So, I pull the parking brake lever up and nothing happens. I would expect a clicking type feeling as the brake engages. Instead the lever just moves up and nothing happens. To make matters worse, now the warning light stays on saying the parking brake is engaged, even though I am sure it is not. Nope, putting the lever back down does not turn light off. What are your guesses? Maybe the cable has come detached? Any guesses how much Jaguar will charge me to repair something like this

 

I've moved your post from the General Tech section to the XK8/XKR section where it will receive better response from members with the same model

 

You do know that to release the brake that you need to pull it up, press in the button then lower the lever with the button pressed?
The lever does not stay up when engaged.

 

My guess is you need to read this:




Graham

 

I got caught out by the parking brake when I first got my XK. The trouble is it sometimes didn't engage - I'd pull the lever up and the ratchet didn't work. I asked about accessing the works on the UK forum and was told to 'lift the rear end of the leather cover and slide it off the lever. Then clean/oil the mechanism'.

I then spent a good 2 hours on my knees trying to 'unclip' the cover. It never came off! In the end I was down to a can of WD40 with the extension pipe shoved along the sleeve and giving it a few blasts. It didn't make a lot of difference. Can someone explain EXACTLY how to remove the leather cover?

 

There is a short cable that goes from the handle to a pivot under the car that then has other cables that go to the rear end. If that pivot is froze up it can cause that problem.




Dave

 

I see what you mean - but it's definitely the ratchet as I can 'pull' the brake on by lifting the lever (the car won't move). What it doesn't do is engage the ratchet and lock it on.

 

The 'leather' shroud is secured with a press stud at the handle end and a clip at the pivot end:


(click on the image to enlarge it)

The press stud is deliberately difficult to spot because it's not meant to be normally visible.

Graham

 

Thanks GGG - this is one of those things that you either 'just get' first time, or you never manage to get it. It's the line ' release cover trim securing clip' that's the problem. What clip and how do you release it?

I've lifted, pulled, slid, poked, sworn at, threatened, and it has never unclipped!

 

I've looked through photos of both the XK8's I've had but even one with the driver's seat removed isn't any help!



I don't have an XK8 any more to be able to check but as far as I can recall the fixing looks like a colour coded disc which has to be popped out with a forked trim tool.

Graham