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Hello all,
I have been cautiously driving my new cat until I could pull the valve covers and replace the tensioners. I pulled the drivers side one tonight, and to my understanding it already has updated tensioners? Also, glad I have new plugs as these look original.
Last edited by Shotimer; Jan 10, 2016 at 10:49 PM.
That side is the harder side, so now all you have to
do is check the other side.
It has been known to happen that an owner changes
one side due to one reason or another without changing
the other side. So, you have to get eyeballs on both.
EXCEPT that your engine clearly has the upgraded primary chain, too. You did not say, but that means the engine was almost certainly built after August 2001 and came with the metal tensioners from the factory. What MY is that specimen?
Last edited by sparkenzap; Jan 11, 2016 at 01:52 AM.
I'm at this moment changing my chains and the tensioners are fine but plastic. The guides are all badly cracked and split! So I wouldn't trust simple tensioners up top!
EXCEPT that your engine clearly has the upgraded primary chain, too. You did not say, but that means the engine was almost certainly built after August 2001 and came with the metal tensioners from the factory. What MY is that specimen?
It clearly has the upgraded primary chain? Pardon my ignorance, but how can you tell? The primary guides look good in there as well.
It's a 2002 XJR-100, the tag on the drives side door says made in 11/2001.
Your primary chain is a so called "Morse Style" silent chain rather than a roller chain as in your the secondary position. A roller chain looks like a bicycle chain.
I do not know if you can see it here, but the engine in the picture below has a primary roller chain.
BTW, apparently some XJRs built after August 2001 had old stock engines installed from the factory since some folks say their cars still had the original arrangement.
Last edited by sparkenzap; Jan 11, 2016 at 02:50 PM.
Reason: added picture
Thanks Sparkenzap for the clarification, I do see the difference you are talking about. I'm looking forward to getting her buttoned up, new plugs installed and the oil changed - then I can stretch her legs out without worry.
Everytime I took the car out I was worrying if the tensioners were going to let go....now I can drive relaxed.
This is an original standard tensioner from the mid 90ies in the typical looks... The plastic top has dissappered and the shaft is cracked. The entire unit could wobble left and right and had LOADS of slack. The chain started to eat into the metal plate - as can be seen.
Updated tensioners, I think
