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Hi everyone, I am new to this group and also I am first time to be an owner of an Jaguar. I am going to get a Jaguar (2000/2001) Sovereign V8 4L with about 58000kms inherited from my father. After some researches, I know the timing chain tensioner is the weaker part oft his car. Should I be replacing it no matter what when I got this car? Has anyone had experience to replace it in Melbourne Australia? Do you have any sugegstions where I can go and poetentailly the cost.
Some of the X308s were equipped with unsuitable timing chain tensioners and timing chain guide off factory.
My 1998 3.2L X308 fell into that category, I hope someone else knows, if your 4.0L (is it now 2000 or 2001?) falls into the same category, or if you had better parts off factory.
Maybe this will help you - note that my 3.2 does not have VVT, you probably have it, which makes things a little bit more complex.
Your model has the 2nd generation PLASTIC secondary tensioners: best to change them now unless your father has already changed them. The secondaries get a hairline crack and fail to charge up causing the chain to skip a cog, which will destroy your engine (almost always). Secondary kits are available to include two new tensioners and four shorter bolts. Kits are also available for doing all tensioners including the primaries.
Web is full of Youtubes on the subject; this forum has many, many threads . . . easy to do yourself, if you are handy with wrenches -- just read everything and go slow.
I strongly recommend that you get the special tool kit. I got one from e bay for about 60 USD.
With it you can position the crankshaft and camshafts in place and immobilize them while you do the work.
When I did the job the engine was out of the car and much easier to work on so I changed the primary and secondary chains and tensioners which involves a lot more surgery.
Most folks just change the secondaries . If you zoom in you can see where they crack.
jeff xj8
I'm not an expert but with manuals and help from the web and the experts on the forum I was able to successfully do the job.
Greetings fellas,
A quick observation on the excellent Jaguar Training Course 168 (HUGE thanks, NBCat!) as it applies equally to the 3.2L V8 version as well as the 4.0L V8 and 3.0L V6 engines?
A further quick question to Jeff . . . does the special tool kit (crank + cam locks) also apply to these engines other than the 4.0L.
If so, these become of immense value to our DIY arsenal. Well done fellas.
timing chain tensioner
