I've been on the XJ forums about 2 months now. My 05 Super V/8 was totaled so I just bought an 05 XK8. Light metallic blue, oyster interior, 87.000 miles. So far I need to fix the headrest cables and replace the bulbs in the speedo cluster. I have a switch to the left of the "sport mode" switch that has an icon that looks like a speedo face with an arrow in it? Pushing in that switch lights up a red LED on the switch but no signal or message on the dash? When I pressed it the first time there was a loss of throttle response driving about 30 MPH. It felt as if the throttle pedal was no longer attached to the throttle body? I have all the owners manuals but no explanation for this switch. Help!

 

Cruise control, On/off

 

That other switch sounds like a cruise control button which I thought they stopped putting there by that year. I don't have that on my 03, just the SPORT MODE button. My cruise in on my steering wheel and when I turn it on I see no indicator light that it is on come on either.

 

When that switch is Down, then cruise control is available. When it's Up and lit, it operates as a speed limiter, the top allowed speed being selected by using the steering wheel + and - buttons usually used for cruise control. The set speed should show in the message centre in the speedo. Minimum is 18 mph. The set speed can be over-ridden by flooring the throttle, ie kickdown.
It was fitted only to late models and is covered in the later handbook.

 

Thank you! Yes, the icon does look the same as the cruise icon on the new Mazda's I sell. My car's build date was Sept of 04 if I recall.

 

Hum. my 97 had that switch there, my 03 does not.

 

What's the point of the switch? Driving in slippery conditions?

 

I do not know if Jaguar's intent with the Speed Limiting Function was to allow an owner to impose a 'pre-settable' speed limit that cannot be exceeded by the current driver, at times when they let their 17 year old drive the car, to help prevent them from abusing the car, themselves or others in their way. But since it is de-activated by flooring the vehicle, and anyone intent on 'thrashing on your ride', is going to go to the floor the first chance they get, it seems redundant. I do not have the switch on my 2003 XKR bezel, but the option is available and set with the new all in one Cruise Control Switchpack.

 

I had that same type of switch on a 1986 BMW 3-series. The explanation for it was that when you are cruising along at speed on an open highway you sometimes lost track of how fast you are really going. So you set an "alarm" to tell you if you are somehow going too fast. In the BMW I recall there would be a chime that sounded but no real interference with the pedal. In any case I never used this and never intend on using the one in the Jaguar.

Doug

 

I remember my dad's 1959 Buick Invicta convertible had it. Set it at, say 55 MPG for the speed limit and a buzzer would sound once you hit that speed. Slow down, it turns off.

 

The Jaguar man explained its purpose: Switch it on and set the speed using the cruise-control rockers on the steering wheel. Then the sleek sportster will run into a ceiling of Jell-O at the preset speed. ASL means "automatic speed limiter."

Why would anyone want that? My mind kept repeating that question throughout the morning drive. Peter Matkin is the chief engineer of Jaguar Vehicle Engineering, and when I sat beside him at lunch, I ventured that ASL would earn my Most Worthless Feature award for 2006.

He didn't laugh. He said the limiter is absolutely essential for driving in Britain. The speed cameras are everywhere. He's already had two expensive tickets. Exceeding the speed limit simply isn't an option in camera zones.