I'm not used to having a car with a trunk as big as an S-Type's. Fantastic, love the spacious trunk interior. Problem is at night time, light only extends to the area that runs the length of the trunk lid. Because the trunk light is attached to the back / top of the trunk lid, no light reaches items in the rear of the trunk. This was a huge problem as I had forgotten cold groceries in back of the trunk at night because it looked like I had gotten everything. Yeah, no more.



I took some of the x3 LED pure white strip lights, the same kind I used for the interior, and used them for the trunk. I tested out a couple different configurations and found that two LED lights were the right lighting.





I wired them up with the same wiring as I did with the interior; small-gage speaker wire. I wired them up to the trunk light's power source, of course. There's a lotta' ways I could have fastened the wiring, but I decided to make use of the fabric roof and just use Velcro strips to keep the lights and wires in position. The wires can't be seen unless you crane your head.

Next I needed to get the trunk light's light to match the color and intensity of the LED's. Rather than buying a LED bulb online and questioning its temperature and brightness, I decided to hook up one of the strip LED's and use it in place of the stock light fixture. Same temperature, same brightness.

You see the trunk at night. Here's the trunk with only the trunk light (one strip LED) on and the rear LED's off. You can't see what's in the rear of the trunk at all. Then, with the rear LED's on, you can clearly see all parts of the trunk equally.









How does it perform? It's illuminating yo. JbB

 

Strange. Mine S type 2000 has 2 lights. One on the trunk and one bottom left, just behind the trunk spring.

 

Nice job, but I am suprised you took the easy way on the wiring.

 

As posted above is your second trunk light in the left hand corner working? I think Jaguar should have put another light in the right hand corner of the trunk too!
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Yeah, Clubairth, I thought this was going to be a post about adding a "second" light under the deck for a total of three.

 

Just use a flashlight. I keep a small one in the trunk. Easier, less costly, and no Christmas tree light string hanging every which way....

 

Would one of you 2000 S-Typ owners be so kind as to grace us with a photo?

 

Here you go sir:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

So, to answer the 2000 S-Type owners, this is why I created this modification because there IS only one stock light for my car (a 2004 S-Type). And the position of the second light in older S-Types isn't ideal. My Lexus SC400 had a light on the side in the trunk in the same way and it sucked, anything large placed on the side of the truck blocked light from reaching the other side. Thus, I added two lights positioned on top of the Lexus (the best position for trunk lights), just like I've done for the Jaguar.

And as far as the wiring, look at the very first picture posted. I fastened the wire the way I did because one; it works and is removable without modifying the interior and because two; it can't be seen at all unless you bend over, stick your head in the trunk and crane your neck up. I've had these lights in the trunk for over two months, including several "trunk filled to the roof" loads and not one issue. In the first picture, do you see any wires? Do any of you see any "Christmas tree light string hanging every which way"?

I try to contribute to the community of S-Type owners and post an actual useful modification and get either posts making assumptions that I ignorantly overlooked something non-existent, or posts about how visible the unseen wiring looks? What motivation do I have to even continue contributing?

 

Hi Jb........looks like it works well, thanks for sharing

As you say, very illuminating

 

I like it. I was planning on somethimg similar to my Infiniti G until the Jag came into my garage. I think most car makers cut costs in things like this and do the absolute minimum. I wouldn't mind some illumination under the bonnet as well!

 

Dude relax a bit. I for one have "Thanked" you several times for how to's and also for your modifications, remember? Not to mention all the pics that you took the time to post correctly.

The "Christmas Tree Lighting" as Jon put it looks hoaky, thats all. You seem to be a perfectionist type of guy (we admire you for that). Please don't take offense. Don't be like another member and take the ball away, because of some simple criticism, thats all.

I for one enjoy and revel in the fact that you love your Jag, like myself and everyone here!

Capeesh

 

Yeah, Lighten Up, Yo. It's just a car and just a web forum. Your solution seems to have worked for you.
I was surprised that your '04 lacked an under-deck Light... no reflection on you, Brother!