Car is at garage to get sump pan replaced due to corrosion.
Garage went to put the car on a ramp. Started car ok but when putting into drive mech says the gear lever shot back to drive so decided to put it back to park to check. Lever was very stiff to move and does not appear to engage park properly.

Because of where the car is standing, jacking it to have a look at the selector cable is pretty much a no go and would have to be dragged over a pit, obviously risks trashing the gearbox completely.

Any suggestion on how to get it into Neutral so that we can move it over a ramp or pit to get a proper look at it ?

Gearbox has never skipped a beat before with no hesitation, clunks etc and was rebuilt approx 4 years ago (about 30,000 miles) before I bought it due to a broken spring.

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...n-plas-139678/

Look at Retro's post #11 - does that work?

 

Sadly not. It appears to be not fully in park. Will not start due to not in park and will not allow removal of key from ignition.

 

Maybe some things to try in here, take a look.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...esolved-97621/

 

I had something similar happen to me about 4 years ago, had a shop fix it... found receipt:

Found bad park/neutral safety switch.

Remove and install: park neutral safety switch.

 

My first thought when seeing you were directed to one of my posts was,
"that's not gonna work, he can't get into park, not out of it!"

On further reflection, it might be worth a shot to have a look. Could any sort of foreign object (?) have become lodged down there?
If anything in the hole would prevent it from coming all the way out of park, I suppose the reverse would be true.
Would be easy to check. Pull that plastic screw, shine a light or maybe run a magnet down in there. Couldn't hurt!

Good luck!
retro

 

Is the gear selector arm on the transmission locked up? Can it be moved to neutral? A skinny guy could slide under it I think. Make sure car doesn't roll over skinny guy!!! Fix handbrake, chocks bracketing wheels - every precaution taken!!!!

 

So, you type faster than me.
No big.
I've got chickens that type faster than me.
(More accurately, too!)

 

Just been back up to take another look. Tried using the key to release the interlock but didn't work. Interior lights and windscreen washers work so doubt if it is the fuse (couldn't check as I forgot to take the manual and don't know where the fuse is located) will check that first thing.

One thing I did notice though was that even with the ignition turned on there was no click when I pressed the brake pedal ? I had my XK8 with me so tried the same with it giving a very audible click when the pedal was pressed. Now cant remember if the brake lights worked at all but will have to check them in the morning as the garage is now closed up for the night.

So my current train of thought is either bad brake switch or Park/neutral switch. No idea how to test them though.

 

Tried a hard reset? Couldn't hurt.

I have no idea on testing ideas for park neutral switch I'm afraid. Hopefully someone knows and will chime in.

 

If you can't get under it then remove pos+ battery and get at the selector mech. Something's jammed. It means removing the 'ski slope' - plenty of posts on this, plastic trim removal tools don't damage anything.
Once the selector surround, wood slope and the centre console are clear you can inspect the interlock solenoid and test to see if it's goosed, also manually select back into park by unbolting the selector cable from the selector mech, a small nyloc nut and bolt. Pull the cable to select back into park, try shifting by pulling and pushing on the cable with grips, this should move freely.
Don't free off the bracket bolts they adjust the selector and if they're altered the car can throw lots of codes.

edit, just seen your update - 01 wiring diagrams, take it off and put it to a battery, it should click with the 12v feed. If it's dead I think I've one kicking round.

 

Checking the fuse and hard reset will be the first things I try with it in the morning (currently 10pm here so not able to do tonight).

Any other ideas are very welcome.

Thanks

 

Checked the fuses and did a hard reset with no improvement. I suspect that there is a problem with either the cable or the J gate itself now as the gear lever will not move whatever I do (appears locked solid).

Now going to try and figure out how to remove the centre console to get proper access to the gear controls.

Just a quick thought. Will the gear shift move at all if the brakes are not applied ? If not then it could still be a bad brake switch ?

 

Finally managed to get a ggod look at the shift mechanism but it just seemed strange that the lever would not move at all. After having a good look at the lever there is a metal stud sticking out of the side in front of a white plastic piece. Does anyone know whether this stud should be in the slot of the plastic piece or should it be infront of it ?

On the top left hand side of the selector mechanism there is a gold coloured metal tab - no idea what it is called and forgot to take pictures. doh

I found that this tab would not move but appeared to be linked to the brake interlock so felt that it should move when needed. I applied a little force and it gave a metallic crack and it moved freely thenI found that the gear lever would move through the gears but not as far as park. I moved the lever sideways and the stud on the side slid into the groove of the white plastic piece and then sat naturally in the park position.

Started the car and worked through all the gears with them all engaging ok although the shift was stiff and a little notchy.

So in short it looks like either the park brake solenoid or the J-gate/selector mechanism is fubared. I have ordered replacements from Ebay that should arrive in a few days and then hopefully will get the car back on the road.

I'll be going back to the car tomorrow and will take some picks then to show what I mean.