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I have no trunk lights and only one license plate light that works. All bulbs have been changed, From what I can get from reading on the boards it appears that it's probably the wiring harness at the hinge. Since I don't have access to a wiring diagram was wondering if anyone could tell me what the color codes of the wires would be? Hopefully I can get some time to tackle this hopefully easy issue...
From what I saw in the diagram license plate lights are connected pretty much in parallel, if one works - another one should. ( see diagram in post 9 here https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...9/#post1102746 ) Per this diagram(for XJ8 2002!) colors codes are RW and B.
For trunk lights look for "interior lighting" diagram, it should be somewhere here.
Could someone be kind enough to show a novice how to access the license plates lights to replace bulbs. Is it basically pull the carpet on the lid lip & go from there ?!
Small batch hand harvested blue agave tequila has me in the tinker mode lol.
If you are lucky, you can just remove the two little screws on the outside, then remove the transparent cover, and replace the bulbs.
However, most likely, the two parts of which each housing will separate, with one part sliding back into the dark of the trunk lid (they should be inseparable, but due to heat over the years they deform).
In that case, yes, remove the liner partially, try to fix the 2 parts back together, then push them back in place from inside.
It is common that the wire bundle as it goes around the trunk right hinge to wear out and cause problems . You would have to remove the plastic hinge cover on the bottom as it curves to see it .
You reminded me that mine were also loose in the plinth (for the millionths time...), so decided to fix them for once and for all.
Took them out, cleaned out burn marks and old paste (still repair from the PO) as good as it went, glued the parts together, and finished it off with some heat reflective tape around the bulb.
Now that will outlast the rest of the car ... or so I hope .
Will let it all dry tonight, then take the plinth off tomorrow as they are too large to fit from the inside.
Now before I destroy yet another piece of my car whilest trying to change to LED bulbs. I got the clear cover off easy enough but the bulb will not budge @ all. I don't won't to pry & break the brittle plastic and/or wiring.
Any tips or tricks to this seemingly menial task ?! Guess I'm going to have to go the carpet route.
Last edited by King Charles; Apr 12, 2018 at 07:36 PM.
As I mentioned before, it is very easy, just remove the plastic cover over the lock (2 torx bolts), and the 4 clips holding the lining next to the lock.
You can then carefully pull the lining a bit off, just keep an hand around the backside of each trunk light to guide, and prevent them from ripping out of the leather surround.
You will then need to remove the booth plinth (4 or 6 M8 nuts, watch the washers underneath!).
Reaching inside, the license plate light units have 2 long clips on the inside, you will need to push them in, then slide the unit out.
In my case (and I thing pretty common), 20 years of heat had the plastics distorted, and the 2 parts of each housing separated.
I cleaned them up, epoxied them together overnight, added some heat shield (careful with electric connectivity!) and reinstalled the next day (next night for you probably .
Trunk/License Plate Lights
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