Hi

It would be great if somebody could help us fix my son's XJ before the MOT in 2 weeks.
Year 2000 X308 XJ Sport 3.2.
It suddenly started playing up and not starting in Park.
We found a way around this by starting in neutral, which seems ok, but we suspect it is an MOT failure.
First question. Does anybody know if the above is an MOT failure? The owner's manual suggests this is a normal operation using N instead of P.
"WARNING: Before attempting to start the engine, check park brake is ON and gear selector lever is in position 'P' or 'N'."

Second question. What is causing this problem?

We have swapped out the entire J gate, both mechanism and the surrounding microswitches. No change.
The car knows it is in park because when you pull it out of park with the ignition on (but not started) it beeps as normal.

If anybody can help shine some light it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Jams

 

Google Adjusting Jaguar J-Gate. bunches of YouTube to show you how to adjust correctly. Then look to the Transmission switch: you may need a transmission shop or independent Jag specialist

 

I could not find anything. The videos I found cover all sorts but not the problem we have.

Local Jag specialist does not know. Maybe try a transmission specialist at some point.

This has got to be a microswitch problem overridden by moving into N. Where is the neutral safety switch? Failure there?

 

Look again: it is the same as the XK8.

 

My guess is that the black J gate cover needs to be *carefully*removed and look for a small metal tang that’s supposed to be on the park microswitch. If it’s not on the microswitch, then it’s probably below the switch. If you find it, carefully bend the tang end where the 2 little holes are for a better grip when you reinstall the metal tang to the microswitch.

 

Hi
Thanks for the help.

Yes the switch and tang are there. When you press it in and out it responds with the beeping when you remove your finger from the switch. It is not the park switch.

Confused here what it can be.

 

Yes but, not all XK8s have a neutral microswitch it seems. We have a spare one off of an old XK8, no switch.
So with that in mind the variation would mean it is not always the same.

Still confused why this is happening, the switches all individually work. It knows it is in park, you can only remove the key in park, it beeps if you try and pull it out of park, no need to adjust.
The problem seems that something is overriding it. Neutral safety switch? Apparently, they are mounted on the side of the transmission, not the J Gate. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195898197535

I wonder if this is the problem and if so why it failed.
Thanks

 

Update.
Found the old switch from my previous X308, swapped but no change. However, when putting it on the rotary pole did not line up with the switch. I had a similar problem on my Range Rover transfer box motor which kept telling me to select neutral. That was purely down to a slight misalignment of the shaft. I know different in this scenario, but similar concept.

Hunting through the x308 workshop manual I found the pinpoint section to troubleshoot the switch, which incidentally is called the Park Neutral Position (PNP) switch in the manual.
Trying to decipher the testing now.