I got my beautiful baby Sophia January 30, 2018. After only 3 weeks of use, and multiple times putting the top down (even though it was COLD), I got her ceramcoated. The guy also detailed my car, and to do so removed the seats. When he put them back in, he somehow broke the handbrake return spring. Now i can't put my top down. I have looked over a year seems a half for that part (mhf5149aa), and NO ONE has it. Someone will list it, i.e. Terry's, and then after i order they tell me they can't get it. He could only find part of the spring, so i can't even try to just weld it back together. Bought the return spring that fits up to 1991 models going out might work, but it doesn't. Now i just want to bypass the damned hand brake sensor so i can finally put my top down again!

 

Andrea,

I assume you mean you've been trying to buy a cheap used part? I would have thought that any breaker of late XJSs would have one of those. But if you're fed up looking for a used part, you can just buy a new one from Jaguar. They are available. In the meantime, if you want to bypass the actuator switch, then I can't see why you couldn't just earth the microswitch wire, although that will mean that you'll have the handbrake warning light on. But at least the hood will work.

Good luck

Paul

 

Thank you for your reply. That part is actually not available, it will show as available oh a jag parts site, but every time i order it, they refund my money bc it's no longer available. I have tried every site i can find, i.e., us., uk, Wales, Australia. I keep trying pull-a-part, in surrounding states, and still no luck. There's got to be one somewhere. I will try that with the switch, i don't know how to do it but I'll find someone who does😉

 

Take a look at this post for how to remove the need to apply the handbrake to raise or lower the top: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...6/#post2090470

 

Andrea,

I'm not sure which Jaguar parts website you were checking. The genuine Jaguar parts website is https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.com

I just rang them to confirm the availability of the part and they told me they had 8 in stock. I hope that helps.

Good luck

Paul

 

Yes it's a fairly quick and easy to do, and in my opinion, well worth doing. Also if done right, completely reversible. I actually pulled my wire out of the harness and made a separate wire to run to ground. No more having to pull the brake, so much nicer!