It was really nice out today so I thought I'd put the top down before running some errands around town. So I press the switch and the back windows go down and the top unlatched and the top started to move...
And then the damn switch makes a plastic cracking sound and falls through its mounting hole into the inside of the console. Had to use the key to finish the top cycle. I was hoping I didn't have to take the console out to get at it and it looks like the coin tray is just held in with tabs but try as I might I couldn't get it out. It also looks from the diagram that the switch is only held in with 3 tiny friction ridges on each end. I might be able to get at it just taking the shifter trim off, will try that next. Anyone have an easier way to get at it than taking the console out?


Dave

 

You know I really do love my 03 vert but why is a car that was 75 thousand new have so many little problems?

 

Still not half as bad as the Maserati Citroen SM I owned. At 28k miles it cost me $5500 in repairs the one year I owned it and that was with me doing a lot of the work. And not as the '86 Maserati BiTurbo I owned with even less miles on it. I think that thing cost me on average $300 every time I turned the key. And that doesn't count when it caught fire from a poorly designed fuse box engineered to burn the car down.
So the Jag has a way to go yet to compete with those yet. I had a low miles BMW (Big Money Wasted) that was worse also.
The big difference now for me is that when I owned those other cars I could almost afford all those problems but now I am on disability and that will really limit how long I can keep this thing if it gets much beyond what I can do myself.




Dave

 

This why most Euro cars don't hold value and the XK8 is now affordable[almost] for us poor folks. Made and designed for the wealthier class that trades cars before they need their first oil change. Jaguar only gets paid one time when the car is sold new.

 

You do not need to take the whole console out, just the shifter bezel and wood panel. There are a couple of YouTube video that show how.

 

Hey Dave, you are on target. Same thing happened to me. I cannot believe how flimsy these swithch retainers are. I thought I broke the swith. Did not, TG. Yes, remove the shifter plate. Use a plastic credit card to fish the 4 retain clips to the shift plate and you will see what I am talking about. Rich

 

Hello Dave
The coin tray will lift out with a bit of prising - I've literally just removed mine this weekend to install a display unit in it - my advice though a credit card is unlikely to be up to the job - mine was very tight - I use a set of these for removing the trims various and never let me down - well worth a few dollars.

Bojo Blue Genius Car Trim Interior Tool Kit Radio Plastic Grommet Remover Tools | eBay

 

Hey worrasf, my '99 XK8 Domestic's shifter plate does not quite look like yours, shown,. Guess the older XK's are a wee bit different... REB

 

No - my original was black plastic - the alloy is an aftermarket one.