I noticed something strange on my '98 4.0L Sport the other day.

When I use the D-setting for driving, I can feel and notice that it used all three gears plus overdrive.

But when I put it into the 1-2 setting it won't change from 1st to 2nd when accelarating from standstill. It will downshift though. Doesn't worry me really, but it's just one of those mysteries I'd like to understand.

Jeroen

some automatic start in 2nd when that is selected ?

I know. I also have a Jaguar XJR. Never uses first unless you put it in Sport mode.

But this is different. When I put the gear selector in 1-2 it only uses first. It won't shift up. Now if I drive along at about 35 mph and go from D to 1-2, it will shift to 2, when I brake it'll shift back to 1.

So the problem is it doesn't upshift from first to second with the gear selector in 1-2

Jeroen

Mine 99' does the same thing I believe. It gets up to like 4000 RPMs but then I shift it to D because I don't want to go farther and see if it does really shift into 2nd gear.

If you put it in 1-2 and are going above 25, it will be in 2nd, then downshift at 25. If you put it in 1-2 from a stop, it will stay in 1st. (They probably did that with trails in mind)
It kind of annoys me in town when the speed limit is 25 so 2nd gear would be ideal, but it would drop into 1st, so I keep it at 3, which uses 3rd gear going 25.

Thanks. I thought it might be something like this.
Funnily, nothing in the driver's manual on this one

Jeroen