Can anyone help with the following issue on my XK8 1998 convertible; I appear to have too much play somewhere in my J gate shifter mechanism. If I adjust the shifter so that it goes properly into D (from P), when I then shift across and into 2 or 3, it will not shift properly back into 4 (from 2 or 3). If I adjust to get the shift from 3 to 4 to work, I then struggle to get into D from P. This problem also seems to get worse when everything is up to normal running temperatures. The J gate shifter itself seems OK in that I can see a small movement in the J gate end of the cable when I apply a small movement to the shift lever itself. Can wear and play develop in the gearbox end of shifter cable or could it be a worn detent mechanism in the gearbox itself?

 

Have you adjusted it in the correct position i.e. on the large nuts, not on the inner cable end?

See here

http://jagrepair.com/images/TSB/307-01-1.pdf

 

Yes, but I am only attempting the adjustment from within the car, I haven't got underneath to check out the gearbox end yet.

 

You need to disconnect it from the gearbox lever to get its neutral position , should be ok once you've done that - follow all the steps

If it's still not right then there'll be an issue with the J gate itself, not that there's much to go wrong with either the J gate or the cable tbh

Let me know how you get on