Well, my 2004 XKR Portfolio has gone 50K mi. and the miles are showing up in my wallet. I just paid $2K for a brake job (rear only; hey i'm on a fairly remote island in the Hawaiian archipelago), and that seemed to be the signal to other systems to fail.

Now, I got no more manual shift capability. I had this repaired while the Jag was still under warranty by the dealer in Honolulu, and it has worked intermittently since 2008. Usually, the manual shift would start working again after the next startup but now it's totally kaput and the D light on the shift console always blinks. It's not bad always being in Drive but it would be nice to make those brakes last a bit longer if i could slow down with the gearbox!

I think it was an electrical problem originally: translation, they probably replaced a circuit board at the dealer, but i'm not sure. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this, and if it's something an accountant can fix in his spare time (jus' kiddin'!). I haven't even dared mention it to my mechanic, as i've still gotta pay off the brakes and i'm afraid if he knew about it he'd voodoo the whole transmission to fail...

 

My first suspect would be the Transmission Control Switch (item 3):





The Transmission Control Switch detects the position of the selector lever. It contains two multi-track slider switches:

1. the upper track controls positions P R N D
2. the lower track controls positions 5 4 3 2

The switch communicates with the TCM (Traction Control Module) through the CAN (Controller Area Network).

It could be as simple as a loose or dirty switch .......

Graham

 

Very helpful info! I'll see if i can access the TCS this weekend. Provided i can get in there without too much disassembly, would you recommend wiping with soft cloth or compressed air or both?

P.S. - I hope this counts as a 'Thank You'. I suspect that there's something i'm missing because my stats say I've never thanked anyone even though I always thank replies to my posts...

 

hicat, if you click on the little blue button that says thanks at the bottom right of someones post, it will add your name below that post as having thanked the poster (see toasters name above in Graham's post) and update your stats.

The button looks like this

 

Hicat, where you stay... I'm in Pukalani, we should meet up!

 

For full access to the Control Switch, you need to remove the Centre Console. With only the selector surround removed as shown here on my 2005 XK8, it's visible but not accessible:



I haven't got a photo of my 2005 with the Console out but here is one showing my 2001. The dismantling is similar:



This is nowhere near as difficult as it may sound! Post back if you need detailed instructions on the procedure.

Graham

 

Graham, i didn't realize till i saw the photo of your '05 that you're in the Mother Country! Cheers! Maybe you know the former RAF pilot who has an XK8 and lives on O'ahu. We've jagged together before but i haven't seen him in a few yrs. He was gonna move to Maryland cuz his wife is a barrister with the USN. Great guy...

Anyway, i got as far as the first pic and was intimidated at the prospect of further dismantling. I sure would appreciate your assistance there. But I'm wondering if we're just talking about a dirty switch. The sport button doesn't work either. That's how i always would know that the manual shift was working - when the sport button red lite was lit, then i had manual shift capability.

I managed to get my finger in the recess of the TCS and could feel the shift go from Park thru Reverse and Neutral to Drive but there was nothing on the other side of the "J".

Well, i'm up for it tomorrow if you are magnaminous enough to provide guidance to this challenged bean counter.

 

I've known a few RAF pilots but none who were fortunate enough to relocate to HI.

As you've got as far as the first photo, you don't need details on removing the 'J' Gate surround.

Here's the JTIS section on removing the veneer Finisher Panel:

JTIS - XK8 Floor Console Finish Panel.pdf

This is the section on removal of the Floor Console:

JTIS - XK8 Floor Console.pdf

Certainly a dirty switch is the first thing to eliminate. However, if the switch is faulty, it is available separately from Jaguar.

Graham

 

I removed the TCS cover and the copper contacts did have some dirt on them. I cleaned the contacts with a toothbrush and blew out the debris. Reassembled and started the car. The indicator light wasn't blinking but after a couple passes thru the gears it started blinking again.

 

Well, i decided to go for a test drive and to buy a can of compressed air. On the way home the manual shift started working again. I didn't remove the TCS cover again, but blew out all the accessible areas and now i'm gonna re-assemble. It seems to be a dirt issue or else the TCS is working intermittently again like it has for several years.

Either way, many thanks to Graham in the UK!!