I have a 1998 XJ8 that my wife drives, the engine over heated about a month ago. Two weeks later she was out shopping started the car and it began to run really rough she got it home and we call our local mechanic. Had the car towed into his shop and he told us the Timing chain tensioner on went on it (62,000 miles) and he is just a local guy that works out of a barn practically (but a good honest mechanic). He called Jag and they said the job would be $4500 he looked around an found the new tensioner and was able to replace it "only" everyone else said it couldn't be done, even my brother who won Mr Automotive for NY State (I live in MO now). This guy put the tensioner in without taking off the front of the engine (total cost $450). The car runs great. Problem is now there are other tensioners in there I think he said on the other side and secondary ones. He only fixed the problem because I was considering trading in the car, but the car books for like $8,500 on a trade, the car looks great and we always get compliments on it. I'm thinking of having it all done, for about $2500 from a foreign car specialist that my mechanic recommends (he feels it's over his head to do all the work). Any thoughts? I hope this helps someone.
Well it appears this is nothing new on this site, but my Senior Citizen In-Laws have a '98 XJ8, which now has a dead engine. It failed in their driveway when trying to start the car one morning... no indications of impending failure prior to that morning. They are at just over 60K in mileage.
Nice car, I am recommending they buy an S500 like I have -- at least when it breaks it is something you expect from normal wear & tear. If anyone has any recommendation for replacing the engine with a different type, that would be helpful. Their old XJ6 ran like a champ, and beyond the issues that those cars had with minor rust around the windows and other areas it was a solid car.
Jag has a known problem... I surprised nothing has come of it. I guess Mr. Spitzer doesn't drive one, or there would be a lawsuit. HA!
Thanks to all who have posted comments. I was looking at a 2003 XJR with 37K miles in pristine condition. Before buying the car I took it to a local Jag specialist for a pre-purchase inspection. The car passed with flying colors. I told the shop manager about these postings and he said that although Jag has improved dramatically since Ford took over, the cars continue to be plagued by expensive electrical gremlins, cylinder lining problems in the engine and this year alone they have replaced tensioners in a dozen cars, in my area this will set you back $2,500.00. They have also replaced engines on several cars because of tensioner failure. I chose not to buy the car. What puzzles me is why Jaguar continues to produce such an unreliable product. Again, thanks for posting your experiences.
Hello all, I have a 99' XJ8 with 106,000 and I am concerned with possible nikisil lining failure. it starts and runs great, however gets 22.4 miles per Gal. on premium fuel. I believe this engine design should achieve around 25 or better. Please email me with any suggestions at lee3393 at yahoo com. I have broken up my email to prevent the spam bots from getting it.
Lee:
You should not develop problems with Nikasil at this point, assuming you are in N.A. and use premium gas- The sulphor content is now below the level that caused the problems. My XJR has 195,000 and is still showing low oil use and good power.
I have a 98 XJ8L Sovereign. It is a lovely car to drive. Has had a fortune spent on it the last 2 years and is in very nice straight condition. New box. Engine replaced under warranty, I am told the engine has steel liners?. Then at 73000 miles it had new timing chains and tensioners fitted by Jag main agent. I have full Jag history and all bills. The car has now covered 89500 miles. When started up it is quiet. Say I drive for 10 miles then park up for say 2 hours then start the car to go home, just "turn the key" I can hear a quiet tick-tick-tick-tick with the bonnet up. Then if I give the engine a slight rev up I can sometimes hear a very short and slight "rattle" for say 0.5 of a second or less, then the engine is silent with no noise at all on tickover and drives like a good Jag should. Fuel consumption is poor around town, but improves greatly on a run. It consumes no oil or water and the bottom end is quiet. Any comments would be appreciated especially for prognosis. Thanks, MIKE. Southampton UK.
Hey guys, jus lettin you know... if anyone has engine failure due to timing chain components, I have a complete set of good heads and cams, along with almost new timing chains rails and tensioners (customer replaced about 5,000 miles again, then decided he would "race" a mustang, and put a rod thru the side of the block) I'll take $500 for everything, which is a very reasonable deal, so email if you or urs can use them, orka69@yahoo.com
thanks
bo.
Hey no fair... that jag had it coming and I would have beat him if it was a standard Stang!!!
I am doing the chains and tensioner replacement myself. I have discovered a lot of issues on this subject. It is very expensive if you have a dealer replace the parts, Also if you buy aftermarket chains, they are cheaper and also much thinner. Not as good of quality as the factory chains. I opted to buy the dealer chains after seeing the aftermarket chains. Now I have a extra set of chains. The new tensioners are now made of metal and appear more durable. The engine also was losing oil pressure through the old cracked plastic tensioners. It is not a job for the inexperienced or weekend mechanic. I have worked on car motors for years and this is one of the toughest engine I have ever encountered. My car is a 1998 xj8 with 85000 miles. There was no noise or misfiring or any symptoms of bad tensioners. I just pulled a valve cover to look at the cleaness of the motor and discovered plastic tensioners. I immediatly started researching this issue and decided to replace the bad parts. If you wait until it quits, I can guarantee you that your engine is over and done for. The job requiers 2 cam locking tools and one crankshaft locking tool. If you cannot get these tools, do not do the job. The cams and the crank must be locked down so they will not turn. If your crank or any of the cams turn while making this repair your valves will be bent and the pistons destroyed, this will lead to another engine. Also beware, there are no timing marks or anything on the sprockets to align with. No keyways on the cams. The bolt is tightened to torque specs and that is all that holds the cams. Yes, the chain/tension-er replacement can be done at home, but research it carefully before you start. Use only Jaguar parts, or you will be doing it over again. Good Luck.
How much did it cost you to do the tensioners? I have been considering buying a 98 VDP and replacing the tensioners as soon as I get it home.
Amazing how much information you can get via a simple "google" search. I brought my 1998 Vanden Plas in because I received a recall notice regarding a throttle problem earlier this month. I brought it in after making an appointment for the specific problem and learned, after an hour and a half service review that they didn't have the part in stock. However... they did identify $2,500 in other maintenance I needed - mostly wear and tear stuff. I left it there and they gave me a free loaner car. The following day I got a call from the service manager telling me that my cam chain tensioners needed to be replaced - estimate of $1,600. I told him I would expect a Jaguar motor to last longer than 54,000 miles without this type of problem. He said he'd "see if Jaguar would do anything..." I googled Jaguar Cam Chain Tensioner and got to this site within a split second. We'll see what the factory offers - I'm not going to put over $4,000 in a car I'd be lucky to get $6,000 for on trade. In light of the factory's knowledge of a problem like this with a $70,000 car this should be fixed at no-charge. If it is not, I would advise any and everyone I ever speak to to never consider purchasing a Jaguar.
I would like to hear more from anyone considering or involved in a class action against Jaguar. I have a 1998 XJ8, which had to have the engine rebuilt after a timing chain failure two years ago with the engine at 80,000 miles. The near fatal fault developed immediately after a "full service", which failed to replace the timing chain. The rebuild worked just, and I have run the car since at poorer performance levels.
Now I am into the flooding and poor starting phase; not good news. I would to get a fair settlement from Jaguar for these clear design faults.
I have a 98 XJ8l in wonderful shape.. the price was reasonable, but it has 100,000 miles and is starting to breath heavy. It's one with the crummy block coating. I want to change it out to a small block Chevy.. Does any one know where to find a kit to change it over??? I was wondering if a new Ford four cam motor would work it it? Thanks for any help. Bill.
I'm looking at purchasing a 98 XJ8 with 133K miles - the engine is quiet, drives like a dream, started wonderfully - but now you all have me worried. This car is beautiful!
However...new that was coming, right?...The sun roof makes a clicking noise when I'm closing it. Any ideas? Should I just pass on this car and find something else?
Own a 1998 Jaguar XJ8L Purchased it on ebay and had it shipped from Houston Texas. Car arrived in Northeast Ohio in November of 2003 It has been almost six years now and I have been driving a dream. No problems other than a leaking radiator hose last year. Now with 91000 miles on this bright red beauty I continue to enjoy the drive each and every day. v (garage it in the winter).
Just posted to let every know that there are good Jags out there. I was able to get this one owner car for $18000.00 and she has been worth every penny of that.
Hope my luck continues. You only live once, so take a chance and drive the car of your dreams if you can make it happen.