NEWSFLASH - My XJR needs a heart transplant!
Discussion
Well, after all the reading up I've done on the problem, the advice I've dished out to others and the breath I've been holding - it's happened.
Timing Chain Tensioners have failed. This siezed the engine, broke the chain, mangled the valves and put a hole in at least one of the pistons. Proper job. :(
A replacement engine is now required. If anybody happens to know of one available, please let me know as I am considering all the options.
Oh joy. :rolleyes:
Timing Chain Tensioners have failed. This siezed the engine, broke the chain, mangled the valves and put a hole in at least one of the pistons. Proper job. :(
A replacement engine is now required. If anybody happens to know of one available, please let me know as I am considering all the options.
Oh joy. :rolleyes:
?No rattle at all. Just turned the key and heard (and felt) metal hitting metal. The vibration went right through the car and the damage was caused in no more than three turns of the engine by the starter motor - it didn't fire obviously.
I was surprised too, as everything I'd read about the problem warned of a 'death rattle' beforehand.
Don't really know what to suggest to others with '98-'00 cars, other than get the tensioners replaced. A few hundred spent now may save several thousand later...
I was surprised too, as everything I'd read about the problem warned of a 'death rattle' beforehand.
Don't really know what to suggest to others with '98-'00 cars, other than get the tensioners replaced. A few hundred spent now may save several thousand later...
Bad luck,
I changed mine in the Spring on a 97 xk8, totally shot after 64,000 miles. There is a photo of one of the 2ndry tensioners if you click on my profile.
Why was there no noise?
Well here is my take on it, the noise on start up on the original version of the tensioner, lets call it the mk1, is due to the cylinder bleeding down when the engine is not running, on start up the chain flaps around and makes the noise. Eventually the plastic skid breaks up and the chain runs on the steel back plate (see my photo). The Mk2 uses a similar design as the mk1 with the addition of a 'helper' spring so that even if the cylinder bleeds down there is still tension on the chain. Thus surely it is possible for a mk2 tensioner to be f@uked (steel backing eating away the chain) and you wouldn't know about it?
As far as my engine was concerned I always wondered how the plastic skid managed to come adrift and not wedge between the sprocket and chain, I guess it broke up gradually in little pieces.
Alastair
I changed mine in the Spring on a 97 xk8, totally shot after 64,000 miles. There is a photo of one of the 2ndry tensioners if you click on my profile.
Why was there no noise?
Well here is my take on it, the noise on start up on the original version of the tensioner, lets call it the mk1, is due to the cylinder bleeding down when the engine is not running, on start up the chain flaps around and makes the noise. Eventually the plastic skid breaks up and the chain runs on the steel back plate (see my photo). The Mk2 uses a similar design as the mk1 with the addition of a 'helper' spring so that even if the cylinder bleeds down there is still tension on the chain. Thus surely it is possible for a mk2 tensioner to be f@uked (steel backing eating away the chain) and you wouldn't know about it?
As far as my engine was concerned I always wondered how the plastic skid managed to come adrift and not wedge between the sprocket and chain, I guess it broke up gradually in little pieces.
Alastair
My commiserations, I hope you can source a suitable lump soon. I only read about this problem on PH last week. I have had a rattle on start-up for a while, asked at my friendly Jag dealer when it was last serviced and was told that they couldnt hear anything, so didnt worry. Sounds like I best book her in? The rattle is only from cold and quite tinny, sounds like this problem doesnt it? Shes a late 98 and done 54,000. Any thoughts?
XJR420 said:
My commiserations, I hope you can source a suitable lump soon. I only read about this problem on PH last week. I have had a rattle on start-up for a while, asked at my friendly Jag dealer when it was last serviced and was told that they couldnt hear anything, so didnt worry. Sounds like I best book her in? The rattle is only from cold and quite tinny, sounds like this problem doesnt it? Shes a late 98 and done 54,000. Any thoughts?
If the rattle is coming from th efront of the engine on startup, then I'd get her booked in and taken there on a tow truck - wouldn't want to chance it myself!
OK, the warranty company sent an engineer to inspect the car on Wenesday and they have responded today.
They are saying that the policy does not cover the fault because (according to them) the 'timing chain follower' failed, not the 'timing chain tensioner'. This is ofcourse b
s as we all know that it is the tensioner which fails and SJC have confirmed that this is indeed what has happened.
So I shall now be responding to the warranty company by pulling down their pants and giving them a good spanking, which even 'Tweaky from Scoobynet' would be proud of.
To support my argument, I shall ofcourse be gathering every little piece of documentation I can find on the subject. So if anybody has some information which may prove useful, please, please PM me ASAP.
Let battle commence!
>> Edited by groomi on Friday 12th August 15:44
They are saying that the policy does not cover the fault because (according to them) the 'timing chain follower' failed, not the 'timing chain tensioner'. This is ofcourse b
s as we all know that it is the tensioner which fails and SJC have confirmed that this is indeed what has happened. So I shall now be responding to the warranty company by pulling down their pants and giving them a good spanking, which even 'Tweaky from Scoobynet' would be proud of.
To support my argument, I shall ofcourse be gathering every little piece of documentation I can find on the subject. So if anybody has some information which may prove useful, please, please PM me ASAP.
Let battle commence!
>> Edited by groomi on Friday 12th August 15:44
I called the claims department on Monday who basically couldn't discuss my claim (Who the hell can then? 
). They told me to write to the Claims Manager - I prefer to do this anyway really as I find things in black and white easier to deal with.
So a beautifully worded letter went in the post (recorded delivery) today, and we'll wait to see what happens.
Not going to post any details about the (hopefully) resulting correspondence until it's all resolved, just incase I write something which could jeoperdise my claim.
I will win though
). They told me to write to the Claims Manager - I prefer to do this anyway really as I find things in black and white easier to deal with. So a beautifully worded letter went in the post (recorded delivery) today, and we'll wait to see what happens.
Not going to post any details about the (hopefully) resulting correspondence until it's all resolved, just incase I write something which could jeoperdise my claim.
I will win though
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