You kind of read it backwards

Your engine was produced on the 1st Feb 2002 at 11:24pm

I would almost guarantee you have metal tensioners

 

many thanks

 

The VIN decoder says I have a van built in 1993.

 

Nice Van!!

 

fast van

 

No of course not, the switch was way before the date of the first 4.2 engines in 2002. You car is build almost 2 years after the switch, so can't see why you would worry. As said if it would be 2 months, then better check.

 

Hi folks,
I've been going through the forum for advice on timing chain replacements. I'm in the process of changing the chains, tensioners, and guides. I've put in the new chains, tensioners, and guides, and have taken the slack out of the drivers side (left side here in U.S.). I'm working on the right side (passenger side) and I've gotten the slack out, but every time I take off the camshaft locking tool on the cams start to move and I lose tension on the upper right chain. Is this normal? Am I missing something here?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

I forgot to add the car I'm working on. It's a 2001 Jag S-type, 4.0 with 106K miles. I was told by the shop that the timing chain was causing the rough idle and smoke- this after the #4 coil was changed (the OBD codes had the number 4 cylinder failure). After many hours and conversations with a Jag tech, they told my mechanic that it was the timing chain tensioner. Quoted $4000 to change chains, tensioners, and guides.
I've decided to save myself $3000, and buy the parts and DIY.

 

The cams are moving a bit under spring pressure on the lobes. The right side ends up with the flats tilted down a little toward the middle when the alignment locking tool is removed. Everything sounds ok as far as alignment goes but I doubt the tensioners are causing the rough idle and smoke.

. . . and welcome to the forum!

 

The tensioners are hydraulic and do not provide the proper tension until the engine is running...what you are seeing is normal.

 

Thanks for the help. I was starting to get concerned that I might have broken something else (camshafts?) on the right bank.
I'm putting everything back together now.
Thanks again.

 

Thanks for the info. Hopefully it runs when I put it back together today.
Thanks again.

 

Hi everyone I have just joined this forum this is my first post.I have recently bought a XKR 2002 in seafrost really enjoying it.Eager to learn all about it any idea if I have the new metal tensioners?Reading the links my car was registered 21/05/02 but with engine no PB0104032122 which according to the thread makes the engine date 03/04/01
Thanks

 

wonder if he ever found the answer about his tensioners?

 

I have a 1998.75 XK8 VIN 030264 with 60K miles. I had the tensioners changed at 58K miles. However, yesterday a mechanic working on another problem inspected the tensioners and found that the "lower" tensioner was still the original. The "uppers" were the new type. It appears the mechanic that did the update did only the uppers. Does that make any sense? Do the lowers and the chain itself need to be upgraded? Help, I need some guidance by Monday the 12th so I can tell the mechanic what to do.

Bob F

 

It's very common to only change the upper or secondary tensioners. The lowers or primary tensioners rarely cause any problems.

I have heard service intervals mentioned for the primary tensioners in excess of 100K miles +.
Vector