XJR ~ Things to watch for....?

[Gorvid]

I bought a 1998 XJR [V8] - 91000 miles.

Its due a service in January.

What would be your advice for things I should be getting checked...???

What are the things to watch???

[Jaguar steve]

Essential to have the gearbox oil and filter changed - never mind sealed for life any indie can do it.

I'd have the diff oil sucked out and changed too, and cut the engine oil and filter changes down from 10k to 6/7k or so.

Have the timing chain tensioners checked ASAP, get your wallet ready if there's any doubt whatsoever about the age or condition.

Run the air con once a week whether you need it or not.

Enjoy

[Gorvid]

Jaguar steve said:

Have the timing chain tensioners checked ASAP, get your wallet ready if there's any doubt whatsoever about the age or condition.

Gearbox oil recently changed.

How bad is it if the tensioner need replacing. What to look for - or feel for - to indicate that they do.

[Dan XJR]

Steve summed it up really .

The gearbox oil and filter was changed 4 weeks back Jon. I never got round to getting the diff oil checked myself, it was next on the list. I am not sure if and when Jaguar cover this on there service interval.

The belts were changed under a year ago along with the thermostat and it has the later type water pump on it .

As Steve says its best to get the timing chain tensioners checked/done as I never had them checked.

[sjwb]

Just a couple of thoughts; the AC should never really be turned off by the way.
Front suspension bushes wear, with resultant tramlining and uneven tire wear.
Drive belts were designed for 100k miles life.
There should be no need to change the FDU oil; provided there are no leaking seals and it is quiet - leave well alone.

Edited by sjwb on Monday 10th December 20:25

[Gorvid]

Lots of good advice.

Here is the list of what I know has been done:

---

Before 2007
Full Jaguar service history

January 2007 [84000 miles]
new front pads and discs
new rear pads and discs
new osf hud assy
new power steering cooler
new power steering rack
new rear suspension bump stops
new rear bumper beam
new rear brake pipes
new drive belt [engine]
new drive belt [supercharger]
4 wheel hunter alignment carried out
re-con steering rack fitted and aligned
replaced osf wheel bearings

February 2007
replaced nsf wheel bearings
new thermostat
2 new belt drives

April 2007
2 new pzeros

At some point recently: gearbox oil changed.

---

Now its on 91000 miles.

So far my attention should be focussed on:

Tensioners.

Anything else?

[Jaguar steve]

sjwb said:

Just a couple of thoughts; the AC should never really be turned off by the way.
Front suspension bushes wear, with resultant tramlining and uneven tire wear.
Drive belts were designed for 100k miles life.
There should be no need to change the FDU oil; provided there are no leaking seals and it is quiet - leave well alone.

Edited by sjwb on Monday 10th December 20:25

I'd suggest a change of diff oil is worth the effort. Problemn is the origional fill was Shell Spirax EP 90 which is no longer the best spec. oil available. The diff takes a considerable shock loading from both driving the car and supporting the load from the rear suspension which contributes to the degredation of the additaves in the oil. Over time the anti oxidants and anti foam agents in the oil will break down as well further reducing protection

Another complication is the level on the sport suspension model is not always checked at a servive, although it's meant to be as the rear anti roll bar has to be removed to gain access to the filler plug. If it's never been checked since the car was made who knows if the diff was filled properly in the first place

I pumped mine out at 63000 miles and was surprised at how discoloured and smelly the oil was. there was no sign of any leak, and the diff had just over 1 litre in it. (should have been 1.9) It did all come out too as I got 1.9 back in.

IMO most manufacturers have done no favours by extending service intervals and deleting items from the schedule, so for the modest cost of a change and the peace of mind surely it's worth the effort.

If the diff sterts whining or rumbling then it's too late

[Gorvid]

Jaguar steve said:

Have the timing chain tensioners checked ASAP, get your wallet ready if there's any doubt whatsoever about the age or condition.

Hmm...... my mechanic says he can't "check them" only get in there and replace them.

He is a Jag enthusiast too, I was hoping to use him for the service.
I'm not liking the sound of just doing it for the hell of it.

Where is a good source for the parts?
Which parts exactly do I need to buy to get maximum peace of mind...???

Edited by Gorvid on Tuesday 11th December 16:25

[Jaguar steve]

Gorvid said:

Jaguar steve said:

Have the timing chain tensioners checked ASAP, get your wallet ready if there's any doubt whatsoever about the age or condition.

Hmm...... my mechanic says he can't "check them" only get in there and replace them.

He is a Jag enthusiast too, I was hoping to use him for the service.
I'm not liking the sound of just doing it for the hell of it.

Where is a good source for the parts?
Which parts exactly do I need to buy to get maximum peace of mind...???

Edited by Gorvid on Tuesday 11th December 16:25

You can. Removing both the cam covers is quite easy and quick. Once they are off have a good look at the secondary tensioner bodies, and carefully check the nylon slippers that the chains run on. Using a torch look down at the primaries and feel all the chains to make sure they are tensioned. Look at the chains and guide plates for any evidence of uneven wear.

I agree that checking now is no gauarntee that there won't be a problem in the future.

For max peace of mind you need to change the whole lot, although some indies will agree to change the secondary tensioners alone if the rest of the timing gear looks OK and the chains are still tight.

Complete set of guides, tensioners, and chains about £300. Berkshire Jag components

Special tools (hired from the JEC) about £70/week.

You'll need a serious (300ft/lb) torque wrench too, and probrably air power tools as well to get the crank pulley bolt out

or

Complete job at a Jag independent from £1200

Whatever you do make sure the third generation metal bodied tensioners are fitted. There's concern that the second gen white plastic ones are failing too.

[Gorvid]

You read my mind. Third gen fitted all-in is £1200 - £1400 at the indie I just got a quote from.

I'm not sure a check is worth it. If they look perfect - they still could be fecked..

I guess there is no point in sourcing the parts myself if I need an indie to fit them.


Decisions decisions.....

[Jaguar steve]

Gorvid said:

You read my mind. Third gen fitted all-in is £1200 - £1400 at the indie I just got a quote from.

I'm not sure a check is worth it. If they look perfect - they still could be fecked..

I guess there is no point in sourcing the parts myself if I need an indie to fit them.


Decisions decisions.....

If it's any help Mrs JS is most unimpressed with the idea of spending a fifth of the value of my car (or the cost of a holiday )on a job that may not need doing......

[Gorvid]

Jaguar steve said:

Gorvid said:

Hmm...... my mechanic says he can't "check them" only get in there and replace them.

You can. Removing both the cam covers is quite easy and quick.

How easy and how quick...?
Exactly what could I find out by getting this done?
Where is a good place to have it done?
How much???
Etc..?

[Big Rumbly]

I got mine back in february(97 XJR). I budgeted for having the tensioners changed/cheched soon after, there were a number of cracked tensioners, so had everything done . £1200 from Jagutek Ely, best for peace of mind.

[robocop]

Gorvid said:

How easy and how quick...?
Exactly what could I find out by getting this done?
Where is a good place to have it done?
How much???
Etc..?

You should be able to get it done at any Jag independent for about an hours labour, maybe a tad more - no more than £100. For that, they will be able to look inside and;
1) See which generation/type of Tensioner you have and
2) The state of them, and they can advise you how much work will need to be done (if any)

At least it will give a piece of mind. Waiting for the 'death rattle' is not a foolproof way. Mine were as silent and smooth and gave no indication they were worn. On checking they were only miles away from wearing right through the 'slipper' and snapping the chain

Rgds
Simon

Edited by robocop on Wednesday 12th December 21:09

[groomi]

robocop said:

At least it will give a piece of mind. Waiting for the 'death rattle' is not a foolproof way. Mine were as silent and smooth and gave no indication they were worn. On checking they were only miles away from wearing right through the 'slipper' and snapping the chain

My tensioners failed with no warning - no death rattle at all.