I have a '98 XK8. I'm wondering what those 3 little button type things, at the bottom front of each of the gauges, are for. Jack

 

A photo will help

 

haven't figured out the photo thing yet. At the bottom of the Tach gauge inclosure there is a small red cylindrical thing about +-3/8" tall by 1/4" diam. The one by the Speedo is a little bigger and clear. The one by the fuel and temp gauges is the same as the one by the Tach. Any ideas? Jack

 

As clear as mud need photos.

 

Do they get in motion when you turn the key and start the engine?

 

When you first said "gauges" my eyes glazed over because I have the nav system. But then I saw that you were talking about the speedo, tach, fuel, and electric gauges. The only thing on my gauges are the little posts which the needles rest on when the key is off. Is that what you're talking about? All of my are a dark, dark, gray.

 

Howdy Folks:
I have a similar situation that I did figure out last Oct just after I bought my car. I noticed one red LED in a housng about 3/8 high below the tach and another below the speedometer. (mounted on lower part of each bezel opening). Further snooping, and I found a switch/volume control behind the sunglasses holder door. It turned out to be a hidden aftermarket K40 Radar Detector. Since then, I have removed the front sensor and disconnected the under bonnet module even though it did make a good light and sound show.

 

A K40! I just looked that up. It's a $1500 radar detector! Did it work?

 

Truthfully, I don't know if it works. I was not that excited about it. However, I did just download a pdf manual and that has me curious. It appears to be an older 1000 or 2000 series. ($700-$1200 range) If there is a rear sensor, it is well hidden. The red LED's may be mulicolor. In my younger days, I would bust a gut to find out all that I could about something like this, but now I guess that I have mellowed out. I do not have any indication that it will not work, and may hook it back up in a few months to see.
BTW, thanks to you and to all the other energetic, instructional and problem solving members for all that you do.

 

Doctor D, So they are LED's. I guess that's how the gauges are lit at night. I alway thiught they were "back-lit". Thanks Jack

 

I'm not sure about what you have. Mine was installed after it left the factory. What I question is that could yours have been installed after it left the factory and could it be part of some sort of hidden system?

 

The gauges are definitely backlit.

 

Jack,

Looks like this one is going to require a photo; seems we're all about out of ideas here. Now I'm really curious.

 

I just checked mine and didn't see anything like indicators, but I'm curious to see what pophen is talking about.

The picture thing is easy though. Just click on the "quote" or "go advanced" button, scroll down to the "additional options" box and click on "manage attachments" and a box will pop up allowing you to click on the "browse" button to search your computer for downloaded pics, and click "upload" to put them onto your post. It will even choose the correct type of file for you.

 

Jack:
Would it look similar to this picture I pulled off EBAY? (an 06 with K40)

 

Wow... that's a pretty lousy install. They could have at least lined it up so it was right at the bottom of the bezel.

 

I also found a K40 detector on my '99, intact and working, front and rear. It works too good. Sounds off on city or country driving (it has a selector for each), due to (I think) all the air traffic, like cell phones, tv transmissions via "dish", XM radio etc. Driving to Vegas, it was sounding most of the time, with the semi trucks (CB), etc. It detects all bands of radar with a different tone for each. My wife normally drives the car, so I haven't been able to sort which beep is for the important radar. There are about 8-10 different sounds. This car came from Texas.

 

I hope I have the photo thing figured out. I'm talking about the little button type thing at the bottom of each gauge housing. What are they and what do they do? Jack

 

Jack,

Beats me. But my car ain't got 'em.

 

I have never run into those. I think it is something aftermarket.