I changed my secondary tensioners this afternoon. Was very straightforward, used the zip-tie method, did it single handed, Exhaust cams didn't try to escape on me. Took me 6 hours, took it slow and steady, really enjoyed it - part of that was mopping up oil from the spark plug holes, not sure how it got there, possibly leeking o rings, and then I stupidly spilt more in three spark plug holes on the right bank when I lubed up the cam prior to assembling the caps and cover etc.

One of the threads I have read talks about disconnecting the coolant pipes over the left cylinder bank and draining coolant - I found I did not have to do that...plenty of room. Also I have read about the difficulties encountered with the dip stick bracket on the left bank - My dip stick tube doesn't have a bracket, looks like it never did, so that was a stroke of good fortune......When I had finished I rotated the engine by hand to sort the tension on the cams out by turning the crank pulley with a socket/wrench from inside the engine bay. Fans didn't get in the way, plenty of clearance. Started the engine having checked everything over, sounded great.

The second generation yellow tensioners that I took out were in pretty good condition, the left bank one was unmarked at the usual failure place. The right bank one was showing signs of cracking around the metal pin area but not in a vertical direction, , just around the pin, like a smile, if that makes sense. I did have a little ticking on start up with the old tensioners, not with the new ones....so I am a happy man... Allan

 

Glad things went well for you! Good job!
Vector

 

Thanks, Vector, Allan

 

Oh, the joys of Jaguar ownership. It does feel good to get something worthwhile accomplished. I still think that with a little TLC these cars can be practical - well,
sort of. Once you get it all sorted out, it will be boring.

 

well done, paid to have mine done worth the money no more worries for those of us that have them done good job

 

Thanks X300man, It was the not knowing, having 102k miles on the clock, I just couldn't get the worry out of my head, was it going to fail next time out, I became a little obsessed....It's such a load off now it's done. Looking at the condition of the 2nd generation yellow ones I took out, I don't think they were going to fail any time soon....but the worry has gone...and that's a great feeling. Thanks Allan