dealer told me its wiring under the dash and wanted 4 hrs time at 129$/hr to diagnose...anyone else have a simiar problem and fix it?? I turn the feature on, it works then at random the lights go out and i turn it to ON mode. If I immediately switch it back to AUTO mode, nothing.....a few minutes later it may work, depends.....

 

The auto headlight controller electronics is inside of the rear view mirror. I'd put money on it that the problem would be solved with a rear view mirror replacement....maybe get a used one.

 

Hello, had the same problem, although it was not intermittent, constant not working.
Many different thoughts on problem, about 50% said it would be the light stalk switch and the other 50% said the ambient light sensor in the rear view mirror.
Finally found out it was the sensor in the mirror for sure.
The sensor was struck in the off position.

Found the wire from schematic from sensor to stalk.
The wire is yellow with a blue tracer.

Added a relay that (tricked) the wiring into thinking the sensor was always open, basically taking the sensor out of the loop, so whenever the ignition was on, the headlights were on, essentially making them daylight running lights, which is what I wanted.

I am not the repair guy, my car audio guy did this. He used 2 relays one on the yellow w/ blue tracer and a 12 volt power source. This was all done under the steering wheel cover plate. He said it is easy fix for someone that knows wiring schematics. I would suggest getting with your car audio shop and have them look up the wiring schematic for your car and the auto headlamp sensor in mirror. This repair is definitely an "outside the box" repair, but is works perfectly.

Like I said it (wire) goes from mirror to the light stalk on steering wheel and is one wire, yellow w/blue tracer and then you need to add a power source, both easily accesible under steering wheel cover plate. But remember the car runs off a negative ground power source.

I'll bet that if WhiteXKR reads this, he will know exactly what to do and maybe able to explain it better!
He is a GURU with this type of repair. There are several threads on this very subject , but never a repair like this that I have read.
So i am hoping that there are a lot of people out there that can benefit from this thread and fix for their auto headlights not working properly.
Please feel free to pass this on and on.


This was a five dollar fix for me because he was installing new audio, instead of the 450.00 for a new mirror. I was elated!
Good luck with repair, hope it works.

Mitchell

 

I just had this problem coming home tonight. Everything worked fine while I was driving home. I was turning the corner to my house and the head lights went off. I switched to regular mode and they worked fine, but when I went back to auto mode they would not come on. What is the best way to trouble shoot this problem? I will try to get to it tomorrow.

Bill N
03 XKR

 

+1

To check it in daylight, put some tape over the sensor to mimic darkness.

With the rotary switch in Auto, the headlights should come on. If they don't come on or behave erratically like Bill's, it's the sensor and a replacement mirror is the answer as the sensor is not supplied separately.

Graham

 

Graham my 2000 has the adjustment knob on the back of the rear veiw mirror, do you know what year they make the change? Jim

 

Jim,

My 2000 XJ8L had the adjustment knob on the back of the mirror but my 2001 XK8 didn't have it. The VIN on the XK8 was A25235.

The rear view mirrors are a minefield of part numbers because of the rain sensor and auto options but do fall into VIN ranges:

1. to A11667
2. from A11668 to A24195
3. from A24196 to A 28832

From this, vehicles in VIN range (3) don't have the adjustment knob and it looks like the cut off was at A24195 in VIN range (2).

A further complication is the number of mirrors that have failed and been replaced. No guarantee a PO has always fitted the right one as a replacement!

Graham

 

A girl friend of ours has 97 xk8 and did not have the knob. It must have been changed out by the previous owner. Jim

 

I just checked my auto head light mode and it is now working. I have another question regarding my now maybe auto headlight problem. I am also having an intermittent problem with the auto rain sensor. The wipers will come on intermittently while driving if I have the wiper switch in the auto mode, even though it is not raining. This problem started first and now the lights did not work in the auto mode last night. Is there a connector on the rear view mirror that connects to one at the top of the headliner? I see the light sensor on the back of the rear view mirror and the rain sensor is on the underside middle of the window. Is there a relay that both these devices go to and if so,where is it located. It appears that the light sensors are a possible problem area on our cars. It seems a shame to replace the complete assy for a two cent sensor. I think there was a thread that indicated that the mirrors could be sent to a shop for overhaul and replacement of the sensors for about $50.00. Anybody know anything about that and where they are located.

Bill N
03 XKR

 

Is it the leaking rear view mirror exchange discussions you're thinking of?

Rear view mirror manufacturers are Magna Donnelly and the handling agents are Sybesmas Electronics. Check this thread:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...acement-17719/

Graham