There is an ongoing problem with people purchasing 1997-2002 XK8's with no way to determine if the original primary tensioners were replaced. Would it be possible to use a camera bore scope (which uses a cable to get into inaccessible space and projects the image on a screen. Harbor Freight sells one for $ 100.) and thread the cable forward through the oil filler opening in the valve cover to a point where it would be possible to view one of the primary tensionsers? Having not removed my valve covers as yet, I have no idea of the clearance between the camshaft(s) and the cover or, for that matter, whether the probe has a wide-enough visual angle to even see the tensioners, but I thought I'd put the idea out there.

 

I tried my HF borescope thru the oil filler - no luck, its too big and stiff to make the turns.

 

Oh well, seemed like a possibility.

 

I know - I tried it as soon as I thought of it - to verify. Seems you gotta pull the kit off - and I'm in the middle of doing that anyway to replace a head gasket. It is helpful, that borescope - to see the silly hose clamps and such underneath ... got mine on sale for 59.00

 

Howdy Folks:
Ditto here with the Autel MV208 scope. I could go in only ~ 6.5" and I could not make a left turn. Maybe I just have a low level of frustration. I did not have much trouble pulling the cover and in my case experienced the joy of seeing the latest factory installed metal tensioner / silent (Morse, Ramsey) timing chain.

 

was just talking to my nephew - he remembers seeing a really thin borescope that was USB powered for a terputer ( and of course he can't remember where he saw it ) - but it was ultra-flexible. I'll do some searching, and se if there is such a beast - would be uber-helpful during my troubleshooting.

 

I guess the moment that you find out that your car has the latest tensioners must be joyful indeed (congratulations Dr. D). I'll know in the next few days after which I'm either going to open champagne, or live indefinitely on Ramen noodles while I pay off my mechanic.

 

I see four previously owned Jags in your signature. All of them dating to the days of prince Lucas and pre-Ford quality. Your mechanic most likely already owns your soul and those of your heirs.

 

Well, back in the day as they say, I owned a foreign car repair shop and specialized in working on Jaguars (I obviously had a lot more patience then). Unfortunately, an impending shoulder replacement and advancing age has limited what I can (and am willing) to do on cars, forcing me to use a local independent Jaguar mechanic for the time being anyway (good thing Lucas doesn't replacement shoulder joints).

Jonscot mentioned hearing about a borescope camera that connected to a laptop via a USB connector. I found several of them on Amazon for less than $ 50, the limiting factor, for this purpose, being the outside diameter of the camera itself. The smallest dia. I found was 7mm, a hair more than 1/4". The cable is even thinner. Based on your experience with the HF borescope, do you think that the 7mm might work? If so, I might be willing to buy it and give it a try. Would be an absolutely awesome tool if it worked!

 

Good luck with the camera option. I just completed removing my RH cam cover and found that it took more time to remove the bottom rear bolt than it took for all the rest of the bolts and other parts to get to them. (I ended -up using a Franken-tool similar to another Forum member's suggestion to eventually get that bolt out!) The celebration of finally getting the last bolt out was quickly ended when I laid eyes on the reddish (plastic) tensioner.

 

My sincere condolences, Jim. I'm 90% sure that my mechanic will find the same thing (at great personal expense), but it beats rolling the dice. He's also going to install a Sunbelt rebuilt valve body in the transmission to hopefully head off the "A" drum problem. Hope to have enough money left for gas.

 

Just to be clear, even the Metal Bodied Tensioners will have Plastic Wear Shoes that will turn Red with time.

 

Paul,
Thanks, unfortuately, the red plastic I referred to is the tensioner housing. I haven't yet removed the tensioner, so I don't know if it has begun to crack yet. But, it's just a matter of time.

 

@max224 - I will see if I can thread a 7mm stiff cable - but I'm guessing its just too tight in there. I'm ALMOST tempted to design a kit to tap a borescope hole at the end of the cover, and find some cool looking cap-bolt.

 

I just took the RH cover off a XKR this morning. If you remove the support for the heat shield and press to the fender well, a 3/8 drive socket and breaker bar can be used to get it started.

 

2 PC Flexible Bar Socket Extension Flex Ratchet Auto Tools 3 8" 1 4" Long Short | eBay


These are a great addition to the toolbox and enabled me to get at that pesky rear bolt

 

Thanks for the link batroute. I just ordered the pair! They will be a great addition to my tool box.

 

I thought about that also, but couldn't figure out a way to keep metal shavings (shudder!) from dropping into the engine. Besides, once you find out what tensioners are in there. are you ever going to use that opening in the cam cover again?

 

Gentlemen,
if you don't have proof from Jaguar that BOTH secondary tensioners have been replaced then you must assume they are the original plastic body tensioners. I wouldn't drill holes or risk getting a scope stuck or broken inside the engine. Getting the valve covers off is just a matter of removing bolts. Really it's pretty easy. Even swapping the secondary tensioners is a 2 out of 10 on the difficulty scale. No one here wants to see a post titled "where is the best place to buy a replacement engine?" And Jimmyjag, my tensioners looked fine too, but when I took the passenger side tensioner out it broke in my hand. Scary!!

 

I agree that it appears to be a fairly easy job and, under more favorable circumstances I would already have the valve covers off. It is possible, of course, that the tensioners were replaced by a previous owner independent of a Jaguar dealership (I should be so lucky) which wouldn't necessarily show up in service records.

Overall, just seemed like an interesting mental challenge.