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Hello all, I’ve nearly had my 96 XJ12 for a year now, for the most part it’s been nothing but a pleasure to own and drive and with lots of research on this forum I’ve managed to sort some common issues like the electric mirror switch.
So I thought I’d tackle another common problem; the linear switch in the gear selector. I get odd occasions when I have to press the gear selector forward before the engine will crank, no problem I thought but the other day after sitting for most of the week it wouldn’t crank at all and no amount of wiggling the selector helped. So I took the cover off and moved the selector until it started. Everything back together it seems ok again but after a bit of research I thought it best to nip this in the bud before it really lets me down.
The problem is on a second inspection I notice someone has already had a good go at this in the past! The solenoid which moves the catch when the brake pedal is pressed is missing and the catch has been bent back for some reason…. also the park position micro switch has been removed and hangs loose under the radio console and the linear switch circuit board looks like it has been modified, possibly to adapt to the other bits that have been removed.
Has anyone come across this before?? I’ll add pictures to help illustrate exactly what I’m talking about.
The general view The bent back catch and absence of a solenoid What’s going on here? A loose connector... would this be from the missing solenoid? The micro switch, Broken from its mount and not functioning
Looks like quite a heavy-handed butcher job. Apparently someone was very upset with the gearshift interlock system! A shame these things happen.
The shift mechanism is almost a straight swap. Unfortunately the part that won't fit from an XJ6 assembly is the linear switch, one of the parts you might need. The XJ6 has a different part in the same location called the decoder module (seen in the ebay picture). Its for the ZF transmission in the XJ6. Maybe you can salvage the old linear switch. If I recall correctly, the linear switch is only used for illuminating the red gear selection letters. Did that function work in the past? You also need that microswitch. Hopefully that is included in the new mechanism if you get it.
The broken microswitch might have been bypassed or shorted to allow cranking (in ANY gear). That switch was probably the weakness with your trouble engaging the starter. The broken switch was broken.
Last edited by SleekJag12; Apr 30, 2018 at 02:45 AM.
Thanks for the info. The red gear selection letters were working so hopefully between the butcherd one and the one from eBay I can get this sorted Pretty easily...... did I just speak too soon?
The Jaguar part # for the specific linear switch ( other then the whole shifter box ) is different though the years of X300 production and engine / transmission combinations . Don't know why myself but if you post in the X300 section you might find someone with the inline 6 supercharged with the same transmission and Xmission ECU that knows .
I'm removing the linear switch on a 6 banger donor car tomorrow, any tips on it's removal
Once the ski slope and j-gate are off it’s easy enough just 2 screws to remove and the 2 connectors. Just very tight getting a screw driver in on the side but doable with some perseverance
Hi, just to conclude the 3.2 XJ6 gear selector went straight in to my XJ12 and worked with no modifications, the linear switch part number is LNA6550BA which appears to be used in all XJ’s from chassis no. 720125 to 812255 (x300)
Now everything is working as it was intended, I have to press the brake to shift out of P and the doors lock when I select D which they never did before!
Gear selector woes
