Jaguar 2.0 diesel timing chain rattle and stretch

Which cars and engines are affected?

This page is about the timing chain on Jaguar’s 2.0 Ingenium four-cylinder diesel. It is fitted, in different power outputs, to:

• Jaguar XE
• Jaguar XF
• Jaguar F-Pace
• Jaguar E-Pace

These models were also sold with petrol engines and other diesels, so a model name alone does not tell you which engine your car has. Put the registration in the enquiry form and we will check.

Land Rover uses the same engine family, and owners of those cars will find their version of this fault on our Land Rover Ingenium timing chain page. Some Jaguars have the 5.0 V8 petrol instead, which has a different timing chain design and its own wear pattern, explained on our 5.0 V8 timing chain page.

What are the symptoms?

One UK parts specialist lists two signs:

• a rattle from the engine
• a camshaft position sensor fault stored in the engine’s fault memory

If you hear a rattle, book an inspection rather than waiting for it to get worse. When you do, tell us when the noise happens, how long it lasts and whether any warning lights are on. A note of whether it is loudest just after a cold start helps us too.

What causes it?

The same specialist puts the fault down to the timing chain stretching and the tensioner failing.

The chain links the crankshaft to the camshafts and keeps them in step. A tensioner holds it tight. Once the chain has stretched, or the tensioner can no longer take up the slack, the chain runs loose and noisy and the camshaft timing drifts away from the crankshaft. That drift is why the engine can log a camshaft position fault alongside the noise.

How do you confirm the fault before fitting parts?

A fault code is not a repair, and a rattle is not a diagnosis. Before we quote for any parts, we:

• read the fault memory for camshaft position faults, and for camshaft and crankshaft timing that does not agree
• read the live timing data while the engine runs
• listen to the engine at a cold start
• check the oil for metal particles and for fuel

If the findings suggest the wear has gone further, we look for damage inside the engine before quoting. We then show you what we found, with photos, and send a written price. No part is fitted until you give your written approval.

What does the repair involve?

The repair is a timing chain kit: a new chain with its guides and tensioners, fitted as one job. We fit it when our checks show the rest of the engine is sound.

If the checks find damage inside the engine, new timing parts alone will not put it right. In that case we explain the options and price each one in writing, so you can decide before any money is spent.

Timing chain work is done in-house. Once the work is done, we listen to the engine again at a cold start, recheck the fault memory and verify the repair, including a road test where appropriate.

How long does a timing chain repair take?

It depends on what the tests find, and on whether the engine needs timing parts only or more.

Before any work starts, you get a written price and a promised time for your next update. If the car needs to stay with us, ask about a courtesy car when you book.

Is there a recall?

Whether a recall applies depends on the individual car, so check your registration on gov.uk. Recall work is done by the manufacturer’s network, not by us.