New to Jaguar's so I have a question about the gearbox shifting in Drive.

Now that I have had to chance to drive my XJ8 around I notice that in the Drive mode it's not a very positive shift from gear to gear. There tends to be some lad as it goes from gear to gear.

Wondering if this is normal ?

I realize this is not a race car and I don't intend to drive it as such, my other car is a race car :-)

Just wanted to ask those that have had them a lot longer than I have (2 days) to be sure I don't have something going on I should be taking care of before it gets worse or I break something.
Thanks Guys.

 

Lag is normal if you have the "S" button selected for sport mode. It is not normal if the sport mode is off. In sport it keeps the engine rpm up for faster response, should you try to drive it like your "other car"!

 

Thank you.
So if the S button is illuminated, it's on, correct ?

 

yes that's the sport mode. But there shouldn't be a long lad... perhaps you can submit a video, i think everybody should submit a video nowadays when we have phones capable...

These cars and most cars nowadays have "adaptions". In other words, the car adjust to your driving habits and road conditions somewhat. Sometimes you have to take it to a Jag specialty shop that has the factory tool and reset these adaptions.

 

Coz,

Just to help you out, if your XJ didn't come with a manual you can download one from this site. I didn't get one with my car, found one on ebay there is so many cool thing that you run across and find out about these cars it is not funny. There nothing like reading about something and getting up out of bed going to your garage and finding out if your car has that options. Lol

Good luck and Welcome to the Site

vacmail

 

Thanks guys...
Just went out for a drive to try the settings out...any old excuse will do :-)

I see whats going on now.
With the S mode off, the shifting is not at all abrupt, very smooth and it shifts at a lower RPM.

In the S mode, it shifts quicker and at a higher RPM level.

I'm learning....

Yes, I have downloaded the manual from here. Still working my way through it. It is like being a kid in a candy store learning new things to play with continually.

What a car....love driving it.

Thanks again guys for the help.
Coz

 

So, we an surmise how the PO drove this car by the amount of lag...!

 

Which is a good thing in this case...

 

If you notice a slight "hunting" of revs, (about 100 range) on warm up at about 40-50 that is also normal, in terms of the infamous statement of a well-known software supplier, "that's not a bug its a feature". Most people don't like it much, but having tried various TCM reflashes, it still occurs and I have now got used to it. If you don't want it, put the tranny in 4 or 3 until tranny fluid is warmed through.

 

Thanks Fraser, that's good to know..

 

New owners who have driven a 'sports' car for years prior almost always notice the ZF gearbox shifts and worry that something is wrong with it. This transmission likes to make an almost lazy, smooth shift.. so as not to disrupt you .in case your in the middle of sipping your tea.

I remember Seismicguy coming from a corvette ownership and mentioned the very same concern a week or two into his ownership of his XKR which has the same transmission as the XJ.

 

and that's why I will always assert that Jag drivers are the most sober you can ever find on the road :-)

Try your tea with hot scones, cream and jam - yummy!

 

Yes, lazy is a great analogy...
I guess I should give up Espresso, LOL.

 

Lol...