www.jec.org.uk

Hi there,

Well, I bought a 2000 model year XJ8 a few months ago and as a precaution had the top timing chain tensioners, plus waterpump etc replaced with the latest type. It's been great for the 5 months since then.

The other night driving home from work I noticed that the car from the outside sounded like a Diesel - really clattery when running and also on start-up. As a result I suspect I may have a problem with the lower tensioners or chain.

I have arranged for Jagtech in Chichester to take the car in tomorrow and as a result planned to have the car taken by the RAC to them eather than running it which may result in more major damage. Problem is I need to get the car off the drive and onto the back of an RAC low loader. Does anyone know if there's a way of pushing it somehow with the automatic gearbox or will I just have to start it and pray? Also how much risk would there be in driving it the 20 miles there? Wife actually drove the little one to nursery today in it and it sounded fine (short hop and the only option she had)

I'm really worried and keen for any advice.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Saxon if you select neutral it should be ok to push, no drive will be engaged.....just on to the low loader,
Its only the same as him winching it on....Joe

Thanks for the reply but can you select neutral with the engine off?

Or will it work with ignition on?

I'd rather not start the engine.

Jonathan

under that little plastic ' star ' by the gear selector is the release button for the shifter, pop out the ' star ' and you should be able to push the ignition key into the hole to release the lever

hope this helps

BB

I WILL POST THIS REPLY ONCE AGAIN AFTER MY LAST POST WAS DISMISSED SO FREELY.
I would always recommend replacing the lower tensioners and guides when replacing the upper tensioners. The lower guides have a habit of breaking up due to excessive temperatures, which in turn lets the main chain go slack.
It may seem alot of extra money at the time to replace all tensioners but it is certainly cheaper than doing the job twice.
Its a shame that the common way of thinkking in this forum is to get your vehicles fixed as cheeply as possible NOT TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
I do however wish you luck in getting your beloved car back on the road. Lets hope that in future people will read this and follow my advise.

jagtech......as i said before i cant argue with your facts, that is the obvious way to go unless you have the top ones replaced at a low mileage as i did. Although when we took the top ones out and replaced them there was no marks at all.
That wasn't an issue it was actually a relief that was satisfaction for me............i did ask about the bottom ones and it was stated that it was a rare occurence for them to go.
Do we go with the average consensus or with the main dealer reccomendation.?
Are you as a working main dealer technician saying that all the tensioners both bottom and top should automatically be replaced at the time of the first job?................if this is your reccomendation the main dealer price would be justified i presume,.........but what do we do if they charge the price we have been quoted in here and that is only for the top tensioner job doing....have you any actual main dealer prices for members to work with please........Joe
Jagtech also as a rider to your post we do have to cater for all the members in here some of which cant afford maindealer pricing that is probably why there are so many jaguar specialists around.
I cant due to logic, argue with fact, as i have said before but an alternative to most problems have to be shown in here if we can.
The majority of members seem to want the alternative, as budgets are getting rather thin so i would argue that both options are right for the 308 members........"you takes your choice" is the option now we have your opinion and valuable information many thanks for that.........Joe