Jaguar XJ8 (X308) maintenance and diagnostics

[VonkeyVong]

Hello,

Having spent some time researching and looking at cars, I have recently bought a 1999 XJ8 3.2. The car has a mere 51000 miles behind it and nine service stamps in the book.
Since buying it I have changed the engine oil and filter, air filter and removed a cam cover to see if the cam chain tensioners need changing (plastic but in good condition).

The next thing I want to do is to change the secondary cam chain tensioners, followed by a gear box oil and filter change, before I get stuck into changing the rest of the chain tensioners and guides in the winter.

What I do need to know though is what diagnostic tool do I need to buy in order to read the internal gear box temperature?

Also has anyone here used this set and is it any good?:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222178516472?_trksid=p20...

Thanks,

Matt.

Edited by VonkeyVong on Friday 2nd September 22:36

Edited by VonkeyVong on Saturday 10th September 19:19

[VonkeyVong]

Thanks for the info Steve. I plan on replacing the primary tensioners and guides at a later date, can the secondary tensioners be reused or should I just do the whole lot at the same time?

I am not sure if I am following you with the gear box oil change. Do I drop the oil,change the filter, refill the oil, run the engine and cycle the gears, allow the car to cool over night and top it up and seal when cold? Or warm it up from cold for the final check?

Your advice is very much appreciated.

Matt.

Edited by VonkeyVong on Monday 5th September 20:25

[VonkeyVong]

I have used the XJ to go to work a couple of days this week. When I got home this evening I set to and started to get everything off in order to replace the secondary tensioners. At the same time I took the water pump off and it is a plastic impellor type, so I will also be replacing that.

The one thing I got stuck with was the thermostat housing which I want to swap for an aluminium one. Can it be replaced without removing the inlet manifold? The two bolts at the back are practically inaccessible.

Matt.

[VonkeyVong]

Well I have now done the engine work. Secondary chain tensioners replaced (primarys and guides looked good from what is vissible with the cam covers off. The water pump was easy enough to change and presented no problems, but the thermostat housing was a PITA.

Here are some pictures of the secondary tensioners which were starting to pit on the face of the shoes and crack on the side at 51700 miles.






I flushed and refilled the coolant this evening, so all that is left to do is take it for a test drive tomorrow to make sure there are no leaks.

Matt.