what does the manual gear shift look like?

[oswestryalex]

I am in the process of (possibly) buying a S type which is listed as 3 Litre V6 manual. The pics of the interior show a u-gate shape with a stick with wooden pommel. That made me wonder as when I check the automatics, they seem to have those. I have seen one other manual that had what I would term a 'normal' gear stick with the typical gear positions on the pommel. But also others which are said to me manuals, but have the u-gate arrangement too. The Reg number when given to my insurers comes back that the car is indeed a manual, not automatic. I've yet to see the car in the flesh - hopefully in a couple of days' time - but can anyone enlighten me on this? I am not too worried whether it is manual or auto, in fact - but it just looks odd...

Cheers, Alex

[Russ68]

If it has a J gate, it's not a manual, here are some images from Google, easy to see the manuals...

[oswestryalex]

Hi, thanks Russ! I thought I wasn't going senile... :-))   The odd thing is, I am looking at S types on Auto trader, and quite a few that are listed as manual have the J gate, and in some pics you can even see the 2 - not 3 - pedals on the floor; ergo... auto not manual. The one that is doing my head in, is the one I may end up purchasing soon (with a following wind and some kind of transport back in action) has that J gate, can't see the pedals in a pics., but it listed as a manual. Now when I fed the registration number into the insurance system, it came back with S Type V6 3 litre.... manual...! I should be able to solve the mystery, all being well, when I get to see the car, hopefully tomorrow or day after. I am waiting for my 'other car' to have its clutch replaced (blew it spectacularly weekend before last). One thing I have discovered - no Haynes Manuals that I have located so far for it - even a secondhand one would do, just to get me familiarised with the car.   Thanks again for confirming what I was pretty sure was true.  Alex.

[oswestryalex]

Well, I saw the car today and it was an automatic - I didn't go for it, as it had a gearbox fault; wouldn't work in D position, you had to put it into 4 further along. I wonder whether with these auto box faults, would a change in transmission fluid help? 

[Guest]

Hi Alex,

Problems with the auto gearbox, particularly the 5 speed fitted to early models, were/are not uncommon. I bought my first S Type new in 2001, 3.0LSE V6, and lost the gearbox a few years later at 78k miles - coincidentally a pal of mine who had an XK blew his at around the same mileage. Jaguar swapped to a six speed gearbox in 2002 I think, wonder why, and these are somewhat more reliable so if you're still in the market aim for something after 2002 but check that it is indeed the six speed box.

Jaguar also claimed that the gearbox was sealed for the life of the car and needed no servicing. However, you will find many Jag afficionados suggest a gearbox Oil and filter change at around 105k miles. Personally, when I bought my latest S Type, 50k miles at the time, I insisted that the seller had this done before I closed the deal with him. It's a pain in the rear to do it yourself as you have to get the car up high enough to gain access to the gearbox Oil sump while keeping the car level so that you can re-fill it properly. There are plenty of kits available to do the job that include the new sump pan and it's integrated filter, new fixing pins (these have to be replaced too) and of course the Oil itself. However, there are many Jag indies out there that will do the job for you but it will probably cost around £200-250 but thats a lot better than the £3000k I had to fork out for a service exchange box.

 

[oswestryalex]

Thanks Steve! This is sounding like good sense to me. I have seen the one S type, and was not too keen on that one, but Tuesday I hope to go see another which is a 2002 car, and an auto, so I shall see what that is like. I did like the general idea of the S type though - went out in it, the first I've been in, and loved the whole experience.  So all being well when I do get that car, I will definitely get that fluid and filter done. Cheers!  Alex.