Hi

I need help.

My Instrument Cluster flickers when I step on the brakes. After a while it all goes dark. I do not believe that all bulbs go bad at once since they do come back on and of after a while.

Could it be a bad ground connection ?

Please help

 

Does it happen when the car is sitting still? Or only when in motion?

I ask because I can't see any common connection between the two systems. If it is only when bringing the car to a stop, I look for a loose connection on the back of the instrument panel.

Are there any other lights affected? The climate control, for example?

 

For what it's worth, a similar problem happened on a xj6 (x300) that belong to my father. Turned out to be a faulty coil ! Can't really remember how my dad and I came across that as a possible solution, but I do recall us being very happy to have solved it for relatively cheap and easy! Now, your description appears narrowed to specific situation, which was not the case here. What I have discovered recently on my xj8 (x308) though is that there is some gremlin living under the dash. My windshield fluid pump stopped working when pressing the button. Thought it was the pump. Looked under the dash (above pedals) and played around with the wires, looking for loose ends. Did not discover anything obvious besides the fact the pump started working again! Hence, some wiring short of some sort. With you referring to the problem when braking, me thinking stop light switch at the pedal, wires under dash... You know where I'm heading. Again, for what it's worth....

Cheers

 

I just noticed that the clock light does not work. Also the headlight stay on when the light switch is set to off.

Could this be all connected?

 

I also forgot to mention that the J on the j gate does not lite.

 

The last three issues are probably unrelated. The clock lamp may be burnt out (it's easy to check, pry off the wood panel, unscrew the clock and pull the bulb).

The J gate doesn't light in either of my cars, and the headlights are always on in my North America market cars, not sure about the rest of the world.

The biggest clue is, what happens if the car is sitting still and you press the brake?

 

Thanks for your great help.

Tomorrow I will look into the break and clock. Will update how it goes. As for the car it is a US car.

 

Ok you were right. The clock light was burnt. I also installed a new instrument panel . Will drive tomorrow night and see if the problem is solved.

Thanks for the great recommendation .

 

Correction . I changed the CONSOLE SWITCH PANEL and heater panel and not the instrument panel .

I still have the flickering and eventually loose all the lighting in the console , heater and instrument panel. I also still have the battery not charging light on even when it is charging .( new battery and alternator ). The lights may go back on and off when I play with the light switch and high beams.

Can this be related ?

Thanks for your help.

 

Click on the Electrical link in my signature, and go over the connections listed in there. It will at least eliminate the bigger electrical systems.

 

wow thanks a lot I will follow the instruction. Great info.


Cannot thank you enough.

 

OK

Checked all the circuit and it all is good.

Can the no charging message and flickering of the consol come from a bad regulator ?

If yes how do I check for a bad regulator?

 

I believe I found the problem.

For me it was the anti-theft module that was causing the flickering.

Installed a new one and the flickering stopped.

Hope this help others

 

What made you suspect that module?

 

Rob,

A very nice diagnostic pictorial. Well done!

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks Don,

I love doing that kind of thing, and it saves me a lot of typing every time the issue comes up on the forum.