Kickdown switch not working....is this common?

Kickdown switch not working....is this common?

Author
Discussion

Colinbentley

Original Poster:

164 posts

147 months

Monday 13th August 2012
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The kickdown switch on 2000 model XJ8 3.2 Sovereign is not working. Based on members experience is this likely to a faulty switch or a computer problem? If it is the switch is it an expensive item to have rectified ?

Tame Technician

2,467 posts

203 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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Didnt think they still had a switch at 2000MY. Are you sure its not just a throttle stop, and winding it down a bit brings back the kick down function. (cos thats common)

Are there any wires coming out of it? that is how you tell if its a kick down switch or just a stop


Colinbentley

Original Poster:

164 posts

147 months

Thursday 16th August 2012
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I'm seeing a mechanic in a few days, but Jaguar people I have spoken to seem to be of like mind that ,like you, don't thimk the car has an actual switch, and that I will find that it is a computer generated problem. I haven't had a lok because I am a mechanical moron and wouldn't know where to look or what to look for but thank you for your response.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 16th August 2012
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One thing you could try.

Have somebody push the throttle right down to the floor, then check the throttle position sensor on the throttle body - that's the black bit with the other end of the throttle cable attached to it - is as far round as it will go. If not the cable has stretched or a retaining clip has failed. There was a TSB about clip failure on V8 XJs years ago.

You may need a throttle reset. If this is out you'll loose the part throttle downchange under medium/higher loads and the car will struggle along in 5th when it really should be drop down to 4th or 3rd. Properly set up you should be able to choose whichever gear you want that the cars road speed will allow by simply changing the throttle pedal position. If it's out resetting it will transform the car and improve fuel economy too.

Colinbentley

Original Poster:

164 posts

147 months

Thursday 16th August 2012
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Thanks guys for all the suggestions which I'll pas on to my mechanic, who's supposed to know something about Jaguars. He's been OK in the past so see how he goes with this problem.