I have a 1982 xjs and I recently noticed my speedometer stopped working and I was told I my brake lights aren't working. Is there a connection between these 2 failures? On my other vehicle, I the horn was on the same fuse as the tail lamps. I do have horn. Any opinions on where to start to find this problem?

 

I'm fairly certainly that your 1982 model has a cable driven speedometer. If that's the case I would check for a broken cable.

If you DO have an electric speedo (which I really think came out in 1984 or so) I don't see, from a quick peek, any tie-in to the brake light circuit. Verify what you have and post back.

As for the brake lights, have you checked that the fuse hasn't blown, and the end caps are not corroded?

If the fuse is OK, do you have voltage coming into the brake light switch? And coming out of the switch when the pedal is pressed? If 'yes', then go the the brake light failure unit (in the console, just aft of the gearshift as I recall) and jump the three green/purple wires together. If the brake lights now work then you know the BFU has packed in.

If the brake lights still don't work you have a problem downstream of the BFU

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks Doug, Is this fuse under the bonnet on the fender. The little row of about 6 or 7 fuses? We recently got a lot of rain and the previous owner lost the cover to that fuse box. That was the cause of my headlamp failure in the spring, just after a bad rain storm also.

 

It'll be one of the fuses under the dash, probably driver's (LH) side.


Cheers
DD

 

Doug, do you know if the brake lights are the only thing the on that fuse?

 

On at least some of the older XJSs the turn signals and transmission kickdown are on the same fuse but I can't say for sure on 1982 model year. The fuse cover usually has a legend/label with that information


Cheers
DD

 

thanks Doug

 

pulled the fuse and roughed up the metal lever on the switch and got lights back