So Faith has been getting the full work over for a while now, my buddies give me a great deal on labor and in return I don't rush them....

So I set them up with all the parts for the UPPER tensioners, which are the orange original plastic ones, they haven't come off the car yet so I can't report their condition at 42K miles yet.

BUT, here is the warning-most of what I read on here says the lowers are rarely an issue and most people don't look them over unless there is some other reason to get behind the timing cover.

My mechanics pulled the cover and then summoned me to see this:



Needless to say we are now waiting on more parts. It seems to me that since these cars with the tensioner issues are now 12+ years old, regardless of mileage (mine has 42K on it) the lower timing system may also be suspect due to the plastics.

While I hate the money I'm putting in her now, I feel after this round of maintenance/upgrades I can drive for the next couple of years almost worry free, I hope!

 

When I got the secondary tensioners replaced earlier this year, the primary guides were cracked as well. I ended up with new primary and secondary chains, tensioners, and guides. (And a lot more parts)

It was also a case of "while we are busy..."

 

When I did mine about six months ago, I figured while we're in there let's do everything, primary, secondary, timing chains, gaskets, the gauntlet. It all came in the one complete kit, and I didn't want to have to worry later on down the line. I think it's prudent thinking.

 

I must admit in the last 10 years of doing XKs I have never just replaced the secondary tensioners, I have always recommended to do the lot, I have always seen just doing the top tensioner as a "make do" rather than a proper repair/job

 

Even my independent (son of a Jag Dealer) replaced the whole lot a year ago (at 100KkM); Neither ones had cracks, but we both felt much better this way!

 

Hi everyone.
My Cat has almost 100k on its life and I am concerned about about the tensioners. Having a spirited driving style (XKR) probably does not help to extend the live of them either. Is there a way to test the condition of the tensioners without having to open and take a look? tberg, can you give me an idea about how much the complete kit will cost. Also, how many hours does it take to replace the parts?

Thanks
Uwe

 

The only way to check them is to look. The secondary tensioners don't give any warning, they just go kaboom! The primary tensioners do give some horrid shrieking which lets you know they're on their way out.

I changed only the secondaries, because I'm on a student's budget. I haven't had a problem yet and avoided having to shell out a small fortune to a mechanic. Would I do the primaries if I had the chance? Yes. Would I prefer to have done them both? Yes, but, I would still do them myself. I love tinkering on my car. I do feel a huge relief even though I only did the secondaries.

Next year I'll have more time and hopefully more money. I might take the plunge and work on the primaries after I have swapped shock mounts and transmission oil/filter and dealt with a fuel smell. It's been about 5k miles since I changed the secondaries and I haven't had a single problem.

 

My mechanic convinced me to do the whole job, and boy oh boy, am I glad I did. The prior owner(s) changed only one of the secondary tensioners, and nothing else. take a look at the link for a pic of the parts removed with my total job.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...02/#post850618

 

How much does it cost to replace everything? Parts & labor?

"I figured while we're in there let's do everything, primary, secondary, timing chains, gaskets, the gauntlet. "

 

In terms of parts cost we sell 3 different types of kit.
Click link to see pictures/prices.


SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist


I'm sure someone else will step in with labor costs.

 

Allow 10 hours of labour and that is being generous,

 

After reading several threads mentioning the chain tensioners, I decided to review the maintenance history of my XKR (which has been passed through several owners, including records from the original owner) and I was able to find that my tensioners, the whole job, was completed in 2007 by a Michigan Jaguar dealer, at a cost of about $1600.


There are several other parts and labor listed, so hopefully I have taken out the proper dollar amounts from my total here.


I am wondering though, how can I be sure that the parts described in the maintenance record are the metal tensioners, and not plastic replacements? I did try to google the part numbers, but didn't see anything specific.

 

After 2003 they no longer used the plastic tensioners. If yours were replaced in 2007 you should be good to go.

And by "whole job" is assume they replaced both primary and secondary tensioners. Congratulations. Not all of us were that lucky when we bought our cars.

 

I would agree that because the tensioners were changed in '07 AT A JAGUAR DEALER that there is a very good chance that the metal ones were used. The left over plastic ones were still being sold on eBay only 2 years ago.

 

Hard to believe, but they are still for sale here: GROWLER JAGUAR PARTS - XK8 & XK. Scroll about 1/3 way down.

 

That's got to be wrong in anyones book! Does nothing for the credibility of the seller.

 

The family traveled for the last 2 weeks and my neighbor buddies worked on her around other projects since we were gone. Got Faith back thursday, I didn't realize how noisy she had become, belt and tensioner noise, the chains might have been adding to it, when he started her up it was so smooth and quiet, I said, what is that ticking?

Fuel injectors, I had never heard that before! I haven't driven her much since it is cold and icy, but sure fells like I remember from when I first bought her, considerably better power now.

I haven't gotten the bill yet, they just haven't figured it, kinda cringing because they did much more than tensioners and just as we were leaving they said we needed a number of things that I couldn't go find cheaper so they went to Jag for some parts....pray for my wallet!

What we did:

Complete timing makeover upper and lowers all guides and chains and all that entails gaskets etc

all hoses

belt & idler

waterpump

thermostat and metal housing

plugs, air filter clean throttle body and MAF etc, basic tune up

flush cooling system

oil change and lube

new battery ( old one only lasted 4 years!)

brakes all around

I think thats about it, hoping I come in under 2K but I know they had a lot of time in it and a number of parts from Jaguar so..............I'll throw them cash (that always helps ) and get them to print some shirts in trade, they are due for new ones!

 

I called the Jag shop in Michigan that performed the timing chain/tensioner maintenance and supplied the VIN when requested. Upon asking my question Jeff immediately answered that they absolutely use the updated tensioners on a job like that, and that they would have replaced them all. He didn't seem to take any time to look up the specific invoice (though he did look up the VIN, and told me the last time the car had been to their shop), but he sounded knowledgeable and certain. That was enough for me.

 

I have been told by many Jag owners that the primary tensioners rarely go out, so I only changed my secondarys last year with 90,000 miles on the XK8.

My daughter borrowed it 6 months ago and the serpentine belt broke (only 6-months old and the best that Gates had to offer), and she didn't stop the car until smoke was rolling out of it due to severe overheating and a broken radiator hose.

Well, just last month the head gasket blew (common after an overheating episode), which gave us a reason to check out the primary tensioners.

They were severely cracked.

Total cost for everything including head inspection and resurfacing, gasket set, primary tensioners, fluids, and labor (at $45 per hour/ retired ASE) came to $1,700.

I can only imagine the extent of damage that would have been done if the primary went out.

A good investment...don't wait for an excuse to check them out.

 

Just had mine done. The plan was only do the secondary tensioners as the car only has 32K miles on it. Turned out the secondaries were fine but the primaries were cracked. So we did the whole process, obviously. Also found a cracked valve cover. Asked the tech if the valve cover was due to improper torquing, and he said it was more likely age of the material.