I have had periodic loss of sports transmission mode and lights flickering for a few years and decided to do something about it. After reviewing threads on the forum I replaced the transmission linear switch but after only a day and a half its back to being only intermittently available (no light no lower gears avail). I am about to check the positive battery lead crimp and fuses to trace the flickering but I wondered if the two faults could be related. Could "noise" on the lighting power circuit cause any faults in any of the modules affecting the transmission sports mode availability? I have never done a hard reset on the electrical system, is that also worth a try?

 

When you disconnect the cables to inspect you will be doing a reset. To be certain touch the neg. cable to the positive while off the battery. And yes, they could be related.

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I did a hard reset and cleaned the positive battery cable connector (it had some light corrosion on it) . Still having intermittent sport mode problems. When it fails to light the sport mode switch when I turn on ign circuits all I need to do is turn it off and back on again and I get the sports mode switch light on. Any ideas what might cause that? It's as if there is a glitch in the power up sequence.

 

I would check all the grounding straps on the car, esp the one from engine to transmission. There are several straps do a search I recall seeing a thread that showed their locations.

You might want to message Tim (brgjag) he lives in your neck of the woods and has some good knowledge on these cars.

 

I finally fixed the problem by cleaning the externalelectrical harness connector at the gearbox, a little light corrosion on the pins was the issue.

 

Hi Aerial-Photos,

Would you mind sharing what this connector looks like and its location? I have many of the same issues in my 03 XKR and would like to give this a shot to see if it helps.

Thanks!

Corey

 

Hello cs81srq,

did you ever receive the photo of the connector at the gearbox that needs cleaning?
I seem to be having an issue with the cruise control and sport mode Leds on my XK8 as they are both ‘on’ with the buttons out and only turn off when the buttons have been pressed. I’m pretty sure it should be the other way around?

Cheers

1997 XK8 Convertible 4.0L BRG
2000 S-type 3.0L BRG

 

In my 1999 XK8, the sports mode and cruise are lit & on in the switch up position. Down is off.

Easy to tell if these things are working.

 

Haven't received the picture yet. That said, I think you are okay as long as you are seeing the red light. I believe with mine it is lit when the button is up and off when it is down. My problem is that sometimes the red light is never on, whether the button is down or up, and the left side of the J-gate does not work as well when that happens. If I turn the engine off and restart the car the button works like a charm. Frustrating.

 

Probably just a simple problem with contacts within the J - Gate module. Take up the J Gate surround covers (a la Rev Sam's Youtube video sam1174 - all his videos are Stickies)

You'll have access to everything and can check and clean everything. Pic below of disassembled J Gate module when I repaired mine a while back..