After a lot of searching around, I finally got around to removing the ashtray from my 2006 XJ8 Vanden Plas to install my XM radio receiver.

The idea was to remove the ashtray (I don't smoke) and use that compartment to keep the receiver thus enabling me to close the lid and hide the receiver (useful at night due to the bright display on the Skify2 unit).



First of all I pried off the wood panel surrounding the J-gate stick;



Then lift off the plastic covers concealing the two Philips screws holding down the bottom of the ashtray.

Then use a TORX T-30 screw driver to remove the two large screws holding the front part of the center console;


Then pry off the rear compartment climate vents;



The unit will simply drop out. There is no need for excessive force as it will come off with a gentle prod of a screwdriver or wooden spatula whilst grasping the vents themselves with your hand;



Now unhook the 4 electrical connections to completely release the climate unit from the center console;


You will have to release the center grey connector from the metal unit to facilitate the disconnection.







Now unscrew the 2 rear T-30 TORX screws to completely release the center console;



This will allow you to lift the rear of the console and pull it back from the front dashboard area. You will have to pull hard and upwards to release the catches at the front;




Lift the console up and move it to the back of the car;



With the center console removed, you can comfortably work on routing the antenna wire into the space behind the ashtray location;




You will now be able to access the ashtray which easily slides out since you have already removed the 2 Philips retaining screws;



After cutting away the back plastic section of the ashtray, which also releases the cigar lighter, I was able to insert the Sktfy2 12volt to 6volt transformer, plug into the cigar lighter socket and push way back into the depths of the from console area. The XM radio antenna cable was then routed through from the driver side door, under the steering wheel column and into the console area, emerging where the ashtray will be slotted back in.

To enable the Skyfi2 unit to fit into the ashtray, it is necessary to remove the unit from the vehicle cradle then dismantle the cradle to release the multi-pin electrical connector which can then be simply plugged into the bottom of the Skyfi2 receiver. The power and antenna cables are then plugged into the small circuit board retrieved from inside the vehicle cradle and the job is complete.

Now reverse the above sequence to replace the center console – slide it back into the front, push into the dashboard mounts (taking care to ensure the electrical cables from the rear climate unit are not snagged), attach all 4 TORX T30 screws, re-attach the rear electrical connections, push back in the rear climate vent unit, replace the J-gate wood surround panel by simply pushing and snapping it back into place.

Job complete;



Flipping open the ashtray cover reveals the XM radio Skyfi2 satellite receiver;



Now all I need to do is to find a way of securing the Skyfi2 unit to the ashtray interior, which is a little difficult to accomplish due to the loose wiring from the multi-pin connection at the bottom of the unit. Maybe a black plastic panel suitably cut out will hide the innards of the ashtray compartment.

 

Looks interesting, but I can't see the pictures ?

Also this should be in the 2004+ section :-) maybe a moderator will move it.

How do you get the sound from the XM into the stereo in the 2004+ cars ? (Getting aux in on the earlier cars is a real pain)

 

Sorry. This thread has been put into the correct post-2004 XJ section with the pictures reduced in size so that you can see them

 

RE: Connecting directly to the earlier head units - see the post
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11886

Not simple, but not too difficult.