When accelerating from stand still it appear as my XJ8 most of the times will select 2nd gear. Does anyone else experience this?
Thanks
Martin

 

isn't that the default unless you're on the sport side of the j-gate?

 

Thanks for the reply Jake1. You might be right? - I know a lot of auto transmissions starts in 2nd for comfort. I cannot find anything about it in the owners manual and I wanted to check whether this was right - hope someone knows. (I had my engine break down - it needs replacement due to a cracked piston at 59000miles = a little paranoid right now - and the second gear start has always puzzled me)
Thanks
Martin

 

Normal

 

Thanks for clarifying!!

 

Are you sure about that? I understood that the only 2nd gear starts were in the 4.0 and Mercedes transmissions used on the supercharged cars. This is normal in my 01 XKR, but my 4.2 XJ8 with ZF tranny always starts off in 1st gear.

 

That's correct Lew, only the 4.0L SC cars with the Mercedes trans start from a stop in 2nd gear. Then only in normal mode, switching to sport mode [switch illuminated] gives you 1st gear starts. A non-SC 4.0L starting in 2nd gear......that's a problem.

Cheers,

 

I dont think it always has started in 2nd, but I am strangely not sure. I think it started to do this after I moved to Denver - a mile up. I also had the trans fluid replaced like 8000miles ago - two month before moving to Denver - with redline 4 and I am beginning to wonder if I should change back to lifeguide 6 - though the transmission was shifting perfect after the fluid change (it still shifts perfect - just starting in 2nd), but maybe this fluid changes with miles or maybe the fluid level is wrong (different elevation) - no drip in driveway.
I was in the shop when it was changed and it seemed to me as the mechanic chose to set the level high - just a notion.
When it comes back with a new engine I will investigate more.

 

I know I am not as experienced as the experts here, but not a particular Noob to these cars either - have about 200,000 miles over the last dozen years between my X308 and X350 . . .

In normal driving, just what would make you think these cars are starting in 2nd gear? If it doesn't bog down off the line and drives normally, I can't think of anything that would clue me in unless I was carefully watching the tach and counting each shift (and that just ain't "normal" driving for me).

 

I'll have to count shifts next time out, but I'll swear my 98 non SC starts in 1st.

 

Now remember fellas, we are talking only about the 4.0L supercharged cars that have the Mercedes transmission. These are the only cars that start in 2nd gear only when in normal mode.

4.2L cars are a different ballgame.

Cheers,

 

I have noticed this because I have had the trouble with the engine that resulted in a new engine - and I have kept an eye on the tach - and then again all this might just be because I have had a cracked piston all the time. When I get it back in some weeks I will investigate and get back to you guys. I really just wanted to know if starts in 2nd was normal.

 

I think there is maybe a temperature related action that starts the car in 2nd if it is freezing, and gets car into high gears as soon as possible, but I'm only surmising. My previous car, a Rover 75, had a snow setting for the transmission which did just this, but it had to be set manually.

 

For the record. I'm not sure about the 98-03 X308 XJR, but the 95-97 X300 XJR with a GM transmission starts in second unless in sport mode or heavy acceleration. The 03-08 X350 always starts in 1st gear. I just looked it up in JTIS. Here is the quote for the GM trans 4L80-E. "With the Performance Mode switch in the NORMAL position, the vehicle will pull away in second gear. However, if more than 75 per cent of throttle is applied when the vehicle speed is between zero and 13 km / h (8 mile / h), then first gear will be selected. From 13 to 61 km / h (8 to 38 mile / h) first gear is obtainable by 'kick-down'. In 'sport' mode the vehicle pulls away in first gear and the transmission operates fully in all four forward gears."

 

Jaguar did not have that function until the advent of the XF model with a switchable "Winter Mode". [now of course available with the XJ and XK as well] This function also involved the traction/stability control, not just the transmission.

Cheers,

 

Thanks,
If my car comes back with the new engine (10k) and it starts in 2nd - I need to find out what to do (hard and heavy object )

 

Not mine :-) The service manual says it should start in 2nd, but, in fact, it starts in 1st gear in either "N" or "S" mode.

Cheers
DD

 

I don't know about your JTIS, but the one here at the dealer says this:

8.2.2 COMPONENT DESCRIPTIONS

Transmission Unit
The powertrain 4L-80-E transmission unit houses the two solenoid valves which control gear shifts. A pressure control valve is also located on the solenoid valve block. These three valves initiate and control shift patterns within the transmission unit by regulating fluid flow.

Performance Mode Switch
The two position performance mode switch allows selection of 'sport' or 'normal' mode as required by the driver. The switch input to TCM causes a gear shift pattern change so that gear shifts take place at higher engine revs, enhancing performance, when in 'sport' mode. For everyday use, 'normal' mode utilises a shift pattern for optimum driver comfort.

Kick-down Switch
The 'kick-down' facility is activated when full downward travel of the accelerator pedal occurs.Activation of the switch provides a signal to TCM indicating that greater acceleration, and hence downward gear shifts are required. Switch height is adjustable so that kick-down can be achieved at a pre-determined throttle opening.

Gear Selection Illumination Module
This module is located above the gear selector mechanism and its sole purpose is to display the selected gear (in red) on receipt of a signal from the decoder module.

Higher shift points for increased torque to the road is how it works with the 4L80E GM trans.

Cheers,

 

Word.

I mean c'mon guys we had this discussion so many times, the ZF6 takes off at 1st gear NO MATTER what.

 

Yes my 2006 XJ8 does start in 1st - I took it into the manual side in 2nd and it makes two shift before it won't go further. I did notice the first gear seems kind of high which makes the car slow of the line compared with our other car - that might have been what have confused me together with high altitude slowness from moving to Denver.
Thanks