Need some HELP with this engine noise that just started... I was driving today and when the RPM's were high I was hearing some definite noises from the engine, which then died on me. I had it towed home and the attached video is what it sounds like (I saved the file as an .AVI and it doesn't look the best but the sound seems fine).

I got a P1396 code and the squealing / knocking noise and I don't know what the problem is... I DID replace the secondary tensioners a few years ago and the car only has 38,500 miles on it... also it idles smooth. AND, the serpentine belt and all the pulleys and such seem fine. The noise is hard to nail down... when I am on the one side it seems to be coming from the other side and vice versa.

I guess I will have to pull the valve covers and see how the chains/guides look and see if there is any slop.

Any one have any ideas for me... I am hoping the engine is not TOAST

 

Sounds like a bearing or something running dry

Quick check: lift the serpentine off and run the motor briefly. Fingers crossed it's not something painful.

 

Good call... I will check that tonight or tomorrow. HOPEFULLY it is something external and NOT internal...

 

Pump? (hopefully)

 

WELL, I slipped the serpentine belt off the tensioner and it still made crazy noises... I will try to do an audio of it next week (hurricane Dorian is a tad more important right now).

QUESTION: Does anyone know what it sounds like if the primary tensioners fail (or the guides)? The noises are not like a low knock...

I am hopeful that is the worst of my problems, otherwise I am going to have to think about the LS Conversion (since I have the ZF 5HP24 tranny and the A-Drum failure possibility is always hanging over my head with this car).

 

You posted a code related to the VVT. Pop the valve cover off and see if that is your problem.

 

What would I be looking for exactly... I am not totally familiar with the VVT... is it run off the cam(s) by chance?

Thanks for the input!

 

Sorry to hear it wasn't something in the accessory train.

TBH (and disclaimer: I'm not a mechanic, tech or had any training) it sounds like a bad rod bearing, and one of the causes of P1394 can be low oil pressure. The sound is also at engine speed rather than cam rotation.

VVT rotates the inlet cam phase but it's driven by oil pressure.

You're going to have to do some teardown work to get to the bottom of this and the cam cover is as good as anywhere to start.

Extremely unlucky if it turns out to be bottom end with such low mileage, and I sincerely hope I'm way off the mark here. Could any of the detritus from the old guides and tensioners have got into the oil pump feed?

Good luck

 

Well, I had a highly qualified mechanic friend come over and listen to my motor and he confirmed the worst... a connecting rod was making the noise on my 38,000 mile motor. I am definitely a tad bummed, but am looking forward to an LS conversion So, I will be without my ride for at least a couple of months but am anxious to get it back and running. I am hoping I can sell the transmission (also with only 38k miles) to help towards the conversion cost. I spoke with Andrew at Jaguar Specialties and need to start the process of finding a donor motor and transmission...

 

Bad, bad luck.... but there’s Andrew who will do the LS swap. No better man.

Purists may complain but, as I’ve always said, it’s your car.... go for it!

 

That's a real p**ser. Sorry it turned out bad.

@David, this purist would much rather see an LS1-powered XK gracing the roads than one festering in a breaker's yard

 

So was the crankshaft knackered? No chance of just popping some fresh rod bearings in?

 

Look forward to seeing the LS conversion. Andrew took me around in one of his proof of concept cars a while back when I was in town visiting a friend, and I was pretty impressed. You'll definitely get some hate on here from it, but it's your car. Enjoy it as such. Opens up a lot of opportunities for modification/power.

Sorry about the bad break, though.

 

Not sure at this point without having someone pull the motor and then tear it down,,, my main reasoning for just moving on to the LS motor and trans is reliability... even if I fixed the jag motor (the one with only 38k miles), I still have the ZF 5hp24 tranny and its problems hanging over my head. The way I look at it is I have had my car for 8+ years and even if I have $20k or so all into it, it is all just sunk cost. For another $15k or so for a proper LS conversion I can have the car for the next 8+ years and a whole lot more hopefully...

Also, I wanted to eventually sell the Jag and get a classic convertible muscle car, but that would cost me a MINIMUM of $35k+++ Here I can spend $15k and have the best of both worlds... the beauty of the Jag and the power and peace that the LS drivetrain would provide.

There is a guy near me here in Boca that Andrew helped with his LS conversion (he did TWO of them actually) and I am going to check his ride out tonight and pick his brain a little bit about his experience with the process. I am looking forward to getting started...

 

I should mention: while the electronic breakthroughs that Andrew has made are what separate his stuff from 99% of LS conversions, the thing that made me most jealous was neither that nor the manual trans nor the modification opportunities. It was how small the LS1 was, and how much room there was for your damn hands to get in between things...

Of course, that's why LS conversions are so popular (rather than Coyote swaps or anything else). But still. So much room for activities.