Hi all,

I have a 2004 XKR, now with just under 30,000 miles. Yesterday, a friend of mine was driving and, at a low speed (around 20 mph or less), accidentally bumped the ignition with his knee and turned the car off while rolling. (I didn't even know this could happen -- yikes!) In a slight panic, they shifted into Park before coming to complete stop. I know, not good. I'd say we were going no more than 15 mph when this happened, maybe even under 10. I heard the park pawl click about four times before we stopped. Miraculously, everything seems okay..... the car hasn't given me any grief. However, I wanted to ask you all since I know little about the mechanisms of this car: should I get the transmission checked out anyway? Or just be thankful and make sure it doesn't happen again?

Thanks in advance for your help....

 

1) I think you are ok. From what I recall the car will not go into park at unsafe speeds.

2) we've talked about this ignition mistake over the years. Just in case you are not familiar with how it works, I recommend doing a test in a parking lot. Unlike cars of old you cant just shift into neutral start while rolling.you must cycle the key. It's scary as hell at 60mph. Just be prepared.

 

that must be a very good friend,

Z

 

the pawl cannot engage the parking gear when it is turning. it will simply bounce along its teeth until the gear stops. yes, this is a purposeful design and one of the best passive protections against driver error ever thought up. the parking gear teeth are slightly rounded at their edges and the movement keeps kicking the pawl out; that is the clicking sound.

for the next experiment in the learning module, try reverse while moving forward. some cars are protected from this error, others not. YMMV.

years ago Ford also programmed their automatic transmissions to not allow a downshift where such would cause an over-rev or other damage regardless of the gear selector position. probably a forerunner to rev-matching.

 

Good description Whitehat. FWIW our xk8s are protected from engaging reverse while moving forward. A few years ago I had a frisky puppy jump over and knock the selector into Reverse at about 35mph. My heart almost stopped, the car didn't even notice!

John

 

John, thanks for being the test pilot

 

Michael, I needed a laugh - that was a good one.

John