I really was beginning to get worried that there was someting wrong with my X-Type wagon. I have been told many, many times how unreliable Jaguars are and how "they stop in the middle of nowhere for no reason" (this is a verbatim comment to me by a BMW owner). So clearly my beautiful Sportwagon was not really a Jaguar...because in 13 (yes, thirteen) years of service as my daily driver, it has caused me no end of pleasure. Not a single problem, not one, Zero; zilch. Nothing. You can imagine my satisfaction when FINALLY something went wrong.

The beautifully finished rear compartment of the Sportwagon/Estate is illuminated by a lamp on each side; the lamps illuminate when either the glass portion or the entire tailgate is opened:



But this week I noted that while the lamps came on when the glass was raised, they did not illuminate when the tailgate itself was raised. YES!!!!! finally something that needs to be fixed. A wiring issue? Perhaps - that would fit nicely into the Lucas myth - even though there is no Lucas involvement here...Can't be the bulbs - to have both go out at the same time would be too much of a coincidence...so before getting into a process of dismantling to find a bruised wire or a faulty connection, I decided to apply a version of Occam's Razor - in layman's terms, the easiest explanation is often the correct one.
So, knowing that the lights must be triggered by a switch in the two latches, that of the glass and that of the tailgate, I went to my favourite lubricant/freeing agent: RUSTCHECK. Yes, this is a rust inhibitor but it is also a fantastic lubricant, harmless to paint, rubber and electrical connections. I have used it for decades.

With the tailgate open, I sprayed it up into the latch...and then busied myself with tidying the rear compartment. I did nothng more than spray. Less than 3 minutes later - the lights went ON! Obviously the switch for the lights or whatever operated the switch was sticking. The Rustcheck freed it with no action on my part. Tested the latch by opening and closing several times; the lights came on with every opening.

My Sportwagon is back to its normal problem-free behaviour.

 

A frequent observation usually made by those who have never owned one and sometimes by those who have never even been in one.

The interior of your X-Type looks as impressive as the exterior and certainly belies it's age and regular use.

Graham

 

I agree. Well maintained!