Hey I own a Jaguar xk8 2001 I bought from Georgia

Every time I switch the switch to auto the light will only stay on even in the brightest of days. How should I go about fixing this problem?

I've tried messing with the switch on the mirror left to right the lights still stay on no matter how bright it is outside.

 

did someone change the windshield?
please look at the sensor.
i saw many garages usw way to much glue…

 

It may have been in the past, I'm not sure. Where is the sensor located if I may ask so I can inspect it
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I've only acquired the car 5 weeks ago

 

it is right behind the mirror at the top of the windshield

 

Currently working on tint removal in the rear so I was able to snap a picture. Do you know what it should look like? I'm guessing I should remove it and clean off the adhesive and do a light test as well correct?

 

that last picture looks strange. is there something between the sensor and the camera???

its not the black glue i thought, but looks like paper?

twist the sensor off and look pls

 

Just did about 20 mins ago, I cleaned the adhesive off and it had no effect on the auto on and off function for the headlights.

I believe that's actually for the rain sensor.

 

that looks different on my xk8.

i found some pics how it looks at mine for example. the round one is the rain sensor. the other one is the light sensor

rain sensor

light and rain sensor


edit: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk8-xkr-x100-17/auto-headlight-sensor-where-59815/

here it states the light sensor in the mirror. strange

 

Quote strange indeed, what year is yours? Maybe it was gen thing in place if location.

 

got 2004 model

 

The light sensor is in the mirror (facing forwards). The sensor pictured is the rain sensor for the auto wipers.

 

The mirror from my 2002 with auto headlights has several sensors in it. dont know which ones do the auto dimming mirror and which are for the headlights. On the circuit board theres one labelled glare, another labelled ambient and a third that isn't labelled.
I replaced my old mirror with one from an Acura TL because the ball joint had gone on mine and my old mirror had the droop. I had planned to try and transplant the electronics from inside my original mirror to a new(er) one, but never got around to it. I might try purchasing another TL mirror to do that with as I am otherwise happy with my TL mirror but would still like to have a go at getting the auto-headlights working again but don't want to violently crack the housing open like i had to with my original. I am a little OCD about getting every single system on the jag working like new. The non-functioning passenger seat heater winds me up too.

Anyway, first thing I'd try doing is just getting a little ethanol and a q-tip and just cleaning the sensor on the back and 2 on the front of the mirror and see if that helps. They are recessed in the housing so maybe try an air duster too. Might be as simple as they have gotten bunged up with fluff or something. Your car is later so maybe its different, I dunno.

Picture, not that useful, but what the hell I had this thing on my desk.

 

Looks like we share the same feeling of wanting to restore everything to as originally intended lol! It's been starting to feel like OCD. But yeah my seats don't recline either so I've had to stripped the seats and replace them with junkyard ones because I refuse to use pillows when I'm a handy man.

 

Ambient is the sensor that points forward and turns your auto lights on and off.

Glare is the sensor that points backwards and auto dips the mirrors when it detects headlights behind the car.

The unlabelled component is the green LED that lights up when you have switched the mirrors to auto dip using the button at the bottom of your picture.

 

Do you know if there's a way to repair it? Like is it common? I'm going to try the alcohol and electronic cleaning solution but I'm not sure if it's an internal issue

 

I would check the connections first - its more likely to be a loose or broken wire, rather than something easily fixable on the mirror board itself.