What year did Jaguar introduce the upgraded metal secondary cam chain tensioners?
What model year ? 2003 AJ34?
Was there a TSB for older cars AJ27?
Can’t find the details, anyone point me in the right direction, ideally with some reference/evidence.
Much appreciated.

 

The tensioners were upgraded in 2001 and only certain engine numbers after that date have them. With a 1996 he only sure way to tell is to remove the cam covers and look. Jaguar did a TSB and replaced original generation with a second generation that still had problems. The 3rd generation was the metal ones. Again it can't be stressed enough if you don't have documents for 3rd generation, remove the cam covers and look.

 

^^ What he said.
Motors with serial # 010813 0001 010813 0000 onwards. You can't go by build date. I have read that some reman. motors may be fitted with plastic-bodied tensioners.

 

Can anyone post some pictures of the tensioners, in situ, and on the bench?

I understand some Tensionsers from a particular Lincoln are recommended? Anyone got an URL regarding that?

Thaks

 

Follow the link and you can see the difference and also read about a great DIY method. It works , I have used it before.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ics-how-52653/

 

I have gone through the upgrade and found the reference to the engine number. I am looking for the TSB or engine spec which mentions the introduction the metal tensioners. Where the Jag documentation? It’s got to be out there somewhere?

see my YouTube playlist of my tensioner change including types for your information. Just looking for the docs.
Upgrade Cam tensioners, guides and chain - Jaguar XK8
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...qTmi-il_fx1OC7

 

 

Dude, it's not a dead horse if yo'ure new to the forum or JUST acquired a Jag. Try being helpful instead.

 

AFAIK, Jaguar never issued a TSB that called for their replacement as a service item, which likely was partly responsible for the number of failures.
JEPC quotes a part # based on engine # as above.



C2A1512 (LH) & C2A1511 (RH) are the current OEM

 

Thanks for the codes, could u pls show where u got this from? I am on the verge of purchasing a 2001 XJ8 Sport 138000kms with no record of tensioners being done as owner insists his serial code is once the gen 3 all-metal tensioners were used from factory, either gonna ask for price reduction to do the job or walk away if I cannot find out 100%, cheers.

 

Hi,
JEPC information for the X308:


It's all down to the engine #, which should be stamped on the block behind the LHS motor mount. See this post from GGG:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...2/#post1949371

If it's 0108130000 or greater, the engine will have metal-bodied tensioners. If it's lower, it won't - unless there is documentary evidence they've been changed.

JEPC = Jaguar Electronic Parts Catalogue.

 

for what’s it’s worth, my 2002 XKR had the typical catastrophic damage from a tensioner failure when under the care of a previous owner. It cost him $5,000 + to have it fixed.

So, even though there may not be documentation placing a midpoint 2002 car (such as mine) into the “danger zone”, I wouldn’t trust any car without repair documentation to be a safe bet.

My advice would be to take your time during the searching process and look for a car with a complete service record which details that the known issues have been dealt with. If I can find such a car, so can you.

Z

PS Likewise advice for the 4.0 XK8’s that have the ZF transmission with the problematic “A drum”. Find one that’s already been fixed. The transmission issues with the 4.0 XK8’s is what finally steered me into the 4.0 XKR camp, as the R’s have the stronger Mercedes 722.6
transmission. Cheaper to fix a supercharger than a transmission.

 

Thanks alot for this, I have the engine code from the import documents, and its 02XXXX... so should have the metal tensioners, I still feel tempted to open cam cover to visually confirm, will suss how difficult that is.

Seeing as it's on 138,000kms I wonder when the timing chain system would be due a rejuvenation anyways...

Car otherwise has impeccable service history + full logbooks etc. Front drum issue also been taken care of.

Thanks again fior your help!

 

He has engine serial code documentation from when it was imported, placing it in the gen 3 all-metal tensioner safe zone, as confimed by the JEPC info from @michaelh above (cheers)

Other than that the car's service history is impeccable, in terms of finding a car without concern easily, it's a bit of different story over here in Perth, WA, this is probably the only XJ8 Sport in the state...

Yep clutch front drum has fortunately been sorted in 2016

 

OK so past the changeover point. 02 motor in a 2001MY car?

 

even all 2002 cars do not have the generation 3 tensioners. My mid 2002 XKR had the typical tensioner failure.


as pointed out, the only way to know what you have is to take off the covers and look, then post some photos. Only trust your eyes.

Z

 

I'm also skeptical, I do know you can get a 2001 model car with a 2002 MY, the engine serial code was on the aus govt importation documents which for our nanny-state govt would absolutely get right due to the crime-related aspect of dodgey modified cars etc., however I think ill want to see the engine code serial plate with my own eyes, unfortunately it's a pain apparantly needing small mirror on a stick type of thing ffs, have also watched a couple vids on opening up cam cover and doesn't seem like too bad a job, just need to replace gaskets etc. on the cam cover so will be careful.

 

It's not necessarily a problem. If it's an '02 motor it will have metal-bodied tensioners and steel-lined cylinders, and been changed in previous ownership.

I think most of the pain is locating the #, as it moved from adjacent to the thermostat tower around 2001, I believe.

If you do pull a cam cover, pull the RHS one as there's less 'stuff' in the way (think dipstick tube).

Good luck