Ignition Repair
#21
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Yeah, jump on that ground strap under the car. In case it wasn't mentioned, it is located on the right side just about where the engine and transmission come together.
Cheers
DD
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Since the ignition switch is new, it's probably OK. It connects to the harness with a single multi-pin push-on connector. Sometimes it takes an almighty shove to fully seat the connector there's always a possibilty it wasn't fully seated. It would only take a few minutes to check.
That's pretty much it as far as the ignition switch goes.
"Getting to the bottom" of a come-n-go electrical problem can be tricky. You can discover and fix/replace any number of suspicious things but still not hit paydirt. Just gotta keep digging until you do! :-)
When a circuit flat-out fails it is much easier to trace the root cause.
Cheers
DD
That's pretty much it as far as the ignition switch goes.
"Getting to the bottom" of a come-n-go electrical problem can be tricky. You can discover and fix/replace any number of suspicious things but still not hit paydirt. Just gotta keep digging until you do! :-)
When a circuit flat-out fails it is much easier to trace the root cause.
Cheers
DD
Last edited by Doug; 11-30-2012 at 12:17 PM. Reason: sp
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#29
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#30
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if it doesn't start all of a sudden, you know it's the ignition switch. There are two tiny wires connected underneath the switch at 6:00 o'clock with two tiny screws, are those correctly connected?
#33
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we did some tests. left hand on the key, right hand on the shifter. turn the key to the start position and slowly move the shifter toward R from P without goin in r. car started everytime. then slowly from P to reverse then neutral etc etc etc. car starts when it thinks its in neutral or park. were thinking the faulty switch confuses the car and it doesnt realize when in park or neutral so it wont start.
from what i was told these things can be adjusted and work fine but after a month can go lame again.
like you guys were saying earlier...its a 26 year old car, things do go.
from what i was told these things can be adjusted and work fine but after a month can go lame again.
like you guys were saying earlier...its a 26 year old car, things do go.
#34
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we did some tests. left hand on the key, right hand on the shifter. turn the key to the start position and slowly move the shifter toward R from P without goin in r. car started everytime. then slowly from P to reverse then neutral etc etc etc. car starts when it thinks its in neutral or park. were thinking the faulty switch confuses the car and it doesnt realize when in park or neutral so it wont start. from what i was told these things can be adjusted and work fine but after a month can go lame again.
like you guys were saying earlier...its a 26 year old car, things do go.
like you guys were saying earlier...its a 26 year old car, things do go.
you need a 4.5 mm socket to loosen/tighten the two tiny bolts holding the switch in place. Obviously yours is working, needs fine tuning and tightening in place.
there is a nice adjustment and testing procedure in the Jaguar service manual that lets you know if the switch is opening-closing properly.
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doghead08 (12-01-2012)
#35
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On your '86 the switch should be on the left side of the transmission. It also operates the reverse lights.
It's a rotary-type switch on the transmission "selector shaft"....right where the shift cable attaches. There's an 8mm bolt that secures it. Loosen the bolt and the switch can be rotated thru a small arc to find the sweet spot where the adjustment is correct for "P", "N", and "R".
Some of the switches were not slotted to allow adjustment. In that case the switch must be removed and the bolt hole elongated.
Cheers
DD
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doghead08 (12-01-2012)
#37
#38
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nothing worse than grease stains on the door panels or centre consul lid.
ive searched the internet , unsuccessfully so far, trying to find out how much one of these things (neutral safety switch) will cost me...if in fact it is not fixable and i have to replace.
im hoping it just went out of wack and needs to be re-adjusted but, if i must replace...then replace it is.
ive searched the internet , unsuccessfully so far, trying to find out how much one of these things (neutral safety switch) will cost me...if in fact it is not fixable and i have to replace.
im hoping it just went out of wack and needs to be re-adjusted but, if i must replace...then replace it is.
#40
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the famous Neutral Safety switch: chances are the Neutral/Reverse/Cruise switch is out of adjustment, evidenced by the tests you made; (assuming yours is not mounted to the transmission itself like Doug says, mine is by the shifter),
if the switch was bad, you can find roller switch equivalents at Radio Shack and other electronic suppliers, it's not a special "Jaguar" part, it's a generic 2 or 3 way switch. (depends on what you have). I've pulled several from salvage yards and some are Double Pole, Double Throw, (DPDT), some are Single Pole Double Throw, (SPDT), you might have to solder/splice the wire plug, but no big deal.
if it is the rotary transmission switch, a GM/Borg Warner transmission rebuilder should have it. I can still get rebuild kits for the Studebaker / Borg Warner DG-250 transmission and the Ford Power Steering pump in my '65 Jaguar S type. Jaguar sourced many parts from many US manufacturers since the 1950's all the way to 1992 in the Series 3 XJ. I don't know about the XJ-40 (Series 4 - on), but it doesn't matter, I would never own a Jaguar made after the Series 3 XJ.