I have a 1998 XJ8-L that upon startup (any startup) will not immediately shift out of park. It can take from any where from immediately to several minutes (with my foot on the break) before the "shift lock solenoid" will release and allow the gearshift to operate. I have done some research and it seems that the break switch could be the issue. Due to this the vehicle is in the garage most of the time (don't want to get stranded in the event that it stops releasing at all). My wife and I ventured out with the car this past weekend and just before we returned home I got an amber "engine failsafe". Also I had been using the cruse control.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what the problem may be before I start throwing money at it? Thanks.

 

For the engine light you will have to at least get the codes read.