My next project. How cool would it be to turn the active exhaust on/off with the useless ASL switch??

I sketched out the wiring for each and it looks possible. I'll upload the sketch when I'm home.

Eventually I want to relocate the active exhaust valves further up and install cut outs near the mid pipe.

Just want to know:
- If I disconnect the ASL switch, will my check engine light or 'Cruise not available' come on?
- Is there an internal sensor in the vacuum pump that controls when to stop/start the pump? It looks like there is only a power and ground going to the pump, no ECM signal. The solenoid has a wire that goes to the ECM to tell it when to open and close.

More to come ...

 

Great minds think alike 😆 I was thinking of doing an exact same thing with the useless button

 

Corvette guys have used the extra Home Link buttons on the visor to operate the exhaust valves for years. There are kits out there that are pretty inexpensive.
Worthless ASL is also a great and probably easier/cheaper option. Seriously, who would even USE that thing?

 

I don't remember ever using it. Maybe when on the highway going down a long decline? I read some other posts about people using it for city driving too.

 

That is interesting, first google search comes up with an X150 post:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-valve-102942/

 

That's probably where I first saw it. The price has gone up a bit in the past seven years though, I seem to remember more like $49 or so.

 

I thought the little checkered flag button to the left of the ASL button opened the exhaust valves. On my car it seems to do that. The sound difference is subtle, but I definitely hear the exhaust burble with the button pressed while I don't when it's not pressed.

 

It's easier to simply pull Fuse 19.

A better use for the ASL switch, but only when the top is down! Requires installation of modified pop-up rollbar mechanism under passenger seat.

 

Because I live out in the Ozarks (yes, just like the show, as a matter of fact they mention things around me all the time) there's me, some other guy that owns an XF, and some shadowy never seen figure that drives an F Type and that's about it as far as Jaguar owners. Everyone else either drives a pickup or a 1982 Oldsmobile.

So I never get to ask other people about things like this but seriously... does ANYONE use ASL? What does it offer that the cruise control really doesn't do better? Is it just a marketing bullet point? If I had active exhaust I'd be wiring up that button in a hot minute.

 

Is that stock? You have a pic?

Wasn't even thinking about the home link buttons when I was searching. But that's interesting.

I'm still trying to figure the switch out. Its not like others ... I couldn't get a 12V signal at the illumination wire. Even after I connected the signal wire to the ground to 'fool' the ECM into think its connected. But it it did work when I connected the switch back. The 'cruise not available' didn't show up when I disconnected it. However, I think I may just keep the original switch hidden somewhere and get an aftermarket switch to actually run the power from F19.

 

He is talking about the dynamic mode button on the 5 litre cars.



I took fuse 19 out when I first bought my 5 litre but put it back in again so that I have the option of running the car in quiet mode.

99% of the time I hit the dynamic mode button after I have put my seat belt on but if I am leaving the house a bit early I will just leave the car in normal mode until I am a few blocks away.

 

Ah ofcourse. I didn't realize that controls the active exhaust. Is a copy of the 5.0 electrical diagram on the stickies post? May just be easier to copy that wiring.

I do have fuse 19 pulled but I want to move the valves upstream eventually. So i'll need to be able to turn if on/off.

Here is what I drew up so far. I'll leave the ASL switch alone and just splice into the illumination wire. Then ground it separately or splice into the ground. Then run 2 wires from the new switch to the solenoid/valve power. Ill have to ground the solenoid to the body and cut the connection to the ECM. With F19 still intact, the vacuum will have constant power while the solenoid will be controlled by the switch.


Now I have to figure out if the solenoid/valve opens or closes and the polarity. The ECM controls the ground, not the power so this may be tricky.

Currently looking for a ~28mm diameter switch that might look good...

 

BTW the checkered flag button does more than just run the active exhaust, so using the wiring diagram from the 5.0 manual won't help.

 

Ok so I bought a spare ASL switch to play around with. I couldn't get it to work full time since its one of those momentary ones, so I am going to use the chrome shell, then buy a small latching switch to fit inside.

I modeled a custom button that I will 3D print to fit inside the switch. Then I'll fill it with some clear resin so the LED from the switch illuminates the 'flaming jaguar' logo I sketched out. Here are some pics:


The first one I printed was just to see if the dimensions were good. They weren't. Need a lot of sanding and trimming to get it to fit.


Here is the final model I'm going with:


Gunna look and sound real mean with the red LED behind it!

 

Sweet!

 

Because it's for an exhaust, I prefer this graphic.

 

Ok so I have the switch all setup, now I gotta wire everything up. Not sure when I'll get to it (too hot to jack the car up and sweat in the garage all day).

But here is the illuminated switch. Tough to print that level of detail, and I still don't have a good clear resin that can fill all the tiny spots. But the whole setup is modular and reversible so I can re-print a new button if I want later on. I bought the switch off amazon and had to just sand down the edge a bit to get it to fit. Also added a clear shim so the button can click the switch all the way in. The clear shim is held by double sided tape.




So far it fits well and clicks in + out without a problem.

 

Finally got around to making some more progress....

Rigged 2 wires going from the control valve 12V supply and connector back towards the fuse box and center console. Then I grounded the other connector wire. Looks something like this:




Still trying to figure out if the ECM opens or closes the circuit to open/close the valve. I may have to reverse the polarity or modify the valves later on. Guess the only way to find out is to test it.

Also had the exhaust out so it was a good time to cut the valves out. Just waiting on a silicone coupler tube to avoid having to weld anything.

 

On my '07 XKR I just wired a switch across fuse 19 so that I could depower it. The switch lived under the arm rest and the wires ran from the back of the centre console and under the hump between the rear seats to the fuse box. Very quick and simple to do.

 

In that case, your ECM still controlled opening/closing the valves.