Hello All, I have a 1998 XK8 with 30,000 miles, a problem just arose,
i start the vehicle and it will not go in to gear, i thought it might be
a voltage problem and installed a new battery, still will not go into
gear, any help hear, thankyou, Peter

 

There is a button to the left of the gear selector to release the lever should this happen. Check the handbook.

Just found this
Just watched the video and its not too helpful but you see the star-shaped button in the video ..that is the release for the stick.

 

When I bought my derelict 1997 XK8, one of the bodged solutions to a problem was that the previous owner had jammed a short pencil into the mechanism that locks the gearshift out to hold it open.

(Edit: You can simply remove that star bolt next to the shift letter and slide a pen in the hole to temporarily release the mechanism and get back on the road.)

Hopefully the OP only has a bad solenoid (located adjacent to the shift lever under the cover plate) or a blown fuse.

Fixing the shift lock can be a tale of woe or whoa !, but focus on the simple solutions first. And don't use a pencil to jam the mechanism open because it seems to be a silly solution - though I suppose it worked for the previous owner.

 

Sounds like it could be the "brake switch." Brake must be engaged to shift out of park but if the brake switch isn't cooperating, shifter won't move.

There are many old discussions and good tech instructions explaining and instructing removal, repair, replacement of the little devil. A cheap "Cherry" microswitch can save a small fortune for one that is mechanically minded. There's a tricky ratchet mechanism to understand and set once installed.

Go to the STICKY THREAD on the opening page of X8 / XKR (X100) for handbooks/manuals to download; Technical Service Bulletins; "How to" DIY repairs; "How to" videos for a flood of information to get a handle on that issue.