V8 TENSIONERS AGAIN, WITH APOLOGIES
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 4:20 pm
I know we all know on here about the weakness of the original top tensioners in the 3.2 and 4.0 V8 engines, but it surprises me even now how many cars are out there with owners who are ignorant of the fact, so apologies, but here are the two latest tales
first one, 1998 R reg 3.2 85K miles, "my car made a funny noise and will now not start", recovered to Kwik Fit who tried to start it and rev it which they suceeded in doing to a degree, cause, broken tensioner, engine wrecked, car outside my front door for parts if any one wants anything, nice set of 4 18 inch penta alloys on it!!
second case "would you like to by my late fathers car", its again a 1998 3.2 nice car on an S, one owner, 55K miles from new, with a FULL service history, and knowing the owner no expense spared "has it had the top tensioners done??", "no idea what do you mean", so as a precaution we lifted the cam covers, original tensioners, that looked like this when they came out
both cracked badly and about to fail
both top slippers gone,
so, drain the oil, sump off, fish out all the bits, new filter, new oil, new chains, gaskets, tensioners and a new water pump while we were in there and jobs a good un, not cheap but a good job done on a nice car ready now for some one to enjoy safe in the knowledge its all done
first one, 1998 R reg 3.2 85K miles, "my car made a funny noise and will now not start", recovered to Kwik Fit who tried to start it and rev it which they suceeded in doing to a degree, cause, broken tensioner, engine wrecked, car outside my front door for parts if any one wants anything, nice set of 4 18 inch penta alloys on it!!
second case "would you like to by my late fathers car", its again a 1998 3.2 nice car on an S, one owner, 55K miles from new, with a FULL service history, and knowing the owner no expense spared "has it had the top tensioners done??", "no idea what do you mean", so as a precaution we lifted the cam covers, original tensioners, that looked like this when they came out
both cracked badly and about to fail
both top slippers gone,
so, drain the oil, sump off, fish out all the bits, new filter, new oil, new chains, gaskets, tensioners and a new water pump while we were in there and jobs a good un, not cheap but a good job done on a nice car ready now for some one to enjoy safe in the knowledge its all done
