Hi guys.
I have a 2004 Jag X-Type 3.0

I can't get the taillights to work properly.

They had a few blown bulbs...i replaced them..and now tails dont' light up.
Only when I turn on the headlights EVERYTHING lights up (taillight light up bri0ght as if i"m braking...even though i'm not)

Any clue?

I tried finding a fuse for the taillights and couldn't find it.

 

I have a foggy recollection of issues with the brake light switches that might cause some of the problems you are having. I'd try a search on those keywords and see what pops up.

 

Are you sure you used the right bulbs. I seem to remember when changing mine there was an odd setup, that and they were a complete pain to reach with my monster mits.

 

svldvc, if your brake lights are bright when you turn on the parking lights, then you have either: 1) the wrong bulbs installed, 2) the correct bulbs installed, but put in backwards, or 3) wiring issue with the rear lights. Because you found some blown fuses, I would be venturing to guess that you have a wiring issue and that will need to be addressed. Did you do any wiring work to your car recently? Just asking as normally this is the problem.

If you want to do some multimeter troubleshooting of your car, let me know and I will give you some checks to make.

 

Are you using the PY21W bulbs.? Other bulbs you think might be fitting may actually have the wrong offset of the little connecting pins.

 

Thanks guys for the suggestions.
Yes I have the correct bulbs.
Because I have two X-Types...my 1st X-type works 100%...the 2nd one has this problem that I've described.

I thought the same thing (that I got wrong bulbs)..so I took off my taillights from my 100% working Jag and I installed them on the 2nd (bad) X-Type and it's the same thing....they don't work. Unless I turn the *lights on* then they all glow as if I'm braking (except my center back window led strip @ top).

So I know it's not the bulbs... :-/

I"ll try to look for the fuses tomorrow...maybe there's a blown fuse.

 

problem partially solved....I found that the FUSE was blown.
I replaced it...and it solved all my problems

when i got home after a 10 min ride...i realized that one of my taillight bulbs isn't working again
Ohh well..I'll check it again tomorrow...too late tonight.

 

svldlc, if only 1 brake light is not working, then I would be looking at the bulb base or the associated wiring. If you need a wire color break down of what is what, let me know.

 

Have you tried replacing the brake light switch? I had the same problem on a mercedes, the part cost around $22 at the dealer.

I'm sure Jags have them too.

 

JCal, with our cars, as long as one of the brake lights is working, then you know the brake light switch is working. All 3 of the lights are fed off of the same wire unlike some vehicles.

 

But is the brakelight working or is it just the tail lights that work? Is a tail light bulb out? This could still be the result of a faulty brake light switch, but perhaps more likely a short in the wiring.

If your fuse is blown just replacing the fuse isn't a long term solution. Time to get out the multimeter and do some tracing.

 

Thermo, thanks for the clarification.

 

Jaguar used a light control module (LCM), which commonly fails. Due to the failure rate and expense of new ones (if you can find one for older Jags), many owners are bypassing this module. When I looked in the trunk fuse box for this module in my XK8, it had already been removed.) My solution was to add a new relay and fuse holder, which I wired directly to the brake light wires (two on each side). I used the high brake light circuit, which was the only brake light that worked, to activate the relay. (This is the blue wire going to the trunk lid). This works very well.

I did have the issue of the warning light for brake light failure appearing on the dash. This is an easy fix. The circuit is looking for sufficient resistance on the brake light circuit. I grounded the two old brake wires (after the LCM was removed and the wires were cut). No more warning light.

On a sepaarate note, the ground circuit commonly fails and this may be the cause fo the LCM bulb and fuse burn outs. Many users have added a new ground wire to each lamp housing. I had this problem, but cleaned the contacts and am still using the OEM gound. I plan to add separate ground wires soon.