Please accept this grass roots question from a new owner...
I am the new...Proud, owner of a very low miles, immaculately clean and well preserved 2005 XJ8L. This car/model is new to me, although I have owned a'91 XJS for several years now - teaching me a whole new level of patience!!
In getting to know the car, going over it, making plans to fix/change the things that I think might be needed....I can't find the transmission dip stick, or ANY reference to it in the owners manual?? What the heck is up with that?? I'm searching for the shop manual for this model ....still searching, but somewhere out there I'll find one...but in the meantime - HELP??

 

That's because there is no dip stick ! This is not peculiar to Jaguar, as all cars using current ZF transmissions don't have them. If you want to check the level, it is done underneath by undoing a level plug.

 

The level check is done at a particular temperature with the car level.
Lots of info in this forum on the topic.

 

Fraserr - thanks, I got the part about there being NO DIOSTICK....if it was anywhere, I would have found it. Then please answer me this.....how is it serviced, say if the fluid level was down?? I have a 2011 Lexus LS460, that I beleive has the same situation. lexus tells me that there is NO service needed on either the transmission or the cooling system....unless of course, a problem occurrs.....broken hose, etc. I have a hard time with this approach, as it goes against everything I have ever experienced...and I put myself thru school twisting wrenches starting in the late 60's. I know things change....
Another question - can you shed any light on a source of a comprehensive shop manual for the 2005 XJ8?? I thought it would be easier to lay my hands on....it was for my '91 XJS Conv.
Thanks again for the guidance......

Jackra_1......thabks for the help!

 

Anything to do with fluid level checking is done thru the fill plug when the car is level and the transmission is at the correct temperature.

Originally these transmissions were "touted" as "sealed for life". Which in reality was the duration of the original warranty.

Now even ZF say the transmission fluid should be changed around I think 50,000 miles.

There are some good Youtube videos on changing the fluid on this transmission as well as great info in this forum. Which I have used to perform a complete flush on my car.

 

JTIS is the "workshop manual" you cn download it from the download area.
https://www.mediafire.com/?3297awvo3atgw

 

Here's the ZF produced video on fluid changes for the 6HP26.