I have a click sound coming from the j gate when I depress the brake pedal.

Is this normal? If not, what's wrong?

 

This is normal as it's a safety interlock which requires you to press the brake pedal before moving the J-gate selector out of Park & into the gear ranges. My 2001 XJR does it & my previous 1995 Daimler Double Six did the same thing when moving out of Park-you couldn't move the selector out of Park until you had pressed the brake pedal & heard the 'click' from the solenoid interlock in the J-Gate.

I believe it was introduced by legislation many years ago as a requirement for sale in the USA, to prevent 'unintended acceleration' events caused by moving the selector into gear with the engine running if the parking brake was not engaged.

 

Thanks for the info about the interlock. I was hoping it was something like that, but it just seemed odd to me. I've owned the car since April 2012 and don't remember hearing it before, but after not driving it for over a month, I noticed it -- so it sounded like something new to me! I think my age is starting to show a bit, too! LOL

 

It's when you don't hear the click that you know you have a problem (and a car that won't shift out of PARK)!

 

I can see how that WOULD be a problem!