The headlights are randomly shutting off when driving in ON mode. If I switch to AUTO, they will go back on. I have been driving in AUTO because I saw my headlights turn themselves on one night at home with the car parked and not running, right after I found my battery dead and replaced it.

 

As I recall a few members have had this problem, and it turned out to be the indicator stalk, something breaks or shorts internally, the fix is to replace the stalk with a new one...see here https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...xj8-vdp-83759/

 

I have the same problem the other night my lights where on and the switch was not in auto mode
I just ordered the stalk Ill let you all know if it cures my prtoblem

 

Replacing the lights switch cured my problem with lights going off occasionally. It was only for about 2 seconds, but it is alarming when you're on a twisty road on a moonless night in winter !!

 

Fraser, Could you describe the procedure for changing the switch? I am having difficulty finding it.

 

It's a simple 30 minute job, (at least that was the labour charge for mine). The steering wheel binnacle mouldings are first removed, then the switch can be swapped over on an unplug old, plug in new basis, followed by replacing the mouldings. Switch is a bit eye-watering at £125, but if you strip the old one down you'll see it is quite a complex assembly.

Definitely a DIY job IMHO, but I had mine done at the same time as something else non-DIY.

 

Fraser, I was wondering how to remove the binnacles.

 

Okay had my indicator switch fitted yesterday as well as new rear passenger lock actuator also had the automatic door locking switched of I supplied the parts $230 for all the labour

The headlights do not flicker yippee

The car does not lock its self when I engage the gears Yippee

The back door now unlocks yippee

There is absolutely nothing wrong with my car a double yippee

I won't do a triple yippee might jinx the whole thing yet LOL

 

Ya gotta love those double Yipees!
I changed the headlight switch and have had no more random headlight loss or weird activations. I think it was the switch. It was pretty random before, so I will wait longer to see if I really got it before issuing any Yipees. I remember one day not long ago when I was in the yard in th emiddle of the day and happened to look at the car and the headlights suddenly came on and stayed on! I have never heard of that one. The week before, my battery died and I thought it was a bad battery and replaced it. I'm sure it was the headlight elf! Cost me $135 to guess wrong on that one.

 

Funny thing I replced my battery first thinking it might have neen the fault
Oh well got a brand new one and the old one was from 2007 anyway

 

Sort of unrealted to the OP question but: Where are you all finding the stalks for the prices you've mentioned? The lowest I can find is $170 but most are around $230.

 

I found one at Rockauto for about $180.

 

Hi Fraser, My XJ (2010) has the same issue, except, when in dry weather like in the summer, I don't get the problem, but when it is raining or the car has been in wet conditions for a few days it seems to act like it is shorting. Was this the same fault you had and would you think your cure should work, Bob.

 

No way to know without looking at the stalk - that is where I would start. It is a fairly easy repair.

Here is a video:
I had mine out in 10 minutes. Once out, I opened it up (pretty easy to see how once it is in your hands (a few screws and some tabs if I recall)) and saw the cracked wires. I added/soldered a small piece to each of the two broken wires to make them longer and used shrink wrap. Put it back together and problems went away. Original plan was to replace with one from RockAuto - but as the repair was so easy and successful I skipped replacement.

I was into it for maybe an hour total. If it is not a daily driver and can be down for a week, I would pull the stalk, open it up check the wires and if they are broken either fix it or order a new one. The two wires facing out, there are four, are the ones that break. I assume this is because all the wires are the same length, but the two on the outside are the gauge of the wire and cover too short.

 

Well, the switch is the same, (maybe a different stalk), but your's is the later car, so if it doesn't happen in dry weather maybe look at the earth side of the lamps. The front earthing points on the X350/358 cars are notorious for corrosion, but I'm not sure what the X351 hasw.

 

Perhaps this is the reason Jaguar supplies a genuine torch
Rechargeable Torch and Dock | Jaguar Accessories

 

Only in China though!!!

 

Last night my low-beam flickered a few times and then went out. City fortunately. I switched to hi-beam, mucked with indicators and hi-lo multiple times, by which time the car in front pulled over! (ahh just some impatient guy in a Jag).

Thanks to the above video, I managed to pull the indicator stalk out. Not difficult.
Pulled the stalk apart, no obvious damage to the wires, self-cancelling mechanism fell out, wondered why I got up this morning.
Got it back together after 2 tries and back in the car. Of course it all works now, after all it's intermittent. But I got a photo and part number!

SNG Barratt £296 (or $NZ590 plus shipping)

So my question is, do I really need headlights?

 

https://www.radioshack.com/products/...f681712f&_ss=r


Too much trouble and expense. Pick up a can of Radio Shack Cleaner & Lubricant (Cat. No. 6400148), and try applying a little cleaner on that stalk. By the way, a bad earth ground would cause the same thing.