Hello all! I have a 1994 XJS V12 with 40,000 miles now. Recently and only while in Park, I hear and can feel around the shifter a CLICK when I depress the brake pedal. This CLICK does not occur with the shifter in any other position. No warning lights, no apparent braking issues, front brakes have been redone, rears are good. There must be some type of relay under there. If so, what is it doing (or not doing)?

Kelly
ktrumper
1994 XJS V12

 

If the clicking is coming from the passenger side of the dashboard then most likely your ABS accumulator has failed. It is an easy fix and if it is on its way out you definitely want to replace it ASAP. If it fails and you continue to drive the car then the ABS pump can overheat and fail which is a very expensive fix.

 

That could be your neutral safety switch. When you put your foot on the brake pedal, a solenoid opens inside the shifter console to allow you to shift the car out of Park. That solenoid makes a click when it operates. That whole setup is there so you can't accidentally take the car out of park, start it while in gear, etc.

 

The CLICK is definitely inside the shifter console, I can feel it if I place my hand on the console next to the shifter and it's only while in Park. Funny that I have never heard it before. Maybe it's about to fail? That would not be good!

 

If it's inside the shifter then my vote goes for the gearshift interlock solenoid that stops you moving out of neutral without your foot on the brake.

The XJ40's have a habit of getting noisy but it's usually slight wear or adjustment in the shifter mechanism on those rather than a sign of impending solenoid failure. XJS is likely to be similar cause.

Graham