Timing chain replacement: XJ (X308) 3.2 NA/4.0 NA/4.0 SC - V8 AJ26 chain — JAGUAR

🧭 Before you start

Remove intake parts, coils, valve covers, timing solenoids, ancillary drive and the timing chain cover. Set timing marks, pin the crankshaft and lock the camshafts, then remove tensioners, rails and the primary and secondary chains bank by bank. Refit each bank with tensioners compressed, tension the chains with the special tool and tighten the gearwheels. Renew seals, O-rings and the crankshaft oil seal, apply sealant and refit the cover within the time limit before reassembling.

Fits: platform codes V8, 3.2, |, 4.0, R

• Opens: coolant
• Timing position: the crankshaft or camshaft is set and locked during this job
• Special tools named: locking tool, locking pin
• Renewed: o-ring right-hand bank, o-ring timing chain cover

Don't miss

• Fit the crankshaft locking pin and camshaft locking tool before loosening any camshaft gearwheel bolt.
• Never rotate the variable valve timing unit on the camshaft or remove its gearwheel bolts.
• Compress chain tensioners and hold them with rigid wire before fitting the chains.
• Refit the timing chain cover within 20 minutes of applying sealant.
• Renew all seals, O-rings and the crankshaft oil seal.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

🔧 Engine codes this applies to

📐 27 workshop diagrams for AJ26

Real factory drawings for this job — timing marks, bolt locations and routing. Locked in the free view.

📋 Procedure

Preparation and removal

1. Left-hand bank:
2. Compress the secondary chain tensioner
3. Use a rigid wire
4. Disconnect the upper water hose from the engine
5. Do not fully tighten

6. Fit the timing chain tensioning tool to the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
7. Remove the coolant pump pulley
8. Remove the special tool
9. Fit the primary timing chain onto the inlet camshaft gearwheel
10. Remove the crankshaft pulley
11. Note: Do not rotate the variable valve timing unit on the camshaft
12. Disconnect the inlet hose from the throttle body
13. Remove the air filter cover
14. Disconnect the mass airflow meter
15. Remove the air inlet tube(s)
16. Remove the canister purge valve
17. Remove the ignition coils
18. Remove the valve covers
19. Remove the variable camshaft timing solenoid(s)
20. Disconnect the wiring loom from the timing chain cover
21. Remove the bolts from the timing chain cover
22. Remove the timing chain cover
23. Right-hand bank:
24. Remove the bracket
25. Remove the seal
26. Remove the O-ring(s)
27. Raise the vehicle
28. Remove the crankshaft position sensor
29. Remove the access plug
30. Fit the crankshaft pulley bolt
31. Note: Finger-tight only
32. Turn the crankshaft clockwise to align the timing marks
33. Check that the position is correct as shown
34. Check that the camshaft locking tool can be fitted
35. If necessary:
36. Turn the engine 1 rotation and check again
37. Fit the crankshaft locking pin
38. Remove the crankshaft pulley centre bolt
39. Lower the vehicle
40. Fit the camshaft locking tool
41. Loosen the exhaust camshaft gearwheel bolt
42. Variable valve timing actuator:
43. Loosen the bolt
44. Remove the primary chain tensioner
45. Remove the chain tensioner rail
46. Remove the primary timing chain
47. Remove the secondary timing chain and gearwheels
48. Note: Do not remove the variable valve timing gearwheel securing bolts
49. Left-hand bank:
50. Remove the bracket
51. Remove the seal
52. Remove the O-ring(s)
53. Loosen the exhaust camshaft gearwheel bolt
54. Variable valve timing actuator:
55. Loosen the bolt
56. Remove the primary chain tensioner

Installation and checks

57. Renew the gaskets
58. Fit the camshaft locking tool
59. Refit the chain tensioner rail
60. Compress the primary chain tensioner
61. Use a rigid wire
62. Note: Do not remove the variable valve timing gearwheel securing bolts
63. Tension the chain
64. Use a special tool:
65. Fit the timing chain tensioning tool to the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
66. Turn the special tool anti-clockwise
67. Tighten the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
68. Tighten the inlet camshaft gearwheel
69. Remove the special tools
70. Remove the camshaft locking tool
71. Refit the bracket
72. Lubricate before fitting
73. Renew the seal
74. Renew the O-ring
75. Right-hand bank:
76. Compress the secondary chain tensioner
77. Use a rigid wire
78. Refit the secondary timing chain and gearwheels
79. Do not fully tighten
80. Fit the timing chain tensioning tool to the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
81. Check that the special tool fits
82. Remove the special tool
83. Fit the primary timing chain onto the inlet camshaft gearwheel
84. Note: Do not rotate the variable valve timing unit on the camshaft
85. Refit the chain tensioner rail
86. Compress the primary chain tensioner
87. Use a rigid wire
88. Refit the primary chain tensioner
89. Tension the chain
90. Use a special tool:
91. Fit the timing chain tensioning tool to the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
92. Turn the special tool anti-clockwise
93. Tighten the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
94. Tighten the inlet camshaft gearwheel
95. Remove the special tools
96. Remove the camshaft locking tool
97. Raise the vehicle
98. Remove the crankshaft locking pin
99. Refit the crankshaft position sensor
100. Refit the access plug
101. Lower the vehicle
102. Refit the bracket
103. Lubricate before fitting
104. Renew the seal
105. Renew the O-ring
106. Timing chain cover:
107. Renew the seals
108. Renew the crankshaft oil seal
109. Apply sealant
110. Refit the timing chain cover
111. Within 20 minutes
112. Tighten the timing cover bolt(s)
113. Reconnect the wiring loom to the timing chain cover
114. Refit the variable camshaft timing solenoid(s)
115. Refit the valve covers
116. Refit the ignition coils
117. Refit the canister purge valve
118. Refit the air inlet tube(s)
119. Refit the air filter cover
120. Reconnect the inlet hose to the throttle body
121. Reconnect the mass airflow meter
122. Refit the engine covers
123. Refit the crankshaft pulley
124. Refit the ancillary drive belt idler pulley
125. Refit the ancillary drive belt tensioner
126. Refit the coolant pump pulley
127. Do not fully tighten
128. Fit the ancillary drive belt
129. Tighten the coolant pump pulley
130. Reconnect the coolant hoses
131. Reconnect the bonnet struts
132. Reconnect the battery earth cable
133. Refit the battery cover
134. Refill the cooling system

Other JAGUAR procedures

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• S-Type 4.0 drive belt removal/istallation
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