Hi
Wonder if anyone has suggestions to this
I have a 2002 4.4 160000 on clock. Engine was sweet untill a week ago. Drove home from work Tuesday evening all running well. Wednesday morning started first time as usual but car vibrated a bit after about a mile engine light flashed on and off got to work further 2 miles. I left the car idling and it was vibrating at front a lot.turned it off and asked garage across the road that I use to take a look.. They couldn't get it to start and seem to think timing chain has jumped. Any suggestions please as to cause

I know this will sound obvious! And its not meant as "a slight against you sir" but others will read this in the future...

You really shouldn't have driven it! If this happens to others... Get a taxi or lift to work that day and organise a repair/AA/RAC visit etc etc...

You can do MASSIVE damage to the engine if this happens & cost yourselves thousands more than it would have cost!


Sorry to read your news May i explain, there are many many many specialised tools involved in doing your timing chain... If you are to repair it, take it to a garage that is equipped for such jobs sir... Last one we looked at has something like 16 JLR locking etc tools

The simplest way to diagnose failed timing chain, is to ask garage to remove the lower sump, (drain oil first) there will almost certainly be large pieices of plastic chain guides in the lower sump pan, plus a silting of aluminium shavings.
This will mean that the chain guides have broken up and it's then possible that the timing chain has indeed jumped a tooth. That means the worst I'm afraid,. However, im wondering if your vibrating, was at all 'clattery'??....possibly meaning chain trouble, but if it was just like a misfire, -and quiet, and low on power, it could have been a misfire, possibly due to a camshaft sensor, meaning. 4 of eight cylinders were misfiring, and now cannot report back that they are ok, and then your non-start etc that you now have. for one hour in the garage, the sump will tell you the worst. If it's clear of debris, then perhaps the old oil could put back in for now, and perhaps a spark plug check, like a compression test, on all cylinders, to confirm all valves are still sealing. Maybe a couple of hours to do this. Then if all good compression, you are possibly looking at a failed sensor. - camshaft sensors due fail, and are a ten minute job each, ( there are two) you can pick then up secondhand around £50 each, but you probably need just one, to prove the fault. Engine would have been quiet, but rough running if it was going bad...
Please note, I'm just giving you some positive thinking/ hope here, -I had my chain go loose and real clattery. I did the job myself, it took a lot of time. But the chain had not jumped. It sounded like a toolbox rolling down the stairs! A bit like an old diesel engine.
-I think you have a sensor failed myself.
-was yours noisy?

Thanks for replies
I agree Craig but we all know what it's like with an early start and busy day ahead.
I did have the same light and symptom of vibrating and rough running two years previously. It turned out to be a misfire due to rocker oil leak.
I will get garage to investigate further in the week.
Just seems odd that it started the morning after running so well.
It did seem like the same symptom as before
Alan

That is typical of this engine too, the rocket covers have a hole in the middle, for the plugs and coils to go through. The covers are square ringed shaped. The inner seal leaks, and the plug wells fill up with oil, and compromise the sparking of the plugs, So, hence no spark, now on cold engine. New inner/outer cover seals, and plugs removed/replaced, to clean plug wells, and you are good to go. Could be an ideal time to slip in a new set of plugs!

Hi
Turned out to be a thrown timing chain so decided to dispose of vehicle. Fate as it was due to be replaced sold in 2 hours a replacement bought following day.
Thanks to all for replies

Prepros123 wrote:

Thanks for replies
I agree Craig but we all know what it's like with an early start and busy day ahead.

As stated above, i only wrote that for future readers