Hello, I am in the process of replacing the smaller wood dash bezel that surounds the trip meter and various switches on my 1985 xj6. I've been able to transfer everything over but the round dash light dimmer switch. It looks like the knob should just pull off but it won't budge and I don't want to break it as it looks like it would be difficult to replace.. Any tips or should I be using a special tool? - Thank you!

 

you need to move the entire panel outwards first, enough to see the rear of the switches, then you need a thin pick tool, there is a hole in the plastic knob's neck that you can only get to from the back of the panel, you insert the pick in the hole to push a button located in the neck of the rheostat/dimmer shaft, then you pull the knob off the shaft.

you could also try to use a thin nail.

 

Thank you so much, worked like a charm ). I actually looked for a release on the shaft but apparently not close enough..

 

you welcome.

Interesting KNOB TRIVIA:
the style of those knobs were first used in the !963 thru 1968 Jaguar 'S' type to control the air vents, but in chromed metal. Jaguar revived them for the Series 3 XJ cigar lighter knob and dimmer knob but in black plastic.

MORE Trivia:
only 24 thousand Jaguar 'S' type were made from 1963 thru 1968 for the entire world.

 

here's my finished mod:

1) replaced the black plastic cigar lighter and dimmer knobs with the chromed metal knobs from a 1965 'S' type;

2) removed the 'leaper' emblem and installed a 1967 E type ashtray. Next I'm going to eliminate the two ashtrays on the center console ski slope panel, they are useless.

 

Naah, repurpose them!


I put quarters in the right one and lesser coins in the left one. Parking meter fodder!!
I was in downtown Walnut creek yesterday. The city fathers and Mothers raised the fee. Two bucks for an hour. Supposedly to improve turnover and encourage the use of the garages. Hmm, I'll not venture that way for a spell. .Don't suppose that revenue has anything to do with it. Ha!!

 

double taxation Carl.

 

Cool ashtray mod. Good use of the space. What will you do down below when you remove the ashtrays?

 

I want a plain surface, no ashtrays, no cupholders, nothing, just a nice flat panel. That entails plugging the rectangular cutouts and recovering the panel; my friend Saul at British Autowood says he can match the existing color and grain of the vertical panel with a wood covering.

will look like the picture below but without the ashtrays

 

that is going to look smooth - I like that S type ashtray replacing the leaper - I feel like if there is also a leaper already on the glovebox, the one on the center console is almost overkill and is at least the one that looks most out of place.

 

The ashtray came from a E-type; it has a tiny metal "leaper" mounted to the front of the ashtray's "door".

the little leaper is removable, and the revolving tray is also removable for cleaning. Here's a picture

**note that the chromed Cigar Lighter Knob and the Dimmer Rheostat Knob are what came from a S type.

 

BTW, Jose, I used your know-removal advice already, just great timing. Thanks!

 

ah, my bad, conflated part sources in my post. thanks for clarity jose.