I have decided that my tick during cold start is the timing chain tensioners being to loose. My question is, has anyone changed these before? If so can i just plug and play the new part? Any help, including step by step.

 

dude, the entire front timing cover and valve covers have to come off, the timing has to be exact or else you will damage the motor or get a check engine light on, if you are off half a tooth it will run lean. Trust me without all the proper tools to do the job its not happening at all.

get a second opinion from a dealer before proceding.

 

is it possible to change the tensioners without removing the chain? I don't live anywhere close to a rover dealership either.

 

no, not at all. are you sure its not the belt tensioner making the noise?

seriously get a second opinion, take it to a local ford or chevy dealer for noise diagnosis. at least then they can tell you what it isn't.

 

see Desert European Motorcars Ltd. | Dealer | Rancho Mirage, California - Palm Springs has plenty of high end vehicle dealers - bet their hourly rate is also on the "warm" side.

 

here is a clip of the sound. i got the idea from a jaguar site.

2005 Land Rover LR3 cold start - YouTube

 

Yes the noise you hear on cold starts and sometime when mine warmed up are the tensioners. have a 2011 RRS with 66000 mile on it. And I just had mine replace. There are four tensioners $600 for the tensioners, and $3700 for labor. Maybe more at the dealer. Good luck but don't wait until there is damage.

 

The noise in that video is not the tensioners, it is the VVT units themselves.

The 4.4 had some issues with the VVT units, but mostly only after running low on oil. The 5L does have a lot of timing guide issues, but they are very different engines.

 

I have this same problem, and it only happens on cold starts. Can you tell me more about this VVT unit? I was going to have my chain tensioner replaced, as that's what I was hearing. Local shop said chain tensioner.

A bit of history, I busted a T-fitting and ran out of coolant. I think I used the Dex-Cool Napa one. But after that happened, cold morning starts are like that. And it seems like my MPG is running lower than usual, after replacing air filter, and adding Chevron fuel ignition cleaner additive.

Thanks!

 

Hi, check out this youtube Jag belt tensioner replacement, it's the same engine in the LR3.
also this very informative web site http://jaguar.blackonyx.net/tech/timingchain.htm of a jag tensioner replacement with very clear pictures. I got a lot of information from the latter site prior to proceeding with my top end repairs.