Greetings, I'm in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the proud but nervous owner of 1997 XK8 vin 005059.

I began with the intent to replace a leaking cam cover gasket but my research led me to the cautions and horror stories about the timing chain tensioners on early cars and mine is definitely an early car. Additionally, the odometer is sitting just shy of 83K miles.

Allow me several questions: Where is the engine number located? Is there a service data base that could tell if an authorized dealer upgraded the tensioners on this car at some point?

Does anyone have experience with Red Noland, the listed local Jaguar dealer in Colorado Springs, Colorado? Is there a trustworthy and competent independent mechanic in my area who could perform the tensioner repair?

I have a young and trustworthy mechanic who services my domestic vehicles - is the tensioner service a reasonable task for a generally competent mechanic or something best left to a Jaguar specialist?

What I just finished reading about tensioner failure filled me with unbridled terror so thanks for indulging my lengthy post.

Regards, Ken (the frightened)

 

Welcome to the forum!

Glad our concerns about the tensioners are being heard as many engines have died as a result of their failure.

The engine serial number is easiest read on the computer screen of any Jaguar dealer. They can pull a 'build' sheet for the car based on the VIN that will provide that number. Sound like you may have found the serial number/date information. The same Jaguar data base will also have any 'warranty' repairs made anywhere if the tensioners were changed under warranty. They won't give you the repair invoices for previous owner privacy reasons but there is a summary warranty repair record that can politely ask for. It is a list of single line entries giving only the principal part number of the repair order. Records of other than warranty repairs are not on any common data base.

The tensioner replacement is a pretty simple repair and there are ample instructions with pictures and videos on how to do it. Hundreds of non-professional owners have changed their own tensioners.

 

Hi Test point, That nickname makes you sound like an electronics engineer. Of course, it sounds that way to me because I'm an electronics engineer. When I read about this tensioner issue I realized my baby is at risk. The car is a '97 and it sits quietly for prolonged periods. I bought it last July and so far I've just worked on it. I have only actually driven the car from where it sleeps to my driveway to work on it for a few hours and then back again. I doubt I've put 500 miles on it yet. I don't have any extra garage space for it at home.

 

Greetings, Allow me a follow-up question. Among our many members is there a Jaguar dealer willing to generate the "build" document and line item warranty information by way of a polite email solicitation? Once again thanks for your time and help. I am so glad I found this forum and its helpful, supportive members just days after buying my XK-8. Regards, Ken

 

You should have no problem. Check the videos on this forum. I just changed mine. (2000 XK8 w/54000 Mi.) Left bank ten. had a 1/4 in. crack and right bank ten. had a 1/2 in. crack. They could have failed at any time. Good luck, but just do it.

 

There's a couple of great videos that may help with tensioner inspection in the XJ section, link below. It's an XJ video, but same engine and a good descriptive video. I changed my tensioners using the zip tie method which is also documented on this forum. It adds another 30 minutes per bank to the procedure shown in the linked video.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-video-117202/

 

The build document is easily available at any Jaguar dealer. Just ask nice and have your VIN and a copy of the title in your name.