OK, this is the problem. I've recently been having some problems, had battery checked at Auto Zone, they charged it and said it's good. Replaced the ignition switch, car has been working fine for a week. This morning, my wife took it to work, shut it off for 15 mins, when she tried to restart, turns, but no crank, PATS seems to functioning properly, red "P" light is not staying on when key is in the on position. Any help will be greatly appreciated.


Thanks, Dan

 

OK, apparently it's got something to do with the shifter not going all the way into park, can anybody tell me how to adjust this?


Thanks, Dan


P.S. rocked it back and forth until a "click" was heard, then it started.

 

Dear Dan,

First, I'd suggest checking the mounting bolts that secure the end of the shifter cable to the transmission case. These are well-known to work loose and cause what appears to be an adjustment problem. Hopefully you'll find them loose and no cable adjustment is needed.

I had to adjust the cable on my '02 and it was no big deal. (This was after the plastic block broke at the base of the shift lever.) Remove the center console for access to the cable adjuster. (There is a good thread on that with pics, will look for it tomorrow.)

I'm not sure of the official adjustment procedure, but I lined mine up with the neutral position. I moved the lever fore and aft until I could feel the transmission shift into neutral. There is a pronounced detent in the feel of the shifter, so it's easy to find. I then adjusted the cable lock nuts until the lever lined up perfectly with the N position on the J gate at the base of the shifter. When properly adjusted, you can move the lever all the way side to side while stationary fore and aft.

In fact, you could test the adjustment without having to remove the console cover. Just see if the lever lines up with the N position when in neutral, as described above. If so, the adjustment is fine. If the two bolts are secure and the adjustment is good, the start safety switch is your likely culprit. Never messed with one on a Jag, but it shouldn't be too horrible to replace. Hopefully somebody else can chime in with details.

Also, if the same symptoms leave you stranded again (the P doesn't illuminate, meaning the safety switch isn't satisfied), try shifting into neutral to start. I'll have to confirm this in the morning, but I'm pretty sure you can start in either P or N.

 

Yep, my '02 starts in either P or N.