[modern] XJ40 strange noises

Hello fellow listers,

I have a 93 XJ40 here making what sounds like bearing
noise only at idle, The sound goes away under acceleration and is coming
from the front of the engine. We have replaced the water pump and alternator
trying to make it go away, but with no success.

Pulled the belts and the noise is still there, loud and intermittent. Could
this be the mineral oil pump?
What would the T-chain guide sound like with the rubber
missing, would it sound like this?

Greer Westover
Newnan, GA

Greer and all
If you had a timing chain problem you would have some kind of
rattle effect you said, bearing sound. Try a long screwdriver and put the
handle next to your ear touch the blade in the noise area. Next best thing
would be record the noise and set it up on the computer wave sound. That’s
what I did when my lower chain tensioner went south.

Glenn 89 VDP

Triumph TR8

Glenn,
Where did you listen to check the lower tensioner?
Cheers,
Chris
XJ6
BJ8

Chris
I used a mechanics stethoscope and had it against the lower part of
the timing cover, the noise was also transmitted to the top of the valve
cover. After pulling the valve cover and looking down at the lower chain, I
could see it was loose, also by turning the crank pulley back and forth I
could see that the chain had no tension. The lower chain tensioner is fed
with oil by gravity and a small one way valve to stop the oil from escaping

               Glenn 89 VDP

Triumph TR8

Greer,
You should have removed the belts before buying a new
alternator and water pump!

You have the ac compressor, I assume you removed its belt,
and the power steering pump on the exhaust side of the
engine.
You may also have the hydraulic pump used for the SLS rear shocks
if your car originally had that setup.

The upper timing chain is easy to inspect by removing the valve
cover, the upper chain tensionor comes out very easy for inspection,
details in the haynes book.

Timing chain problems are very rare even at very high miles
on the 3.6 and 4.0 AJ6 engines.

How many miles on your car, and did it have the SLS?

Brett
1990 XJ6>

Hello fellow listers,

I have a 93 XJ40 here making what sounds like bearing
noise only at idle, The sound goes away under acceleration
and is coming
from the front of the engine. We have replaced the water pump
and alternator
trying to make it go away, but with no success.

Pulled the belts and the noise is still there, loud and
intermittent. Could
this be the mineral oil pump?
What would the T-chain guide sound like with the rubber
missing, would it sound like this?

Greer Westover
Newnan, GA

Hi All
I read in a motor magazine some time ago that the XJ40 engine had a
noise in the front and it was caused by a loose crank pulley bolt, good thing
to check first Glenn 89 VDP
Triumph TR8