Hi Garry,

Welcome to the Jaguar Forums. It's great to have you with us.

See Post #3 in this thread for the solution to the Original Poster's issue.

Also, please visit the New Member Area - Intro a MUST and post a required introduction so we can learn something about you and your Jaguar and give you a proper welcome.

Cheers,

Don

 

There is hardly a single issue with these cars that have not been discussed
in this forum. That said, sometimes our particular problem might seem to have
some facet we do not discover in the multitude of comments on any given
concern. I am very grateful for the wealth of knowledge reflected here.

 

The original make of X308 microswitches is CHERRY (China).

 

When I had just bought my 2002 XJR it suffered from this problem too. The wonky switch does this a code,,but it is a Jaguar specific code. So you need an OBD SCANNER THAT CAN READ THE Jaguar specific codes for your model.

Jeroen

 

Ahah! A clue!
This forum is a wonderful source of information.

Last night, I got the "Failsafe Mode" message on my 2000 XK8. This was after a 250 mile daytrip, in last three miles or so. I felt no performance change on my hilly back roads, so I continued home.
This thread points to the culprit: coincidentally, I am fighting right now a bad brake switch. I was not able to replace it yet because I cannot loosen the rear nut. I ordered some low-profile tools, will see - in the meantime, I need to kick the pedal upwards occasionally to make it switch off.

Yours was a great hint. I'll keep an eye on the "Failsafe" once I get the switch changed.
Thanks, Robert.

 

You don't need to remove the switch assy to 'ratchet' the plastic adjuster.
I just did this to a 1998 XK8 I bought because the brake lights stayed ON at times.

I used a hose release 'hook-tool' and pried the adjuster halves apart with the switch in-situ.

Not easy to crawl under the pedals and insert the tool but I know what it looks like so I just felt the opening and listened for the clicking sound.(you might need a mirror to get it into position)

Gently release the brake pedal and you will hear it 'ratchet' back in place.
DO NOT pull the pedal UP! It will ratchet too far and be right back where you started.(just let the pedal return on it's own)

This will not repair a faulty switch, only reset the switch if it is out of adjustment.

 

Interesting!
I did not know there was possible adjustment. I do have a new switch in my garage - I'll have a look to better understand what you wrote about.
Thank you! Robert

 

Robert, if you purchased the URÖ brand brake switch, you will definitely want to transfer the actual brake switch to the oem Jaguar zinc plated brake switch bracket. I replaced one on a customers XK8 about a month ago, cleared the code and test drove it. The CEL came on and failsafe lite up. I ran the code and was the exact same one. When I got out of the car, the brake light were on. I looked above the brake pedal and the bracket was so cheap that it bent badly. I just removed the switch from bracket and transferred it to the oem jag one and no further issues. Share this with the guys over in the XK (X100) forum since I’m not over there much.

 

The X100 and X308 brake pedal switches themselves are the same.
The wire connectors are different but if you can solder wires, you can make the XJ8 switch work on the XK bracket by swapping the wire connector.(one wire at a time)

The XK switch will work by removing the switch from the mount bracket and installing on the XJ mount bracket.
The wires are just longer.