5.0 V8 timing chain rattle and worn guides

Which cars and engines are affected?

This page covers the timing chain guides and tensioners on the 5.0 V8 petrol engine, engine code AJ133, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged forms. It is fitted to:

• Range Rover
• Range Rover Sport
• Discovery 4
• Defender V8

The wear is mainly a problem on early engines, because the guides and tensioners were revised during production. If you are not sure which engine your car has, put the registration in the enquiry form and we will check. For other work on these cars, see our Land Rover and Range Rover specialist page.

What are the symptoms?

The sign to listen for is a rattle or clicking:

• at idle
• when the engine starts from cold

If you hear a noise like this, book an inspection. When you do, tell us when the noise happens, how long it lasts and whether any warning lights are on.

What causes it?

The timing chains are kept tight by tensioners, which press on guides. On early engines, the steel plunger of each tensioner wears into its aluminium guide. As the guides wear, the chains are no longer held as they should be, and the rattle starts.

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:

• listen to the engine at idle and at a cold start
• read the fault memory with our diagnostic equipment
• inspect the timing chain guides and tensioners to confirm the wear

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?

We replace the guides, tensioner blades and tensioners together as a matched set, using the revised parts, rather than changing a single worn part. Whether the chains themselves also need replacing depends on what the inspection finds, and we tell you before you approve the work.

Once the work is done, we check that the rattle has gone at idle and at a cold start, and verify the repair, including a road test where appropriate.

Does this apply to Jaguar models too?

The same 5.0 V8 petrol engine, in naturally aspirated and supercharged forms, was also fitted to Jaguar cars, including V8 versions of the XF, XJ, XK and F-Type, the XE SV Project 8 and the F-Pace SVR. Not every version of these models has the V8, so send us the registration and we will confirm your engine. On a Jaguar 5.0 V8 we carry out the same checks before quoting, and no part is fitted until you give your written approval. For other Jaguar work, see our Jaguar specialist page.

How long does a 5.0 V8 timing chain repair take?

It depends on what the inspection finds and on which parts have to be replaced.

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 for the 5.0 V8 timing chain?

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