Need some advice please re my 2001 XJ8 3.2 Sport (123k miles). I experienced an engine rattle as I accelerated with a full load of adult passengers and kit at around 4-5k revs.

Observing it over the last 2 days/120 miles it appears as a quick 3 second rattle at start-up, quietness up to around 2k revs, but a definite rattle from 2k onwards. It's a little bit intermittent (sometimes nothing at all, but mostly it manifests as above).

It's booked in at my local Jaguar specialist for 10 days time. Shall I continue to drive it until then or book a horrid hire car? Most of the stuff I've read online is contradictory, so I need some firm ideas if poss (paperwork shows the tensioners were replaced in 2011)

 

Check for loose spark plugs

 

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If the tensioners were done in 2011 then you'd expect they wouldn't be the problem. Even though that would be most peoples first guess...

I personally wouldn't drive it without finding the source of the noise, but that's just me. Hire car for 10 days is still cheaper than a replacement engine, right?

 

Nothing is 100% reliable. Although unlikely, even latest generation tensioners could fail and the paperwork shows they now been running for three years.

As the rattle manifests itself on start-up, have someone start the car whilst you listen under the open bonnet and try to pinpoint the source. If you then even remotely suspect it's coming from the timing chains, apply the Eastwood Test - you've gotta ask yourself a question: "Do I feel lucky?"

It would be the hire car for me.

Graham