Took the XJR on a camping trip (with our pop up down to Nashville and Pigeon Forge). Aside from the horrible gas bill and front tires that are now in dire need of replacement all went well until this morning. Let my wife drive for 20 minutes so I could catch a cat nap and then when we stopped to swap I got in and the shifter wouldn't move. Pulled the screw and was able to override it so I would assume it is a bad interlock or brake switch right? Is it the same as the xk8 by chance as I think I have a spare from that? Here is the really weird thing... the tilt/telescoping stopped working via the toggle but it still works via the key fob presets. Now for the really weird thing. When you use the turn signal the wheel will just blip up or down slightly nearly every time you use the turn signal. Goes down a few then up a few but no rhyme or reason to which it chooses. Drove all night so with just 15 minutes sleep I won't be doing anything but dropping it off at my tire guy for some new shoes. Anybody have any words of wisdom on this one. I almost think the two issues are related as they happened at the exact same time. Car has never had either of these issues in the 5 years I've had it.

 

The XK8 switch is the same as the XJ switch, you only have to unbolt it from the bracket.


If you have changed an XK brake switch, an XJ brake switch will be soooo easy.


It is one nut and bolt, and the multi plug. NO having to jam your arm up a little tiny hole to try and get the 2 little studs up through the bulkhead.


Also you can fit a switch from a car that has cruise control to a car that has not, but NOT the other way around.

 

With so many diverse electrical problems, I'm going to climb
waaaay out on a limb and suggest checking the battery first.

 

Battery is showing 13.58 after sitting for about an hour but will check tomorrow. It is maybe 2 years old, car doesn't get used a lot but I do try to put it on a tender every couple of weeks when it sits. It did just spend 10 days in very warm conditions (around 100 5 days and above 90 the others). I forgot to post that the windshield wiper washer motor also stopped working. Used it last about a week ago and it was fine. Never replaced the switch on an XK but took it off my parts car and it was not a whole lot of fun. I'm sure getting one on wouldn't be easy as well.

 

I agree with Plums, check the battery. Batteries are a consumable item in my book, and just because it's only 2 years old doesn't necessarily rule it out.
The other thing to do is get busy with some WD40 or electrical cleaner in the fuse boxes, remove the relays and fuses and spray the connections. Everything you can do to help create the best contact possible.

 

rahiggins
rahiggins is offline

Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 6
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post
Default Gear Shift Interlock & Related
I have a 1998 Jag XJ8L. After starting the engine, the gear shift interlock won't disengage and I head clicking behind the dash. Related failures at same time were: Manual steering wheel adjuster doesn't work. Automatic adjustment (upon starting and via 3 presets) does work. After manual/emergency disengaging of interlock, steering wheel adjusts slightly/repeatedly while driving. Solenoid clicking behind dash can be heard during these "adjustments" but not like the first time [which was continuous]. Now, when parked and engine is running, if I press power window switches at end of cycle I hear the clicking and the steering wheel "adjusts" slightly. Any suggestions? Thanks.

The end result of this thread was a fuse. Maybe check the fuses...

 

Yup stumbled on that thread as well last night. Pretty much the exact same symptoms. Realized that my interior light wasn't working either. Hadn't noticed that before as it was daylight and my trunk wouldn't unlock via the fob unless you did the trunk release button. The fuses are in the rear seat footwells (there are fuses for the Body Processor Mod. in both. The fuse that was bad in mine was behind the driver seat.