Well I got a good scare on my drive to work this morning. While cruising down the main boulevard I suddenly heard repetitive beeping (the kind you get when getting into the car and touching the gear shift lever without having the key in) and then looked at the instrument panel to see speedometer and tach at zero and no other activity.

The car was obviously dead and I tried turning the key but nothing happened--this was because the shift lever was still in D. I should have had the sense to push into N and try but instead I just sort of moved over as best I could and stopped at the curb. Then put the shift lever in P and it started right up.

I think what happened is that my knee hit and turned the ignition key while driving thus shutting everything off. Once I got going again I noticed how poorly the key location is designed (I don't know why I hadn't seen this before).

Doug

 

Whoa, careful there Doug, don't wanna lose you mate

I believe that SAAB put their key into the handbrake lever area as I had on my 93 to stop injuries from accidents!

Seemingly there were many damaged knees etc from head on collisions and it was a safety concern.

 

I believe it was Yugo who took it one step further than Saab and put the ignition switch in the trunk....

 

I'm OK with the keys tickling my knee, to short to hit it enough to switch it off. My problem is getting in and not hitting the trunk or gas cover releases (or both). Just as I buckle up and start to drive, I see the Boot Open message. Very irritating!

Guess that's better than killing the engine while in motion. Glad you're OK.

 

I'm with mike - haven't hit the ignition but damn if I don't hit the trunk release a few times a week

Glad all ok

 

What took me by surprise is that I have been driving the car now daily for more than 5 years and never had this happen, although I have been aware of my knee sometimes hitting the hanging key fob. I couldn't think of any reason why the car would suddenly shut off so I am just assuming that this time I actually jostled the key enough to turn off the ignition. It could be that I unintentionally moved the seat forward and the resulting leg position is what caused this.

Doug

 

+1 on Mike, but I have also managed the switch the car off - it scared the living daylights out of me. Since I was on one of the twisty NC backroads, I managed to get it started without stopping. I cannot remember if I got it started in N, but I don't think so.. No codes and no warnings.

 

I've read of this concern elsewhere on this forum, and made me aware that my knee is also tickled by the dangling fob. I've not shut my engine off yet, but at least aware of the possibility as I drive.

One thing I do on all new cars is to choose my own clear bit of road to purposly switch off the ignition and experience how the car behaves. In the Jaguar's case, it was unique in not allowing a restart while only in neutral. If I recall, it was more than just a non-start, I'm sure a message popped up and a warning to put it in park (while stopped, obviously). Has anyone else experienced this?

Steve

 

I'll have to look into that when I get home. I have been able to restart other cars I have owned while the car is rolling by shifting into neutral and didn't think to try that this morning since I was taken totally by surprise.

Doug

 

This is what drove me buggy too, until I finally saw what was happening when I entered and where my right knee was. ;o}

 

+1....except on freeway in CA and I pulled over and stopped until I realized what had happened.

 

You can start the car in neutral while moving, at least with the 2003+ cars that have the 6spd transmission.

Don't ask how I know this...

 

Good to know--and I won't ask!!

Doug

 

Interesting. I have a 2001. I'm away from the car at the moment, next time I'm at it I'll try to start it in neutral again.

Steve

 

Obviously different problems between RHD and LHD, and short ppl vs tall ones; I'm 186 cm tall (6 foot 2?) and had the fob irritatingly touch my knee; Not impossiple to make it turn unintendedly one day; But because of the irritation I attached the fob to the key with a very tight tiewrap, so the fob is now horizontal all the time; Problem solved!

 

There is always this alternative https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ictures-93167/

Is the early trunk release flush/protruding? Mine is sunk below the fascia surface and I can't imagine hitting it with a knee.

 

I have had exactly the same experience when I reached forward to retrieve my sunglasses from their little cubby hole (don't know whether this would happen with LHD). I knocked the key with my arm. I was travelling at 70mph uphill on the M11 in traffic and managed to pull over to the nearside lane, but when I turned the key the engine picked up instantly and I barely slowed down. mine is 2001 model.

Like many others, I am forever opening the boot (trunk) or the fuel filler with my knee as I get in!

 

I should have clarified a bit. The key is one of several that I keep in one of those letter key wallets and it was the wallet. So the fault was probably really the wallet hanging down low enough for my knee to hit.

Doug

 

In my '01 model there is a raised lip around both buttons, but they are flush with the lip. Easy to push.

 

For some, it may help to extend the pedals, thus allowing the seat to positioned further away, thus lowering the knee position. Photos show how I did mine.