Four problems related to timing tensioner have been reported for the 1998 Jaguar XJ8. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Operating my vehicle, the engine starting running poor. Jaguar dealership explained poorly designed timing chain tensioners and arms have failed because Jaguar made the components out of a cheap plastic, that is known to crack and cause the valves to contact the pistons. Jaguar updated the tensioners to metal , but refuses to accept responsibility for this design flaw and want to charge several thousand dollars to upgrade to the better designed parts. They refereed me to service bulletin technical service bulletin no. X303-68 , but it states if you haera a rattling noise, however it also states you may not hear a rattling noise, my car did not, and out of no where , thengine stopped running due to this design flaw, that has been updated. In fact, this effect every single 4. 0 engine, that's millions! it's time this becomes a recall to replace these parts free and repair any engine component damaged from their failure. A customer should not have to pay thousands for an defective plastic tensioner, some one put inside a hot running engine, that was a very dumb idea, and the failure may even occur as young as 32,000 miles.
The contact owns a 1998 Jaguar Xj8. When the contact started the vehicle, he heard a clicking noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they determined that the timing tensioner was failing. The cost for repair would be $1,500. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 106,000 and current mileage was 106,050.
The contact owns a 1998 Jaguar Xj8. The contact detected a loud rattling noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who stated that the timing chain tensioner failed which caused the vales to bend. The pistons and connecting rod were also damaged. The dealer informed the contact that a new engine would be needed. The contact stated that the failure was unexpected, and the vehicle's routine maintenance was up-to-date. The current and failure mileage were 63,000. The consumer provided repair invoices for vehicle and various information from different websites pertaining to the same defect. Updated 06/26/07.
Over the past six (6) months, the vehicle has stalled on the highway approximately 4 times. Had to drift onto the shoulder, put vehicle in park to start car again. That is a very dangerous situation to be on an interstate traveling at a speed of 50 and above having to drift across lanes with absolutely no power. As of this past weekend, I started the car, the airbag light would not go off. The next day, the car was making a horrible noise and once again the airbag light was on. The noise sounded as if something was loose underneath the hood. The car sounded so horrible, I had it towed versus driving it to the shop. I got the bad news that the engine has no compression and needs to be replaced. The mechanic has no idea what went caused this. I will have to get another engine or let the mechanic break the current engine down to see what parts can be re-used. I read on another website that a few people had to have engines replaced on the 1998 Jaguars for no apparent cause. This is ridiculous and no fault of mine. I have kept up the maintenance. . Read more...