I have to echo A2B.....Go Jeff Go!!!

 

I got these bits, mostly busted up tensioner pieces from the sump of the motor from the 2001 "donor".

All, except the big piece were in the oil pick up.

Thx for the encouragement, Jeff xj8

 

Ever since I bought the car a few weeks ago, none of the license plate lights or interior trunk lights were working. Got an autel version of the power probe which helped give me a direction. The voltage changing with the trunk going up and down was the giveaway. Thankfully it was only 4 wires easy to access and solder. I'm a little worried it will happen again over time with the wiring showing its age. If it does, I'll have to replace all the wiring in that section.

 

Yep.....that particular wiring loom has been the cause of many a Jaguar owners
source of various issues. The designers did not seem to be too worried about
longevity in their design. On the Duchess, I have a low-tension spring which
keeps it out of harm's way.

 

The replacement kit came with two different types of chains. The secondaries , short chains, left in photo, were good. The primaries, right in photo, would not fit on gears. Are there jags that use two different types on the same motor, or jags that use the type on the right? Can anyone think of an explanation other than I ordered or Euro Cars sent, the wrong primary chains? (I reinstalled the old primaries BTW) Jeffxj8

 

If my memory serves me right; from 2003 and the 4.2L engines, the primary chains are of the new, tougher type and the secondarys still of the "old" type.
The main concern if that its the case, is still the secondary chains (between the cams on each cylinderbank) if they are of the old plastic/old improved plastic type tensioners.

/E

 

Two types of chain. The later type of the multi link. The tensioners for the single link don't fit the multi link and vice versa. Single link is fine but gets noisy as it ages and stretches (100k+).
You have the later "updated" chains in that kit. You need the earlier chain set, or get the updated gearset to fit the multilink. The updated set uses the single link chains between the camshafts.
There's some non mix-n-match items you've put together there.

TL;DR:- you got the wrong chain and tensioner kit.

Edit: I went look in the box I kept behind from doing mine.
I've got a new single link chain and sliders if you want them, my kit had both types in (mine uses multi link). Might fit in a $11 flat rate box, I think. If not it'll go in a medium which I think is $16


Phil

 

Installed my 100% Aliexpress 3.5 inch intake. Still have to install my catch can and plumb in the recirculation (which was already broken and venting to atmosphere anyway). It sounds great and I think it feels quicker but that might be placebo. It's a fun project and it only cost me €115 in total, including the catch can and plumbing for it.

 

Now that sounds a bargain price for a bigger intake

 

Colour me intrigued. Do you have a link for this (or should I just go searching... there can't be many X308 intakes on AliExpress)

 

I drove mine nearly to work.

Nearly as they expect us to pay to park at work so I left it 1/2 a mile away & walked the last bit.

 

Compared to Mina or smth it's dirt cheap indeed! Takes a little more work though

It's not sold as-is but I parted it together myself. One 90 degree pipe, one 45 degree pipe, a 90 degree coupler, 2 straight couplers (be sure to select 89mm on all these products), a big filter and some hose clamps are all you need basically. I got a fitting for the recirc (3l4 NPT To 3l4 Inch), some hose (25xID 19mm) and a catchcan on top but those are optional if you're okay with venting to atmosphere. If these links don't work you can probably blame the orange man in Washington.

I've been driving it for a few days now and it sounds beautiful at open throttle!

 

A labor of love. Sometimes i am totally amazed at the ingenuity of
our forum members.

 

It does sound very tempting at that price.

 

Cleaned some stains from the boot carpet, removed a dealer sticker from the body.

Nothing fancy, but relaxing. Just giving the old lady some love ..

 

Dug out mystery switch and led which was installed by previous owner and i never had a chance to understand what for
Resulted it was anti radar
The thing went to trash, we have better tools for that purpose today
Finally im at peace

 

Peace is good. I know many other X308 owners who have discovered wiring
looms and connections and have scratched their heads for years.

 

Yes, this switch was irritating me for years and getting rid of it took me whole 15 minutes, lazy me
But nothing really wrong with modding looms, I've used cd changer cable to wire parking camera and audio amp signal between the cabin and the boot, still have few lines left for the future use

 

Took the driver's side cam cover off and added RTV along the lower half because I kept getting the "fake bacon" of burning oil; something changed because I now no longer get that smell, just "hot engine oil" so it's not on the manifold any more but it's maybe still leaking. Possibly is just leftovers because I've only done about 30 miles since I added the sealant. (The cam covers are slightly warped, stupid plastic nonsense).

Shall see if that continues, that leaves only the front cover or a leaking head gasket. Passenger side was fixed by sealant on the cam cover.

Phil

 

This talk of random switches reminds me. There's a random power cable poked up the side of my dash to the driver's corner of the windscreen, I've always had a suspicion it's linked to a rattle under the dash over bumps. I should really have a look one day, as I've been saying since 2019 when I got the car.