Blinking Park Light
 

Since I bought my car, the "P" light on the gear select has always blinked.. Things are slow at work today, so I thought I would see if anyone has heard of this happening? or knows the cause? It happens every time the car is running and is in park. No performance issues to speak of and my dealer has never commented on it blinking, but I have always been curious as to why it does this... Thanks,Eric

RE: Blinking Park Light
 

It's an '03 right? The first year cars do this and if I remember correctly if you update to the latest software it will stop the blinking and change the parameters to get it out of park. There were a lot of complaints the first year('03) of the 6 speed due to the wanky out of park program. It's been a while since I dealt with one for this but I think you can self test it. When you first start the car and first try to remove from park shift to drive without taking your foot off of the brake pedal and then while still holding the brake put it back in park and let go of the shifter and continue to hold the brake. If you can take it out of park again without having to release the brake and re-apply it has newer software. If you have to take your foot off of the brake and reapply to get it out of park again it has old software.

RE: Blinking Park Light
 

My 03 STR also blinks in Park. Now if I could just get it to humm broadway show tunes while blinking. Almost sounds obscene...

RE: Blinking Park Light
 

Thanks a lot Real Tech, that must be it.. So next time I have it in, should I just ask my tech if he can update the software? Were there any TSBs on this that I should refer to?

RE: Blinking Park Light
 

No TSBs about the park thing, that's insider informationbut plenty for updated TCM software. Any Jag dealer can do the TCM update with the IDS. The software has changed many times. They may want to charge you pretty good for it though unless you are buddy buddy with your tech. To do the software update properly requires a special test drive known as an adaptive drive cycle test drive. It is especially difficult in an R model. It requires the car to be driven, sport mode offand have all shifts up to 5th gear happen at 1800rpm or lower and then repeat that at least 3 full shift cycles. To see just how difficult that is try driving your car and get it to shift below 1800 rpm. You'll see what I'm talking about pretty damn fast. Maybe you'll be lucky and your dealer has a dedicated test track where traffic isn't a problem and your tech wont curse your name.

I took my car to the dealer and had them update the TCM. The P was blinking before and it's still blinking, did they not update it?

Does yours behave exactly as the tech described in detail?

Based on what tech described, I do have the "newer" software. I did not have to reapply the brake. With 160,000 miles on it, I'm thinking about doing the fluid/filter change to see if that helps with the surge. Does the blinking "P" mean anything though?

From my experience/understanding, a blinking in "P" indicates there is a fault stored in the TCM

Strange, because I took it to them with the blinking P and they reset, then flashed the TCM also they put about 1qt of fluid in the tranny and said everything was ok. But if it kept on surging they would recommend a new transmission. I wish there was someone other than the dealer to take this to. I've called a couple transmission shops but they don't seem to know much either, they say the ZF is sealed and no maintenance is needed!

The light has always blinked on my 2003. No known faults. I thought it was normal.

The blinking P in my 03 STR indicates the safety interlock at the shifter. Don't think it has anything to do with displaying a fault.

It blinks when you don't have your foot on the brake.

Step on the brake, you hear the shifter interlock release, and the P goes from blinking to on.

The flashing 'P' on the x202 cars is indication that the shifter is in a condition where it CANNOT be pulled from Park, meaning, interlock active. When pressing the brake pedal, the 'P' should stop flashing, meaning it is in a condition where it CAN be pulled from Park.

I am unaware of any software to change that operation. I do seem to remember talk of possibly changing the software to allow multiple trips in and out of Park as long as the brake pedal remained depressed, but I don't think that ever happened. S-Type [x202] owners can test this; press the brake to release the shifter, move to Reverse and back to Park, then see if you can again get the shifter out of PARK without releasing the brake and re-applying. My guess is you can't.

Cheers,

And you're right. The foot brake must be reapplied each time there is an attempt to move the lever out of park.

Mine is like that as well. You notice this right away. Each time the blinking P and interlock go off when you throw the car in park.

xjrguy, you mention there was an update to the TCM that disable having to double pump the brakes to get it back in gear? Do all the newer TCM updates incorporate this feature?

What I was trying to say, was that I remember some discussion with Jag Technical people about maybe they're changing the software to allow what you are asking, not requiring a double press of the brake pedal. But I don't believe anything ever came of it. I can't recall any car ever working that way.

Cheers,