Thanks for your knowledge on the timing chain. Is was really odd. I drove it 3 hours on Saturday and it ran like a dream. I went out the following morning and it would not start. The garage stopped by and diagnosted a slipped/skipped timing chain. Really hope there is no damage.

 

Usually happens on start up. Here is a link from the XK8/R forum FAQ sticky with pictures of what Steve11 verbally described. It is also the complete 'how to' pictorial on the replacement. Not a difficult repair at all. Getting the valve covers off is half the job.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mijhydngtog

 

If the chain only slips just one tooth on the cam sprocket, it will result in very poor idle and greatly reduced performance... if it slips two or more teeth, the valves end up on the wrong side of the pistons. I sure hope it's just one tooth in your case.

 

Hi,

great link for the guide, test point, thanks. does it exist also for the supercharged versions of the engine? what are the differences in the procedure?

thanks.

 

See this videos...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n4894bI8-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDOFhcKId1s

And this tutorial...
http://jaguar.blackonyx.net/tech/timingchain.htm

HTH

David

 

One more question, I read the special tools are the same as for some ford models. True? which models?

 

2000 - 2002 Lincoln LS V8 and Ford Thunderbird V8. The procedure is the same for the SC as the NA.

 

"The procedure is the same for the SC as the NA"
Well... except for the vvts