I read somewhere that the Mercedes trans in my 98 Jaguar is engineered to start the car in 2nd gear unless you really give the throttle the boot. Is this true? If so, anyway to change that so it always starts in 1st?

 

Just use sport mode, it starts in 1st.

 

I do have it in sport mode, but it still seems a little sluggish unless I really give her the boot, in which case she hauls. I guess its just a matter of getting used to different throttle tuning between this car and my LS430. That car feels so light on its feet, and if you breath on the throttle, she MOVES, NOW. Just 2 different cars and different tuning I guess

 

In sport mode it starts in first; otherwise in second. Somewhere, there is a thread that provides documentation on both the MB and ZF transmission protocols.

 

Slack in the throttle cable has been identified as a problem with hard acceleration and less than expected power.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...estored-38663/

 

Thanks TP, this sounds very promising as it does feel as if it doesnt kickdown completely properly. Can you tell me where on an 1998 XJR the Throttle Cable Adjustment would be located? I watched the Youtube video a guy posted on his XK8, but mine is definitely not under that cover. Anyone know where it should be?

 

Never mind, found

it. It wasnt under any cover on my car and looked very different than the one on the XK8. I had a good at least half an inch of play in there and just tightened it up. Going to take it out now to see how it runs. Thanks!!

 

This seems to have made a noticeable difference. Pardon the pun, but the car seems to leap off the line now where before it took a really heavy foot to get it to really haul. Idle is still rock solid, but the big cat is much more willing to pounce on unsuspecting prey now. Thanks for the tip!!

Note to anyone else that may try this, adjusting it too much in either direction will immediately tell you went too far. If you go too far in one direction, the throttle pedal will practically be on the ground and the car will barely move. Too far in the other direction and the car will feel like you have it floored the second you start it and go bouncing off of the high end of the tach repeatedly while at rest. Its a dark art to adjust it just a few enough rings to get it just right and maintain good idle.

Hope that helps someone

 

the second you start it and go bouncing off of the high end of the tach repeatedly while at rest

If you car really do that, you then have another issue.
The XJR engine computer limit the rpm's to 3500 if the car is in neutral/park

 

No youre right, it was around 3500 rpms that it was bouncing off of, repeatedly. Immediately shut it down and readjusted the throttle cable