I am looking to buy a 1984 XJ6. The owner says it needs a parking pin. He says he has to park on level ground or up against a curb. The transmission apparently will not hold the car in park. What is he talking about and is this an expensive fix.

 

Welcome to the forum Mudd,

That will be an XJ6 Series II you are considering?

I've moved your question from General Tech Help section to the XJ6 & XJ12 Series I, II & III tech section for input from members with the same model.

I expect the owner is meaning the parking pawl which locks the transmission with the selector in position 'P' and prevents the vehicle from moving is either broken or out of adjustment.

The guys here will be able to explain what's required to fix this.

Graham

 

It'll require a partial trans tear-down, at least, to replace a broken parking pawl. Not sure how in-depth it will end up being. Might wanna call a couple transmission shops and ask. They'll want to know what kind of trans you have: it's a "BW66" (Borg Warner Model 66).

If they say transmission removal is needed (which it might be) you might consider having it overhauled...after 29 years it probably needs it.

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks Doug, any idea how much a transmission rebuild would be at a shop.

 

$1500 ? Wild guess. It's been years and years since I had a trans overhauled.

The old BW66 is plain as mud with family ties dating back to the 60s. Nothing remotely exotic about it. So, if nothing else, you won't be paying a premium for anything "high tech"

You might wanna read the buyers guide at the top of this section for other Series III caveats besides the already-known trans problem.

Cheers
DD

 

When this type of problem happens (parking pawl broken) it usually means the PO did not use or could not use the parking brake.....

 

Exactly.

I always advise family and freinds to hold the weight of the car with the parking brake and THEN shift to "Park".

They say "Parking brake?" and then look at me as though I just fell to earth from outer space.


Cheers
DD

 

Sounds like what we call the "handbrake" is also non-operational if owner had to park it on level ground. Our roadability test here in the UK tests the handbrake for efficiency as an emergency brake, not just parking.

FWIW, before you buy check out what work has been done on the car. These cars are OK for DIYers, (I had one 14 years, and did almost everthing on the car !), but there tends to be an awful lot to do, and this car is already 28 years old.

 

Mudd, I'm also in Ohio and the local trans shop said an overhautl would run around $2200. Need to watch the exhaust and driveshaft joints. They will need to be removed to drop trans. A broken parking pawl would be odd. See if car has had other work where linkage may be out of adjustment. Does the shifter feel loose? Indication of worn or out of adjustement. Good Luck.