any ideas what would cause my car to occasionally start in first when the speed button is not on...remember without the speed button on the car starts in 2nd...any ideas? is this a TCM or Tranny mechanical problem

 

What is the "speed button"?

 

Perhaps means the "sport" button below the shifter??

 

yep...sport button...S button

 

How do you know that it is starting in first?

 

i can tell by the torque...it is distinctly different than when the car normally starts in 2nd...it only happens every now and then, so it is very noticable...

 

If I recall, the car will always start out from a complete stop in 1st gear... without Sport selected, it will shift to second very quickly unless the throttle is nearly wide open. In Sport mode, the 1-2 shift occurs somewhat later (or will delay at a much lower throttle position).

 

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...remember without the speed button on the car starts in 2nd...any ideas? is this a TCM or Tranny mechanical problem

I am pretty sure that is an old wives tale promulgated here and elsewhere. You can count the shifts, or watch them on scanner software. You can read the Jag troubleshooting guide. QuadManiac is right. It just shifts sooner and feels softer.

 

then I am confused ...as the documentation states it starts in second without S mode engaged...also if I am at a red light and hit the S button I feel the car down shift from second to first...

 

hey - i also did another test...put the car in 2 without the S button pushed and like i said she starts in 2nd...there was no shifting at all when i had the car in 2 and the S button not pushed...

 

FWIW--perhaps not much--my 2000 XJ8 manual says about gear selector positions:

D..Drive - All five gears are changed automatically as required
by the throttle position and road speed.

2, 3, 4..Second, third, fourth - if selected, the transmission
...........operates automatically but will not engage gears higher
...........than the one selected.

I wonder if a quick glance would imply that Drive cycles through 2, 3, 4, given the way the text is laid out and where the bolding is. (That's clearly NOT the meaning that's intended, though.)

Just a thought.

 

I apologize - I believe you may be correct due to operation being different with the different transmission in the R - 2nd gear start when in normal mode, 1st when in sport.

I hadn't noticed you had an R and I was describing what the ZF tranny does in my XJ8.

 

pdog:
What documentation are you referring to? I admit, my fooling around checking was on my XJ8. I have not had much experience with my XJR not in "S" mode.....