New here with a question. I purchased a 2000 XK8 convertible almost 2 years ago. It was a 1 owner, had 40k miles when I picked it up and currently has 43k miles. The car drives beautifully but the shifter seems very stiff to move around, especially from P down to D. From D over to the left moves very freely, but upward to the other 2 gears is stiff feeling again. I do not drive around shifting between the gears, but it just seems the strength needed to shift from P and back into park is too much. No other vehicle I have or have ever driven feels this way. I have taken the shifter cover off and looked around in there; all looks normal and clean. Even applied new grease to the silver rod the shifter slides down. I'm wondering if there is a cable somewhere underneath that needs adjustment? It did sit for a very long time before I purchased it as the previous owner was quite elderly. Thanks for any help!

 

You may want to check the nuts that attach the shifter cable to the side of the transmission housing underneath the car. They can get loose (or fall off) and really hamper the shifter operation....

 

Just a long shot but I had a similar problem in that it was stiff to move lever from park to drive or reverse though worked as should ,however when I put it back to park it would not allways lock the transmision. I adjusted and adjusted the cable and had apart the lever assy but no good,was in desperation going to change cable but had one last attempt to "adjust "it. Whilst underneath checking the lever at gearbox (again) I noticed that the sealing conveluted rubber boot that sealed the cable seemed to be hard and stiff as if the rubber had lost it's elasticity. I pulled the small end off off the cable so the cable slid through the boot instead of the boot stretching and decided to see how it feels.Well, problem solved nice easy smooth gear selection and no slipping out of park position. so must have been the rubber pulling the cable back just that little bit when tight at both ends. Might work and worth a try