I picked this new OEM brake light switch up on eBay for cheap. Was supposed to fit XK8s. Now that I have it I notice there is a socket to plug the cable into but it is part of the switch, unlike pictures I've seen showing a socket on a length of cable. Everything else looks identical. My question is whether the cable is long enough to reach the socket on the switch. I was planning on doing the job tomorrow, but would go nuts if I got the old one out, only to find the new one wouldn't work. Thanks!

 

That switch is for the sedan!!

The wire connector is SHORT. I buy that switch for BOTH XJ and XK but I swap connectors (longer wires) for the XK.

A soldering iron is handy or cut and splice the wires. I would suggest ONE-AT-A-TIME so as NOT to get wires wrong.

The Circuit board is easily removed from the switch housing.

bob gauff

 

Thanks, Bob. Was afraid of that. Fortunately it all comes apart pretty easily so I'll be warming up the soldering iron, I guess.

 

Bob, since you do these switches regularly, can you tell me which is your preferred method – removing the switch along with its bracket or just removing the switch from the bracket? Thanks!

 

I remove the bracket from the engine compartment side (near the brake booster) and let it fall.

I have some really long plastic 'straws' for 'sipping drinks' that fit into one of the mount holes. I fit one of the studs on the bracket to the straw and push it up into the mount holes (or pull the bracket into the hole from the engine compartment). I start the nut on the other stud and then pull the straw off the remaining stud.

I guess you could get a roll of heatshrink tubing and push an end into one hole and then shrink the tubing onto a stud to pull it through???

Any way to get it in will work if you don't have two people (one inside the car and one outside to look into the holes for guidance).

bob gauff

 

That's one technique I haven't heard about. Very cool. Think I will copy it. Thanks for the tip.

 

Maybe Stamford could post some photos of this job to help those of us who are seemingly bound to follow?

 

Sure hope you have a buddy (better yet, a little kid) helping you with the job. Trust me, you'll be glad you did....

Good luck and let us know how it turns out....

 

Probably tackle it Sunday as Saturday is quickly slipping away. Will try to take some photos.

 

Finished the job and posted it in a new thread: (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...3/#post1239253)