Hi all, pulled the cam cover to check and sure enough I have the plastic secondary tensioners on my 60k miles 2000 XJR. There's no timing chain noise on startup but having read the posts on this issue I'm now wary of driving the car without taking care of this potential issue.

I've been reading the posts on the forum and have some questions.

1/ There seems to be divided opinion on replacing both tensioners with some people just replacing the secondary tensioners. If the primary tensioners fail it seems like you may get some chain rattle but it doesn't seem to have the same risk of catastrophic failure. There don't seem to be any reports of primary tensioner failure causing major problems. Is this the case?

2/ I see full parts kits for around $100 on ebay. Tensioners alone aren't much less and don't come with the shorter bolts. Anyone had any bad experience with these lower cost ebay parts?

3/ What's the best source for torque wrench settings? Posts have the step by step instructions but don't list the settings for cam covers, bearing caps etc.. I see manuals on ebay are they the best source for this information? Is it posted on line anywhere?

4/ Do you need to replace the cam cover gaskets when doing this repair? Mine would be 20+ years old so it would seem to be a good idea.

Looking for any other tips or wisdom before diving in.

Thanks
Mike



.

 

just do the secondaries, online forums love spending other people’s money. i’ve done ford 4.6s with the same issue where the plastic guide eventually breaks at the bolt holes, you’ll get plenty of warning. it could fail tomorrow or at 300k.

don’t worry about it until you hear something, chances are you’ll lose a head gasket before the primary guides break.



anyways,

use fel-pro gaskets for the lincoln is

from another thread:

Valve cover: 84-96 inch pounds/7-8 foot pounds/9-11 Newton Meters

Secondary timing chain tensioners (with locktite): 89-124 inch pounds/7.4-10.3 foot pounds/ 10-14 Nm.

Cam bearing caps: 84-96 inch pounds/7-8 foot pounds/9-11 Nm.

 

Agree with Xalty, just do the secondaries. Search the "Zip tie Method" in this forum for the procedure to lift 1 cam and install the new tensioner.
Use Jaguar parts.

 

Mike,

If you intend to keep your 21 year-old, 60K mile XJR I would recommend you replace both primary and secondary tensioners/guides. While the main culprits are the secondary tensioners with their propensity for breaking up and allowing the cam timing to jump a cog or two, the primary guides also deteriorate with time and broken guide pieces find their way into the oil pan. (if you want pictures I can post images of my (then) 17 year old 69,000 mile XJ8 VDP with primary tensioner guides cracked and falling apart).

There are cheap parts advertised on the web, but I recommend the complete tensioner/gasket kit offered by
https://christophersforeigncarparts....ections/jaguar (just look for your specific model/year) it includes all quality parts and gaskets you need in one package to complete the upgrade.

There are several detailed threads on the process to complete this upgrade, and plenty of forum members here to help you if needed.

 

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.../brand/jaguar/

if you want to do the primary chain use this and some google skills to piece together a kit instead of christopher’s mystery box. iwis makes the oe chains.

you’re not supposed to use the morse guides (from esn010803000) a roller chain. you can get away with it you install the guides upside down, the blades work fine.

 

I recently had a sound coming from the front of the engine. This is my thred on what I found.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...tified-243385/

My parts list. Links may no longer be available.
my parts list for 2000 XK8.


Timing chain kit: for Lincoln LS
DNJ. # TK4162 $172 @ Rockauto.
Everything fits perect except in my opinion the guides are incorrect. Some members have used the guides in the kit but I didn't like the way they fit. I got the guides separately from SnG listed below. Still cheaper than buying a Jaguar kit.

Cam cover kit: for Lincoln LS
Fel-Pro. # VS50724R. $44 @ Partsgeek.
Doesn't come with VVT seal.

VVT seals:
2- AJ8256. $5ea @ AutohausAZ

SNG Barrett for next items.
Timing cover gaskets:
AJ83699. $16
NCA2127AC. $17(Lincoln LS different)
Chain guides:
2- NCA2025AB. $23ea
2- NCA1998AB. $33ea

From RMEUROPEAN
Crankshaft seal:
AJ83698. $10.
Total: $381.25 + any shipping charges
This is what I found that works for the best price. You can do your own research and may do better.


This from October last year so prices may be different. Search the part#'s.

You will need a timing kit


https://www.googleadservices.com/pag...Qwg8IHw&adur

In my opinion the easiest way to remove crank pulley.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...1BCtNzAvIg1mdw

 

So did the 4.0's built with the 3rd gen tensioners have plastic timing guides as well?

 

there’s the iwis roller and tsubaki morse primary chain. the sachs plastic secondary tensioner was updated with a backup spring in mid 1998 which is where the third gen term comes from.

tsubaki was contracted to make a quiet chain for the 4.2, changing design of the primary chain, all tensioners and guides in the process. the whole engine plant switched to the morse chain on august 3 2001.

you can install guides made for the morse chain on a roller engine but two of them have to be put upside down. the roller chain guides are still available and it’s the correct way to do it.

 

I just had my mechanic replace all of the timing gear, thermostat housing and water pump in my 2000 XJ8. The car only has 55k on it and he said my engine looked new inside and looking at the tensioners from the top they appeared fine. However, they had cracks running down the side and he found that the primaries and guides were also cracking. My car had the red colored ones so not sure which generation that is. He said it was a ticking time bomb and I got it just in time. Whew!

 

All good advice: the kit from Christopher is good enough and reliable for the secondaries using the tie method. But a friend went to the Lincoln dealer for his (saved some shipping and was just as good, based on what we saw on this forum 8 years ago). If you are very careful, your old gasket is probably as good or better than any replacement: be gentle removing it and the inserts for the bolts. While you have the cam cover off inspect the slips on the primary: if you see cracks, stop and jump on a full replacement. Lots (like more than any other issue) on this and the XK8 forum. But . . . a very important but . . . if you are not experienced, go find a really competent independent and pay the money even if it is more than the car is worth. But get the rest of the front end done: water pump, thermostat, tower, stubby hose, crossover and temp sensor . . . belts too, after twenty years, maybe pulley. Go slow, find a good quarter inch drive powered screwdriver with 8 and 10 mm sockets and extension for the screwdriver (there are lots of bolts) and be reminded (from an old forum member) patience is the most important tool in your tool box.

 

cracks along the guide = no problem. they’re all cracked

if it’s breaks at bolt hole you’ll hear a racket and that’s when you have to do the job

 

Depends on how much time, money you want to spend and how much of a perfectionist you are. I agree with Xalty the secondary tensioners are by far the most common failure point and you will probably be fine if you just replace those. However I have seen primary tensioners of varying condition in XJs of similar mileage. A lot depends on driving habits and overall vehicle care.

For my personal cars, be it overkill or not, I replaced the whole setup, all tensioners and chains. I just feel better with won't fail over probably won't fail. They aren't making new 4.0 AJV8s as far as I'm aware, I'm fine with extra precautions.

 

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm going to replace the secondary tensioners immediately and I'll come back later for the primaries when I have more time. I've ordered the full set of replacement parts. I need to be able to drive the car for a month or two and see what else needs doing - already identified a headliner replacement and a bent rim.

RockAuto have the fel-pro Lincoln gasket sets for $14 so for that price not worth skipping. They also have the top shock mounts for about $20 per side too so I'll be replacing them at the same time. Someone had previously torn one of the spark plug boots, must happen a lot as rockauto have replacements for a couple of dollars which was a nice surprise when I was expecting to have to buy a new coil pack.

Mike

 

I just installed those tops shock mounts from Rock Auto. Great price and so far they are silent.

 

Just did upper shock mounts/bushings as well on my 01 sedan. Extensive maintenance records with the car showed those replaced by indie Jag shop 30K ago. Left was badly cracked and right bushing you turn by hand. Shop used local parts chain as vendor, so no record of parts mfg. Moral of the story is the vendor (i.e. RockAuto) isn't the issue for replacements, it's the manufacturer. Euro parts are offered by a lot of eBay vendors. Verify the mfg, as in Euro, and go for best price. Sedan now rides quiet as it should, a real pleasure.

 

I found Mahle better than URO: both way ahead of doing yourself with neoprene or wasting a lot of money on OEM from the dealer.

For Mike: secondaries are a must: good choice, but do look at the primary slips. . .

 

Like others have said, my Jaguar specialist recommended I only replace the secondary tensioners on my ‘02. So that’s what I did. It was about six years ago and about 30k miles ago. Now I have 87k miles and I still have the original primary tensioners and guides.