Good Morning;

Time to put plans together to have the tensioners checked/replaced in the 2000 XK8 once the snow goes. I have no reason NOT to trust the job to the Dealer where I bought it (used), although they were a bitt spotty on returning my e-mails about Service History once I had bought the car. I guess I should instruct them to use the Ford (Lincoln) replacements, but what should I expect in the way of Labour hours? Any advantage to using an independent Jag specialist shop?

 

Probably about 4 hours for the secondary only. A dealer is probably not going to agree to use the Ford tensioners and FelPro gasket set. The difference between an independent, that has the tools and has done this before, and the dealer is about US$400 plus an additional US$200 in parts if the indy agrees to use the above brought in.

 

RSN:

I've got a 99 XK8, and am in the same boat. I'm hesitant to order the tensioners and gaskets before the valve cover is removed--looking for the newer Gen III metal ones. If I've got plastic tensioners, my car will be sitting around for a few days waiting for UPS--no problem. Dealers and Indy's want to get the parts immediately to get the cars out of their way.

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE FELPRO VALVE COVER GASKET KIT #? (The Felpro website is pretty confusing.) I WONDER IF THE GASKETS FROM A 3.9 LINCOLN LS or TBIRD WORK? TousleyFord.com seems to be the cheapest place to order tensioners @ 10% over cost.

 

VS50724R for the '01 LS/Thunderbird. That fits the AJ27 engine, not the AJ26.

 

Will the VS50724R for the '01 LS/Thunderbird valve cover gaskets also fit a 2001 XK8?
Thanks, David

 

Do you also have the part number for the generation 3 tensioners from Ford or elsewhere on the internet.....ebay etc?

Thanks, David

 

Yes it will.

 

Ford PN 2W9Z6K254BA Right Secondary metal bodied Tensioner (1 required)
Ford PN 2W9Z6K254CA Left Secondary metal bodied Tensioner (1 required)
Ford PN W500301S300 Bolt (4 required)

I got good pricing at http://www.sunroadfordparts.com. The Ford parts even said 'JAG' on the box.

 

Hi White XKR,
Thank you very much for your "instant" response!!
All your help is greatly appreciated......Great Jaguar Forum.

Regards,
David

 

Do I order 4 x Ford PN W500301S300 Bolt .
I read somewhere that the bolts were different lenght?
Are all 4 bolts the same length?

Regards,
David

 

Yes, you need the 4 new bolts. The new bolts, and the tensioner bodies themselves are about 1/8" shorter than the plastic tensioner bolts/bodies. Using the old bolts with the new tensioners may result in them bottoming out before the tensioner sealing to the oil feed passage.

 

is it worth changing the spark plugs while the tensioners are being replaced?
(The car has done 55K miles, I have had it for 2 years and not changed the plugs)

 

Your plugs are rated for 100k miles but any related work beyond 80k probably would invoke a change.

Running good? Not required but most do. I don't think you even have to remove the plugs to remove the valve covers.

 

Hello Everbody.
While reading the posts/threads on this chain tensioner, Will the VS50724R for the '01 LS/Thunderbird valve cover gaskets also fit a 2000 XK8?
How do I know which engine, AJ26 or A27, I have? I could not see anything that looked like that in the VIN SAJJA42CXYNA03586

Thanks,

Bill
,

 

The AJ26 was used in the '97 - '98 XK8 and the '99 XKR so yes, they will fit your '00

 

Hello everybody,
Well I'm getting ready to change my secondary tensioners. Don't need it yet but being proactive.
I ordered the Ford PN 2W9Z6K254BA Right Secondary metal bodied Tensioner and the left Ford PN 2W9Z6K254CA.. I have a 2000XK8. I presume from the replys above these are the correct ones? Also the bolts, I have a lathe, machine off 1/8" or the difference in the heights of the secondarys vs buying new bolts?
Thoughts, comments?

Thanks,
Bill

 

The proper bolts are just four dollars or so...having done the tensioners job myself (with the Ford parts you list), my recommendation would be to get the proper bolts.

 

Good afternoon:
I'm new to this site, and hoping for help. I have a 1998 VDP with seems to be the tensioner problem everyone is referencing. My Check Engine and Low Oil Pressure lights are on, and the valves are making noise.

My questions:
Does it make sense to replace only the secondary tensioneers instead of both the primary & secondary?
Does Ford have the primary replacement part as well or only the secondary?
Do the Ford parts fit the 98 engine or only the 99 & later models.
Does anyone sell a complete kit to do the job?

Any help provided will be appreciated as I'm trying to decide whether to repair or replace the car.

Thank you
Jim

 

Welcome to the Jag forums, Jim. When you have time, please visit the new member area and introduce yourself. Just click on the link below:

New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

You should be in the XJ8 forum, and one of the admins will probably move your post shortly, but your problem is common to both vehicles, so no loss posting here.

The low oil pressure concerns me much more than the tensioner issue at this point. But the first rule right now is DON'T START THE ENGINE.

 

Okay, that being said, you need to read the codes and check the oil level. If you know someone with a generic code reader that will be a good start. There are inexpensive ones on the market if you want to buy one, others will suggest options.