Hi All

I have a 1994 XJ12. When I turn on the lights, the icon that illuminates next to the speedometer is a lightbulb with an x through it. Is this an error message? I checked all the lights and they seem to work fine.

 

Hi Mate - that's the bulb failure light. Have a really good look around the car, the rear number plate bulbs can trigger this bulb fail too!

Larry

 

Thanks, Larry!

 

Follow up question on this. Will that warning light go on for interior lights as well? I'm not finding the non-working light on the outside of the car.

On the instrument panel, there is back lighting for the temperature dial but no back lighting for the fan dial. Is that a dead bulb or is it just the case that there's no back lighting for the fan dial?

Thanks!

 

Hi Jaggie,

There may be some interior lamps that will trigger the bulb failure warning lamp, but I don't believe that applies to the climate control panel lamps. However, when you checked the exterior lights, did you turn on the high beam headlamps and the front and rear fog lamps to check that all their bulbs are working, and have someone depress the brake pedal in order to check that all the brake lamps are good?

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks, Don. I'm embarrassed to say that I overlooked both the fog lamps and the brake lamps. Hopefully one of those is my culprit.

 

My money's on one or both of the front fogs ..you'll be VERY lucky if they aren't melted!!!

Larry

 

Jaggie,

I know far more about XJS than XJ40, but here's a couple of thoughts re the similar circuit on XJSs:

The bulb failure does a check sequence when the lights are first turned on. So for 30 seconds the bulb failure light illuminates. It's only if it stays illuminated after that which indicates a problem. The XJ40 may work the same? Is your bulb staying on after 30 seconds?

The bulb failure only works on lights that are "definitely there". Therefore, it doesn't work on the optional front fogs because they might not be fitted! I would expect the XJ40 to be the same.

The bulb failure works on lights which will always be on when the light switch is turned on. Therefore it doesn't work on the headlights or rear fogs which may not have been turned on. Again the XJ40 may work the same in which case you only need to check the side lights and number plate lights.

Apols if the XJ40 is completely different and I have wasted your time!

Good luck

Paul

 

Hi Paul,

You raise an interesting question, but the XJ40 must be different from the XJ-S.

On the XJ40, all of the following bulbs are connected to the "Bulb Fail Logic" circuit in the BFMs and will trigger the bulb-out warning lamp if the BFM does not see the appropriate resistance of a bulb filament:

Headlamps (low- and high-beams)
Tail lamps
Brake lamps (excluding the high-mount stop lamp, I think)
Reverse lamps
Sidemarker lamps
License plate lamps
Fog lamps (front or rear - on our '93 VDP at least, they were standard front and rear, not optional)

I have the XJ40 Electrical Guides for '88, '89, '90, '91 and '93/'94, and they all confirm that both the front and rear fog lamps are connected to the bulb fail logic circuits.

Cheers,

Don

 

Don,

Tks for the clarification. As mentioned, I know much more about XJS than XJ40! Apols to you, Jaggie, if I misled you!

Paul

 

Thanks, guys. This is great info. I'm doing my bulb testing tonight. Hopefully I can find it and fix it and go back to a warning-light free dash.

 

I found it. It's the light on the front drivers side with an orange cover. Now can anyone tell me where I can get a bulb?

 

Hi Jaggie,

From your description, I'm not certain whether you are describing the turn signal or side marker. The bulb numbers in the Owner's Manual are European designations, but you can find the U.S. equivalents at Sylvania's bulb finder:

http://www.sylvania.com/en-us/applic...s/lrgmain.aspx


The bulbs are available at most local auto parts stores. Take your original bulb to compare it to the new one.

Cheers,

Don

 

+1

 

Bulb replaced and warning light gone. A well spent $1.50. I hope all my repairs are that cheap!