I have a 2003 xk8 non-navi. I noticed the other night the readout for the outside temp/air conditioning temp is not lit up, is it supposed to be back lit, and if so, anyone know how to fix it? Many thanks in advance.

 

Mine is also a 2003 and it's illuminated. I'm assuming there's a bulb receptacle on the back side of the climate control system. I had mine apart recently and I remember seeing bulb receptacles on the back of the thing that controls the heated seats and hazards lights. I don't specifically remember bulb receptacles on the climate control doohickey, but they have to be there, right?

Here's some brief instructions on how to replace the bulb. I'm going to be posting a video in a day or two on how to install a bluetooth receiver, and many of the steps will be shown on that video.

1. Remove the J-gate surround
2. Remove the screws that hold in the wood piece below the J-gate surround.
3. Remove the wood piece
4. Remove the cover on the center console that's directly behind the arm rest (it just pops off)
5. Remove the two torx bolts underneath the cover that you just removed
6. Remove the two torx bolts at the front of the center console directly below the radio
7. Lift out the entire center console
8. Unscrew the 6 screws that hold the radio and other controls in place
9. Pull out the radio and other controls.

At this point you can probably just reach back behind the climate control system and twist out the bulb holder. I doubt you'll need to disconnect any of the plugs. However, if you don't have enough room it's pretty easy to unplug the plugs from the radio and the other controls to pull out the entire stack of controls.

The entire job can be done in ten minutes if the J-gate surround cooperates, or an hour if it doesn't. Once the J-gate surround it off the rest is very easy. It sound and looks intimidating, but the center console comes out very easily.

 

Makes perfect sense, having to pull out the J-Gate and center console to change a light bulb in the temperature controller...

 

It prevents people from stealing that highly desirable factory radio that won't fit in any other car.

 

No, it just means your entire center stack gets royally screwed up when some methed up 16 year old tries to steal your worthless stereo.

 

hey, since were on the lights in the climate control area...is anyones fan control button backlit? Mine isn't, but it doesn't have a bulb in the rear of the knob ike some of the other buttons and display, which are real easy to get replace, once the thing is out at least.

 

I know this is trivial...but it bothers me (compulsive tendencies it appears), can someone observe their A/C fan control knob and let me know if you can see the little fan in the dark?

 

I'll look tonight after it gets dark.

 

Matt, I looked at mine and it is not back-lit. When you say "fan control button" I assume you're talking about the knob that controls the fan speed.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. Yes, I was referring to the fan speed knob. Well, i'll stop looking at it now and wondering if its supposed to be like that. Appreciate!

 

Sorry to do this to you Matt and Sam, but this morning I drove my car before it was light out and I remembered this post so I looked, and sure enough, my fan control knob IS illuminated. I then thought that maybe it might be just a phosphorescent glow in the dark thing, like the buttons on some remote controls that glow for a bit after being in the light. So, when I got home and pulled into the Jaguar sanctuary (my garage). I keep the santuary dark for the Jaguar to rest. Sure enough, with headlights off, the button is not lit up, with headlights on, it is definitely lit, not a glow in the dark coating or anything, clearly backlit.

 

Just checked mine out of curosity---the round fan speed control switch is not back lit. The rectangular button to the right (on-off) is backlit with lights on.

 

OK--let me correct myself. The fan speed control knob is not backlit. The "Push Off" (which is just to the right) symbol is backlit.

 

attaching photo

 

yup, that's lit up all right...now, where the heck is the bulb...i tried pulling on the knob, no luck but didn't give it a good yank either. Behind it, there are plenty of backlit bulbs, but none directly behind, or even close to the fan knob. I am going in tonight or tomorrow so I'll give it another go and see if i can find it.

thanks steve...i am a believer now.

 

While we're on the subject of lighting. I have a "98" XJR and I was wondering, is that analog clock supposed to be backlit? I would think so because it is really annoying trying to see what time it is at night without a light in it.

 

I just went out to my car in the pitch black garage to take another look at the fan speed knob. In complete blackness I can see that the knob is BARELY backlit. It's almost as if it is getting the light from one of the other bulbs. Why did you have to point this out, Matt? Now it's going to bug the **** out of me. Ignorance is a bliss.

If you look at this pic closely you can barely see the glow from the knob.

 

OK, while we are on the subject of illumination, are all of the letters equally lit on the J-gate? I think I have a bulb or two out since the P and the bottom 4 and D are a bit lighter than the rest of the J.

 

Hey Rev, I see three more of your lights out. Now I'm going to have to go check out mine! Damn!

p.s. Did you get your PM?

 

Are you serious??? Which ones? I can't really tell (Other than the fan knob).

And yeah... I called my parents. Everything is OK, but the tornado was just down the street from them. My dad didn't even wake up. LOL!