Hello

I'm picking up my first Jaguar today, a 2001 XK8 (2001 Jaguar XK8 - a set on Flickr). I have lots of little projects ahead, like the tensioners, water pump, etc. thanks to the good advice found on this forum already.

My first question is about replacing the heavily-pitted heated windshield. Is it possible to possible to replace it with an unheated windshield? Will the car's electronics have any issue with the windshield's heating circuit missing?

Ideally I'd prefer the heated version, but Washington State is introducing a tolling system that requires a pass affixed to the inside of the windshield, and the WSDOT website says that the metal elements in heated windshields (and they specifically mention the XK8) will make the pass unreadable.

Thoughts? Experiences?

 

I took a quick gander at the circuit diagram. The heaters are driven by two relays and there does not appear to be any means for the control modules to detect the absence of the heater elements.

 

WhiteXKR's take on the schematics confirms what would seem to me the most likely design: one where the possibility of an open (or, in this case, missing) heater element would not cause other headaches.

Just curious: how is your heated windshield controlled? A separate switch or integrated in some way into the climate-control defrost setting?

 

The schematic shows the A/C control module controlling the relays....I suppose based on defroster operation.

 

Thanks Dennis and WhiteXKR. I don't have access to the car right now but have have a photo of its controls here: xk console | Flickr - Photo Sharing!. I understood that it had the heated windshield, but now that I'm comparing the photo of my car with the illustrations in the manual, I'm not seeing the "Heated Front Screen" button. I'll check what I actually have installed this afternoon.

 

ya you have it, comes on with the defrost

 

How can I tell if I'm supposed to have a heated windshield? Can I tell by the VIN? My windshield was replaced a while back and now I'm wondering if they might have replaced my original heated windshield with a non-heated one.

 

Check for the relays.

 

I noted that my 2001's Driver Handbook shows the control as optional - see control 11 on the Climate Control page (2001 XK Climate Control | Flickr - Photo Sharing!). As it turns out, mine doesn't have that control. I'll go look for the relays too.

 

You would think WSDOT would have a secondary plan in effect for those people who have heated windshields. Stupid of them to implement something that not everyone is capable of using. I would contact them and ask them what you should do and if they will pay to have windshield replaced

 

They do - but it's ugly. You bolt a large black plastic piece containing the transponder on your front license plate, using the top two screw holes (WSDOT - New Good To Go! Passes available now). Which means you have to run a front plate, or at least permanently mount your pass on some part of the front.

 

On my (2000) XK8, the Electric Windscreen button is right beside the Rear Window button- the little pictogram on the button is of a curved w/s rather than the rectangular one for the rear. It operates completely independently of the forced-air defog/defrost function of the heater/air control. The embedded wires are so fine, they are all but invisible. I had my car for three months before noticing that 'extra' button, putting on my good reading glasses, and realizing I had an electric w/s!

 

Actually, now that I look at the original invoice, it was part of the "Canadian Delivery Option", along with the snow tires, block heater, and attach points for a snow plow. Probably not a big seller in SoCal and points south. ;-)

 

Snow plow??? SERIOUSLY??? On an XK8? I wonder how that affects your acceleration.

 

As long as you stick to one of the new carbon-fibre plows, not so much. Plus, you pretty much keep'er in low gear when you're actually plowing. ;-)

 

The '"Defrost" button on the picture of your dash directs air from your heater/ac mainly to the w/s. Logically, it should be placed to the right of the right-most button on that row, which splits air between the footwells and the w/s. It's the 'Full power to the shields, Mr. Spock" button. The button just right of it is for the electric heat option, and it was an option. It made for a very expensive replacement in case of stone damage, and it draws a considerable amount of power, which is why it is timed to go off by itself after a few minutes, and optional. Look closely at your windscreen- the wires are vertical, silver, and spaced VERY closely. Almost invisible.

Our 407 is a toll road, and I have a transponder on the inside of my w/s, which operates just fine. Is that what you meant by a 'pass'? Come to think of it, I have never driven through one of the sensor arrays with the w/s heater on; it may be that they generate an electromagnetic field sufficiently strong to disrupt the operation of the transponder when they are "on"!

 

Just confirmed that mine does not have the heated windshield. I started with WhiteXKR's relay diagram; the two heater relay slots are empty. There's no "Heated Front Screen" button. And there are no fine lines in the glass.

Thanks for the helpful replies.