OK, sounds good. Good luck with your timing chain.

 

 

We now have the specialty tools needed for this job and have just completed a how-to video. The video is more a reference for indie shops and for DIY'ers to get the scope of what's all involved.

The newly-completed timing chain install video for late model 5.0L & 3.0L Rover vehicles is now posted and live. We show the install on a 2011 Range Rover Sport (non-supercharged), but the kit used and basic process is the same on the LR4.

You will find it at this link:

Replacing the Timing Chain On a Range Rover Sport and Late Model 5.0L and 3.0L Land Rovers and Range Rovers

Fair warning, it’s a very involved job. We are not recommending this for most DIY’ers, as it requires specialty shop tools and a high level of automotive technical skill/knowledge. The video is just over 1 hour in length and our master Rover tech, Gareth, covers the complete front engine strip-down as part of the process.

The video page displays the various specialty shop tools needed for the job as well as some wear parts that should be replaced as part of the front engine strip down (and are replaced in the video). Namely the water pump, thermostat and 4 camshaft sprockets as well as some fuel injector refit tools and re-seal items.

View at your leisure and you will get a very good perspective on what's all involved!

Thx.

 

Update: I had the timing chain & tensioners replaced at a local import shop in Hopewell, NJ and that part of the car is working great. The transmission is another story (I didn't have enough money to fix that). Today it wouldn't shift out of first and the "Gearbox Fault" light came on. I pulled over, cut off the engine, restarted the car, and everything returned to normal: jerky shifts up and down (particularly when the engine is cold). Hopefully it will last until my October bonus when I can finish the job.

 

Update:

So back in April of 2019 I took my LR-4 in for the timing chain. The mechanic said that the chain tensioners were so worn they weren't even contacting the timing chain. ("I don't understand why the engine didn't just blow up.") Also, that the bolts into the block had fused together and he had to drill out at least two of them. He was able to do the work for $5,500 and I got the car back on May 5th.

In October I brought up the subject of the transmission and what the best approach would be. We landed on buying a ZR from a wrecked car with low miles. For all of that I paid $3,600. To be honest, there was a hesitation in the shift from 1st to 2nd that was almost identical to the that of the original failed transmission. After eight months I brought it in for an oil change and I mentioned this. When I got the car back the hesitation was gone and basically all of the issued I mentioned in my original post were fixed.

 

Really? I did the timing chain in my own garage at home with a couple specialty tools purchased on ebay. I'd be suspicious of a Landrover Independent who calls themselves "best in class" but can't handle that job.