Today, I parked my 2003 S-Type on a slight incline at a parking lot. When I let off the brake, the car started to roll back. So, I tried to put it into "Drive", and it still rolled back. None of the shift selections would engage, and eventually, it backed to a curb in the parking lot and stopped. I turned off the engine and tried to restart, but although all lights, radio, etc. came on, it would not restart. I can move the shifter through all positions, but none seem to engage. I tried to "rock" the car, but that did not help. I could not release the parking brake manually. So, I called a tow truck - had the Jag taken to the Dealer. As of yet I have not heard from them, but I am very curious - what are possible things which could cause the to happen? I just would like to be prepared - thanks.

 

Linkage has come off the trans or broken.
Neutral safety switch is not moving to either of the "start" positions.
If rod, you'll probably see the linkage hanging down underneath.
I suppose this is cable operated, cable popped off trans, lever, housing came loose, etc.

Unless you are comfortable with jacking it in place and fixing it, the dealer is the safest option.
Probably NOT the trans, or the neutral safety would still work.

 

The most common culprit is a small plastic piece inside the shifter assembly. It breaks and the shifter must be replaced as a unit. We checked into making the small plastic piece as a replacement unit because Jaguar does not offer it. We concluded that that amount of time to remove and disassemble would render it not cost effective.

 

Thanks to both for the posts - however, I guess I was "lucky" today.

I am almost embarrassed to post what the problem was - but I like for others to post solutions for my reference.....so, here is the problem which they charged me 1 hour labor for:

"72936 shift cable attachment bolt fell out 1.0 hours install new bolt - clear codes and test".

Bolt fell out? I am not very mechanically inclined, but that sounds too simple and somewhat scary to think a bolt falls out and makes the S-Type inoperable. In addition, the tow truck cost me $119.00 - at least I had a roadside policy to reimburse that.

 

Never be embarrassed about a simple, easy fix that you couldn't have possibly known about. That one sure beats the hell out of a transmission overhaul....