Gearbox interlock

[Bootneck]

Sometimes when I put my foot on the brake to put the car into drive the interlock doesn’t click and or the brake lights don’t come on. This doesn’t happen each time just occasionally, can the interlock solenoid be changed easily.
Thanks Mike

[Bootneck]

Sry forgot to say it’s a 1998 xk8 4.0ltr

[Astromorg]

While it could be the solenoid at fault, the odds are very much stacked in favour of it being the brake microswitch assembly - especially as your brake lights are part of the problem. A common fault that is sometimes a failed microswitch - there are two of them - and sometimes a dry solder connection to the little circuit board. One switch (Normally Open) is for the brake lights and solenoid, the other (Normally closed) is to tell the ECU the brake state.

The brake switch assembly is quite easily removed but a potential nightmare to get back! The most useful way to show you what's involved is to put you through to this link where a huge variety of experience of this problem is shared.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk8- ... ake+switch

If you need to get to solenoid, you'll need to remove the centre console which is not too difficult. There's videos on You Tube here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxbR7QsSjfw and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU8QeZWoWr0

[Bootneck]

Thanks, I’ll have a look