1999 Jaguar XK8 Engine cooling Problems

“After starting the engine, it began to make noise and had a rough idle. The restricted performance message flashed and then the engine died. The timing chain tensioner failed and jumped mechanical timing, which seems to be a very common problem. This could have caused an accident because all power steering and brakes were lost while driving the vehicle through a busy intersection. If you read on any Jaguar forum, this is a problem that is common with the Jaguar 4.0 v8 from 1998 through 2000.”

“My low (20,000) mileage but out-of-warranty car unexpectedly (no warning what so ever) threw its timing chain, resulting in damage to the chain and more importantly, to the engine. A damaged engine will cost more than $10,000 to replace. Based on web research, its a not-uncommon problem (with the timing chain) that other owners of this vehicle have suffered, regardless of service and maintenance, which the company refuses to acknowledge and address. The manufacturer has service advises that recognize the problem but still they refuse to take responsibility beyond standard warranty.”

“The contact owns a 1999 Jaguar XK8. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalls without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the electronic stability module, electrical wiring, and spark plugs. A technician stated that the vehicle goes into a lymph mode. None of the repairs have remedied the failures. The failure mileage was 53,000 and current mileage was 59,000.”