Hi all, have a 1994 Jaguar XJR .
Upon buying the car i was told to wiggle the gearstick in order for the red light to illuminate in order for the car to start. However recently no matter what I do the the red glow wont illuminate. I have taken out the gearbox surround console and surrounding trim, the metal piece clicks when the ignition is turned but no matter where i place the gear lever while its in P no light glows,

I have read many threads on this and I cant figure out the problem exactly.

Any help would be appreciated before I contact an auto electrican !

 

I am picking up one of these rotary switches for someone else a salvage yard and what if I see a second one , do you want one ?

It can also be a intermittent starter relay you can swap out . The ignition switch is another thing addressed in a posts below on someones remote not working and the lower one on XJR not starting .

 

I have a very basic mechanical knowledge and electrically wouldn't be great! I just want to get the car started for now , would that solve the problem I have?

 

The red P light which it must have to enable the starter relay to get a ground provided by the BCM through the rotary switch. Since you have the console apart take the Green / Orange to ground and you should get starter rotation . While your on the rotary switch you can verify with a meter between the Red / Orange wire to the Green / Orange wire if it never closes as you move the knob . The red P light comes from the gear selector indicator module which is different then the rotary switch so you may have something mechanically loose and the SC engine has a different transmission then the normally aspirated transmission . The shifting mechanism head and switches may be the same .

 

Thanks for that, I have seen others say to adjust the linear switch? is this the switch attached with the metal piece or the big rectangular box beside it? I have also noticed that my brake lights dont come on when trying to start the car while the reverse lights do when I put the car in reverse . Is this preventing the p from illuminating?

 

I'll have to look at the box mechanizem tomorrow at the savager as it is all apart .

Brake lights are a different issue

Edited above post , lunch time

 

Hi Neil. I notice from your posts that your location is Munster. Is that Munster as in SW Ireland? I only ask as I have recently moved from an XJ6 to an XF and I have an old donor 3.2 XJS (or most of it!). I'm based in Kenmare and if there are any bits that might be of use to you, you're more than welcome. No charge, just happy to help.

 

Yes you're spot on! I'm located in Blarney , Cork, thanks very much for that offer much appreciated ! Have solved the starting issue ( for now at least ) but the gearstick seems to be getting stuck in P, although I can move it by moving a lever underneath the console, the trouble with having cars parked up!

 

I drive tour coaches and Blarney is almost always on my itineraries. Haven't kissed the stone though! I had a similar issue years ago when I had a 1990 BMW 735. If the brake lights malfunctioned, you couldn't shift the gearstick out of park. With no brake lights coming on, the car thought you hadn't pressed the brake pedal, (as it didn't detect a voltage drop) and so, wouldn't allow the shifter release solenoid to operate! crazy or what?

The manual override is a godsend. Did you just unscrew the plastic star nut and use a biro? Anyway, the donor is a 1997 3.2 so if anything comes to mind let me know. I'm sure I could even get any parts to Blarney on my travels.

 

There is switches and shift interlock relays located in the the shift box package . By fumbling around under the dash you may have hit a switch to allow the shiftier to unlock .

Haven't tinkered with one but this is the big picture :