The XJR Timing Chain problem again

[Normcc]

Hi everyone. New to the forum and only just found out about the XJR Timing Chain problem. I recently purchased a 2002 XJR V8 and it seems much smoother than my old 1996 straight six XJR. However it does seem to have the slight ticking on cold startup as mentioned on other postings. Am I worrying unnecessarily as the info I've so far seen seems to indicate that post 2000 cars are safe in this respect? The car has done 95k, has all the stamps in the service book, but no other service paperwork and the next service is due in two months. Hope someone can put me out of my misery!

[P700DEE]

Good news the 2002 V8 will have the spring loaded tensioners so it is unlikely that the noise you hear is the tensioners. There are lots of belts etc. to make noise and the non supercharged V8 has VVT valves which can be the source of the problem. Stop off an get an expert to listen for peace of mind.

Bad news if you have done 95K miles your tensioners probably need replacing. Jaguar say lifetime, read 100K miles Over at the XKEC our members are finding cracks in tensioners on 01/02 engines at around 60K miles

[Normcc]

Thanks, I'll get the car checked as soon as I can, but it does look like the tensioners will need replacing as a result of the mileage.

[melhook]

Make sure you have it checked properly, I think these 2002 XJR's had an EGR pipe that was prone to leaking, and when it first cracks, only maked a noise when cold, as the pipe heats and expands the hole seals itself. The pipe comes off the O/S exhaust manifold, and goes onto the throttle body.
If you are planning on keeping the car, going on milage it would be worth doing the tensioners anyway.
Hope this helps.

[Normcc]

Thanks again, the car is booked into Barretts (Ashford,Kent) on Tuesday. I'll post when I get any further info.

[8Pack]

MMmmmmmh! I thought that by then (2002) the plastic spring loaded types had been superseeded by the metal ones?...

IMHO....Jaguar needs to "COME CLEAN" about their "little issues" and how and when, because their silence is deafening!......and doing "great damage" to their image..

................

[Normcc]

Barretts checked the car when cold and reported that the engine sounded as it should do with no undue noises. I will be having the tensioners checked properly in a few weeks at the same time as the next service. I will post the result then.

[simonb9]

So Normcc, what do you think of your new XJR ??!! I have been thinking of buying one for a little while so would be interested in your first impressions.........

[Normcc]

Hi Simon,
Firstly, I should point out that I'm a bit of an old sod being 59 this month. I have had however quite a lot of Jaguar XJ experience having had Jaguars and Daimlers constantly since 1981, both 5.3s and over the last 15 years 4.0 ltrs. This has included a Chasseur (now Paramount Performance) modded Daimler 4.0, another modded by AJ6 Engineering and a standard straight 6, 4.0 XJR.I'm still a boy racer at heart and when I had the Chasseur I managed to average 100.2mph from my villa on the Costa Blanca to Calais, a total of around 1170 miles. I was stopped by the French police though, and at the Calais Toll was fined about £60 for travelling at 234kph! This then leads me onto my latest, the 2002 V8 XJR which I've owned for about 5 weeks. Compared to my old XJR, it's smoother, quieter and the steering feels sharper and more direct. The petrol consumption appears to be better too, - when I collected the car from near Weybridge in Surrey and travelled to my home near Dover, about 80 miles I managed 23.8mpg. This was part motorway and part a and b roads. In my old XJR I would have been luckey to get 20mpg! I didn't just cruise along either, it was a new toy after all! Overall the car feels more refined and I'm quite happy tootling along relatively slowly knowing that a quick dab on the throttle will bring a wide grin to my face. I haven't had chance to see how it really performs yet. I'm off to my villa in two weeks time and I should be able to do a proper comparison between my last few cars. Previously the chasseur had the best handling, much better than my XJR and the AJ6 had the best sounding exhaust and a lot of midrange power. My new car has Brembo brakes which seem very good and oh yes, I should point out that the track control on this car is much better. I had it switched off just about all the time on my last car as it was too sensitive. The new car has a few extra creature comforts - the premium sound option is worth having, though I might rue the fact that I don't have a sun roof like on my last 4 cars. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. The insurance isn't too exorbitant either, - mind you I am an old sod with full NCB. I'm obviously pro Jag. The depreciation is appalling, but what else can give you the performance, comfort, ride, that cossetted in luxury feelling and that rather smug "my car is better than yours"! (Regardless of almost all the cars you come across!)They are put together now very well and parts don't drop off nearly so often! Rust is a thing of the past, (unless it's been pranged) and if you choose carefully and get full service history etc you should have a car that you can own with pride and much satisfaction for many years. Hope this helps you. If you have any particular questions, feel free! Kind regards, Norman

[simonb9]

Hi Norman, thanks for your lengthly reply. The more people I ask about the XJR the more people recommened it !! Being 37 I feel a little reluctant to buy my first Jag, not too sure I'm ready for Ivory leather interiors and wooden dashboards !! Compared to something like a BMW M5 or a Mercedes E55 they seem a bargain, not far off half the money but of course you only get an autobox (another thing I'm not sure I'm ready for !!). Still looking around but sometimes a little tricky to find one privately that isn't fast approaching 80-90K miles.

I too would miss having a sunroof !!

Regards,

Simon.

[a8hex]

simonb9 said:

Hi Norman, thanks for your lengthly reply. The more people I ask about the XJR the more people recommened it !! Being 37 I feel a little reluctant to buy my first Jag, not too sure I'm ready for Ivory leather interiors and wooden dashboards !! Compared to something like a BMW M5 or a Mercedes E55 they seem a bargain, not far off half the money but of course you only get an autobox (another thing I'm not sure I'm ready for !!). Still looking around but sometimes a little tricky to find one privately that isn't fast approaching 80-90K miles.

I too would miss having a sunroof !!

Regards,

Simon.

At 37 you are far too old to be buying your first Jaguar.
You should have got around to it years ago :-)