2003 S-Type 4.2 V8

Hello,
Upon returning to my car in the parking lot it would not go into Drive and the lever would not return to Park. Although the gear selector was not in reverse, the car began to go backwards. Looked under the car and found and replaced one of the two nuts (had fallen on the ground) holding the shift cable bracket to the transmission and tightened the other nut too. Still could not get the gear selector to move into Park; and while the selector moves between Neutral and Drive, it does not engage. Guessing that I need to lift up the center console to check the linkage at the shift lever. Any advice on how to lift up the center console so as not to break any delicate plastic parts? Today I enjoyed my '72 XJ6 as my commute car while the S-type is down.
Dave H
Mill Valley
2003 S-Type, 4.2
1972 XJ6

 

Just checking... you mean bolts not nuts, right?

Because the shifter problem is with the bolts!

 

Thanks for the correction as my description was sloppy! Yes one bolt was lying on the pavement and the other was loose. After some fiddling, the bracket went back with the two bolts. Noticed that I could manually move the angle lever near the bracket as I bumped it and it clicked to another position. Once back inside of the car, still could not get into drive. I could start it so it must have been in Park or maybe Neutral; except I could not remove the key from the ignition. At one point it seemed as though the parking brake could not be removed so I disconnected the battery for 10 minutes. Meanwhile my hope to get trans into drive from underneath and limp home was dashed when I inadvertently closed the trunk lid with the battery still disconnected and the key still stuck in the ignition switch. Spare key at home would let me into the trunk to reconnect battery and resume repair/etc. however I opted for a short tow truck ride home. I don't think that I was too heavy handed with the stuck shift lever, however seems that side of the shift cable is the only side to adjust to get back to proper shifting. Hoping not to damage any center console trim panel.
Dave H.
2003 S-Type 4.2
1972 XJ6, Triple Carbs, 700R4

 

Removed the wood console surrounding the shift lever and got the gear selector ball reinserted into the white nylon (plastic) block that slides front to rear. Not sure why it would have come out. I would like to inspect it more closely but would need to remove the j-gate plate and the front two torx bolts are partially obscured by part of the ash tray assembly? Rear two torx bolts came out easily.

However car won't start, got a click from up front and the needles on all gauges will peg then drop to the rest position. Going ahead and placing a charger on the battery in case it is low and will try it in the morning.

 

Update: All seems well now. Was able to start car this morning after a good battery charge and heading message to apply parking brake. I believe the ovenight battery charge made a difference. Then again, maybe last night I missed the message about the parking brake and the associated chiming. Might stop at Costco today for a new battery today as the one in the car is from Jan 2008. Also noticed that the shifter lever is made to pull out the the sliding nylon block when entering the J-gate. Guess those gears are selected electronically.

 

Thanks for the update David.
It's amazing how many people find those bolts lying on the ground.
If you look in the FAQ there is a ZF manual that I think explains the functions of the box.
An intro in the new members section might be a good idea? :-)

 

It's amazing how much difference there is in batteries?? I am still running the factory battery in my 2005 STR. Just waiting for it to go bad!
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David - that's consistent with the battery needing a charge (or being on the verge of failure). It wouldn't be different if you missed the message.

Perhaps the battery was going gradually flat all the time the shifter etc wasn't as it should be due to the modules not properly shutting down, confused by the shifter issue.