Hey everyone i have a 2000 jaguar xj8, and was curious about shifting automaticly. I own aother stick shift vehicle and enjoy them. Is it a good idea? How do i get the j bar over to the left side of the panel?

 

i dont think the left side of the J bar acts as you're expecting (the way the modern cars are).

my understanding is, you select a gear on the left and the transmission will control itself up to that gear. so for example if you put the car in 3, it will automatically go through first, second and third gears on its own, but not higher than three (the gear you selected). you'll never know what gear you're actually in.

if i recall, the gate doesnt go lower than 2nd gear as well.

 

yes the gears show 2,3,4,.
So it is more like my powered work equipment?
How do I get my j bar to that side of the shaft?
It will not go past drive.

 

moving it requires no more effort than just a slight push over to that side. no special buttons or tricks. if it doesnt easily move over to that side than there's a problem

 

Oh.
Then I have a bad trans?
Could it possibly be the sensor underneath the collumn?
I hope it is nothing serious.
I believe i am low on oil and plan to add stopleak conditioner tomorrow morning, as it seems to slip going into what i believe is 2nd gear.
This is why i was looking into manual shifting.
I had brought the car to be read at both oriellys, and auto zone.
O'ryllies had only shown bad gas cap.(I looked and the drain hole was clogged).
Auto Zone read gas cap,(stupid gas cap) and gearbox, but 0 codes.
Now I cant say either of these places used the acceptable tools for a jaguar, but they say the other few people in town use and trust there system.
Of course i know not to be too gullible because all shops are shifty in some sort.
Not sure what i should do because it was my first jaguar, and no mechanics wanting to touch it or even look at it unless i dropped it off over night,(i dont want my car stripped)just to give me a diagnostics.
With 0 codes thrown i looked for what i could afford.(A rebuilt trans for 600)
I am on an average budget, and dont want to put too much into a car i paid 2500 for.
I am open to any ideas to figure this out.
Please correct me if wrong but when the clutch is out wouldnt it be stuck in park like alle the others?
I am really trying to understand what is the issue because I will be doing this myself.
I am machine maintenance, but not precisely vehicles, and can not find help with this one other than spend 6 or 7k on new gearbox.

Thank you for your insight.