While driving, My 2010 XF turns on the park lights when I try adjust the steering columns reach in or out, (the column doesn't move). And when I try adjust the tilt up or down, nothing happens at all. sometimes with the engine off but ignition in the on position, rotating the headlight stalk will operate the telescopic function in and out and when thats happening, moving the tilt/reach switch will move the steering column in 2 of its directions but not in the direction that the switch was pushed in. The auto function for easy entry/exit still works, and when you press the memory positions the column moves as well. its just when you try to move it with the adjusting switch that it doesn't work. Ive had the switch apart and it looks like new inside. The high beams also used to be stuck on when the headlights were in the auto position, that seems to have fixed itself. Its really acting like the wires are all crossed between the tilt switch and the headlight switch.

I bought it from the insurance company, it had an interior fire in the passengers footwell area, the heater box assembly was melted and so were some of the wires on the dash wiring harness. The fire was caused by vandalism, not faulty wiring. Ive already replaced the complete heater box assembly and dash wiring harness as well as all the small interior bits it needed. So my original wiring harness is on my workbench and I've followed the wires from the tilt/reach switch and the headlight stalk and the tilt/reach motors and they all go straight into the instrument cluster. Ive been in touch with the previous owner and this problem wasn't happening before the fire. Ive been keeping a small trickle charge on it and I even tried the battery out of our X5. Ive also traced all the wires from the switches/tilt motors to the cluster and all the wire colours and pin numbers match up between my old harness and the new one.

Ive found lots of cheap used instrument cluster assemblies, but after doing some research on here it looks like trying one of those may require dealer coding.

Does anybody have any ideas on what I should be checking out next??

 

The headlight stalk. It seems to be able to manifest some really weird faults for what is essentially a switch. I think it's because the switch works by changing the resistance measured between two pins and over time this can become unreliable, but I don't know that for certain.

 

Ya, the headlight stalk can do some weird stuff, I was just checking the output voltages out of one of its connection wires, and the cluster lights flashed, and now this what the Headlight stalk is currently doing,

Off position - tilt steering column down
Park lights - tilt steering column up
Headlights - telescopic extend
Auto position - telescopic retract

the lights are operation as they should while I rotate the stalk.

It almost seems as though the tilt/telescopic switch needs to be reprogrammed back to the car.
The tilt/telescopic switch is similar to the headlight stalk in that it will outputs different voltages at different positions along the same wire to do different functions.

 

Headlight stalk for sure. Had an issue last year with ours where the parking lights would not go out, nor would the headlights go on. Broken wire in the stalk. Maybe on yours there is a broken wire and when the assembly moves, even a little. it shorts across the broken wire?

 

Yep, broken wire that gets joined again with movement is plausible for sure

 

replacement is really easy , you dont even have to remove the steering wheel or airbag !!!

simply undo the lower cowl screws and remove the cowl , remove the two upper cowl screws and remove that

next , the wiper stalk is held to the column by click fit, depress lever, and withdraw the stalk sideways , this is after removing the connector plug

new one is fitted by offering up and clicking into place

replace upper and lower cowl

BB

 

Thanks for all the replies so far,

I have opened up and completely disassembled the turn signal/headlight stalk, and all the wires test good, and everything physically looks like it should be okay.
The actual functions it is supposed to do are all working like normal.

I have been messing around with it a little more and this is what its doing.
-The headlight/signal switch functions like normal,
-Steering column tilt up or down does nothing,
-But telescope out will turn on the headlights and retract will turn on the park lights only while held in that position.

BUT once I unplug the electrical connector to the signal/headlight stalk and then plug it back in
-The headlight functions continue to work as they should but along with operations the lights, it will also operate the steering column movement in all 4 directions depending what position its in.
-And the telescope out will turn on the headlights and raise the tilt, and the retract position will telescope out.
-And the tilt up and down still do nothing.

And then once I disconnect the battery
-The headlight functions go all back to normal
-And the tilt up/down still does nothing
-And telescope out goes back to just turning on the headlights, and retract goes back to just turning on the park lights

I have been searching lots and back in 2016 there was a thread titled "jaguar xf speedo swap help" and in the 6th post "Cambo" said "You will probably also have to recalibrate the steering column too"
and in the next post "08292" said "The steering column always needs for calibrating after replacing IC and keys programming. For calibrating steering column needs its serial number which locating on column or near spare wheel."

I also found this post from "08292" posted on Jaginfo.org
Discussion Starter • #1 • Feb 26, 2018Models F-PACE / X761
XE / X760
XF / X250
XF / X260
XJ / X351
XK / X150
Title Steering Column rake & reach inoperative
Category Chassis

Issue: A Customer may report their steering column does not move when trying to adjust in an up/down or in/out movement.

Cause:
1. Connector issue between electrical harness and steering column motors.
2. Steering column lost position, which result in no steering column movement in either, or both directions.

Action:
1. Disconnect and reconnect both connectors located on column adjustments motors, underneath the column, as shown in the attachment. Ensure an audible click is heard when reconnecting, thus ensuring correct latching of the harness connectors into the female part located on the motors. Apply a slight pull force over check on the male harness connector, to ensure a robust connection is made
2. Clear any DTC's.
3. Run the steering column calibration routine using the approved diagnostic equipment ensuring correct adjustment function.
4. Adjust the column in all directions to confirm full functionality.

Also while I was test driving it last week after about 30 minutes of driving a DSC unavailable message popped up and when I scanned it, it was a steering angle sensor code. and after clearing it, it kept coming back after less than only 1 minute of driving. So I'm assuming that also needs to be re-calibrated.

So that has me thinking thats maybe what I need done.
And the closest Jag dealer is 3 hours away. Any thoughts?

 

Conclusion.....I took it to the dealer 3 hours away to have them try recalibrating the steering column, and after trying to do that they said it wouldn't let them because the serial number on the HVAC control module was different and it won't allow them to calibrate anything until the original module gets put back in. So I brought it back to them next week. With the original hvac control module back in. And the mechanic eventually told me he did all he could and that my issue must be in the gauge cluster. (just what I originally thought). to fix it I would need to purchase a brand new cluster and have it programmed by them, they didn't get an exact price but roughly $3000 was the number used.

Obviously too much to spend just to get the tilt/telescopic working again, So with the help of 10 relays and 4 diodes I was able to rewire the original switch and connect it to the motor and magnetic worm gear engagement devices on the steering column. And I now have fully functional tilt and telescopic. All my wiring is is isolated from the rest of the cars electronics. The steering wheel will no longer move with the memory presets or the auto easy exit/entry function. But the tilt/telescopic switch finally works.