Just a little history here. I bought this car last year with just under 12k miles. I have added about 15k in the last year. The tranny has always shifted hard on the first shift but otherwise was normal. About a month ago the check engine light came on. Thinking that it would be similar to my other vehicle I ignored it. About 2 weeks later after getting a car wash I was driving home and the charging light came on and it started shifting poorly, giving me an amber transmission fault. I had the charging system checked and it needed a new alternator. I replaced that and it was fine for a little while but then the check engine light and the transmission fault came right back. After reading the forum, and noting that a low battery would cause these problems I took my battery in, it came up needs charge so I purchase a new one. Installed last night and it ran ok, check engine light is gone. Drove it today, it would not shift from park to reverse but did after I drove it a bit. I got the fault again and its shifting rough/slow in the low end. Any recommendations?

 

Never ignore codes. Always read them. Much cheaper. What do you have now?

 

I just have an amber transmission fault now. I don't have a code reader.

 

>I don't have a code reader.

Proceed to any auto parts store they will be happy to read the codes for you.
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Jaguar - it's not an automobile, it's a Motorcar

 

In any case they start at about $10 so no excuse not to have one.

 

+1

 

You chose to ignore the codes. Would you ignore a damp spot on the ceiling if you owned a home? If you did, then later discovered that the house was full of mold, it would be your problem and choice.


My guess is that you had a stretched shift cable which can give a telltale code. The fix is about $100 or less. Now, you roasted the transmission.


Happy New Year!

 

Thanks for the help, for the most part anyway. Took it to my friend shop for now. I'll see what he comes up with And no, I have not been driving it, I have a backup.

 

I do not see where you have checked the fluid level?

Be careful to not drive with low fluid. That will for sure damage the transmission.
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Make sure friend knows how to check the level i.e. hot etc.

 

I am having him check the fluid level as well. He is an experienced mechanic, though not so much on Jags. I'll make sure he checks the level properly.

 

He should be able to look up the ZF box. It's in the forum stickies I think, too.

It's vital, as it's easy to underfill by a large amount.

 

Careful your car has the dead common Ford 5 speed automatic. So it's a bit different from the ZF.
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Sorry, yes, they're both easy to underfill.

 

Well so far I have bad o2 sensors and a blown fuse for the alternator, which is odd. Anyone have any experience with the fuse thing?

 

Oh one more thing. Amazon has the Innovo 3030 readers for $58, supposedly they work on my model. Is that s good deal?

 

One comment on the alternator. Any chance it has been replaced?

We don't know why but the S Type does not like aftermarket alternators.
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Yes it was recently replaced

 

S-Type has one with PCM-selected voltage (charging) settings. Aftermarket commonly do not interface appropriately I gather.

 

Well it looks like that is causing the continuing problems. Waiting on a new alternator to see.