hacker-pschorr I take it that extra wire you put on is a ground?

If so are you connecting other end to body of car?

My female plug just burnt out the same way except terminal 1 in line on both sides burnt out I think I may need a new plug as particular burnt out one the metal crumbled or can I solder a wire direct?

 

Here are the answers:
1: Yes.
2: Yes
3: If you are adding the bypass wire to ground terminal 1 is no longer used so you do not need a new connector.

 

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Thanks I will give it a try

Just to verify when I say terminal 1 I am talking about the first hole in the female plug that burnt out that would attach itself normally to first male prong on left I am going to attach an earth lead to that one direct to bodywork; correct ?

 

You should ignore the extreme right hand contact in this pic



and take an earth from anywhere on the ground part of the light to car body ground.
The light ground is the large bit of metal that goes around the outside of all the bulbs.

 

This fix actually seems to have fixed the problem; shoot me down anyone if you think this is a mistake.. Thanks for the solution

 

Looks like you nailed it!

 

Good job.
This thread is already in the HOW-TO section FYI

 

Update:
I implemented the GND wire connection from the light assembly to the mounting bolt, checked for continuity to GND to ensure a good connection.

Unfortunately, that did not solve the problem. Directional indicator on dash still flashes at twice the normal rate.

A good thing to do anyway, thanks for the tip.

Sigh......... Now what....

 

I had this problem and tried this ground wire fix but it didn't work for me.


So, I switched every bulb from the right side with the bulbs on the left side and the problem stopped! Weird, but as long as it works...

 

Guys, I can't begin to thank you enough for this solution!

I've spent the last 16 years chasing the electrical demons lying within my 98 XK8's rear lights - from the typical rear backup light not working (when the bulb was fine), rear turn signals going wonky when you step on the brake (then the weirdness switching from one side to the other side and then later working normally for months).

I was about to head to the dealer and have the harness replaced when I saw this post the other day and voila my baby is now purring happily!

Thanks again!

 

Thank you! Was just about to buy a new connector and light cluster but this solved it! I'd been having a 'bulb fail' message for a while and after changing all the bulbs I found the shorted ground connector but hadn't considered bypassing it like this - excellent solution!

 

 

 

 

I had the same problem. The addition of the aux. ground wire (example below) solved the problem.

 

By the way, I lifted the carpet near the tail light, scraped the paint off, drilled a hole in the metal and screwed the wire to the floor.

 

It was finally my turn.I got the "Bulb failure" message if I used the right turn signal while braking, or any time the rear fog lamps were on.

British electrical connections at their finest.


I riveted a wire to the ground plate, scraped some paint away from one of the bolts that hold the rear light lens assembly in place, and all is well. I'll do the left side soon.

Tom

 

Great idea, this forum is invaluable and the ingenuity is priceless! I'm a newbie to the XK 8 and have owned Jags since 1970 but find the electrical issues in the XK 8 are very complicated for an old dog like me.Thanks again to all of you for sharing your fixes.

 

I've had intermittent problems with my added ground wire (poorly wound around the cluster by me). Warning light on for the past 3 months no matter what I did with my ground wire. LOL, I actually had two burned out brake light bulbs! I was so used to the complicated problem, I overlooked the obvious! All good now.