The warning stays on when boot//trunk us shut. I have checked that when I manually depress the switch, the light stays on.

I have read in these fora that it can be switch, or it can be "pinched" wiring somewhere, possibly in the loom near the right boot hinge.

See photos of switch, and the wires which feed it - one is black/white and one is black.
I used a multimeter to test the switch.

Using the "continuity" setting, it bleeped when the switch was pressed! I assume this means the switch was working ???

If so, where else should I look or test?

*Pretty things - see pic - when I opened the switch area top of boot, these pretty metal things fell out! One has a thin metal wire strip attached/

What are these? significant, or a present from the builders of the car?

 

Try giving the kidnap lanyard a yank or two, then shut the bootlid.

 

Does your meter still show continuity when the switch is released? If yes, the switch is bad. If no, try bridging across the two terminal of the female side of the connector. If that doesn't turn off the light, suspect the wiring upstream.

 

Was broken wire in wiring loom right hand side of boot, under where the boot arm/support meets the car! - see pic!

 

Where is your switch located. My trunk light does not come on and I don't get any warnings that it is open. I can't find the switch on my 98 XK8

 

My switch (like a 1 inch long plastic covered button) is just to the right of centre of the boot lid, where the lock ring from the lid closes on the lock mechanism of the boot body.
My problem was broken wire in the loom under the right boot lid arm

 

THe latest poster has a 98 XK8. not much point asking here.