Last night when getting in the car to drive home at night my dash lights stopped working. The light switch is set for auto and the dimmer will not make a difference. If I turn the switch to lights on no change. If I select just the running lights they work. Move the switch to headlights or auto and they go out. All instrument and radio panel lights fail to operate in any other position than running lights. Any Ideas would be greatly appreciated. I was leaning towards the light sensor but looking for help.

 

My car has done that twice in the last year. A few minutes later everything went back to normal. Last time it happened was a couple of months ago. I just chalk it up to the screwy electrical system in these cars. If you figure out what caused it please let me know. Intermittent problems are difficult to troubleshoot. It would be nice to know what caused the problem in your car because that would be the starting point in my car.

 

sounds like classic symptoms of a headlight stalk switch failure...you could try cleaning the actual contacts in the stalk - tear that puppy apart to see what makes it tick, but most just replace when these go out. I would say its not very common, but hear about it once in a blue moon...If it were me, I'd feel comfortable getting a salvage unit...from a dry state.

 

By the stalk switch I assume you mean what I think is the sensor located on top of the dash on the left hand side behind the corner of the windshield?

 

I am referring to the swtich (stalk) sticking out from the steering column that you turn the end to make the parking lights and headlamps turn on .

 

There is a used one on eBay:

Jaguar XK8 Turn Signal Switch 97-05 LJB6455AA | eBay

 

The stalk switch causes the lights behind the speedometer to quit working? That's weird.

 

While out here flying for my week of work I have time to do some research and came across some articles about the lighting module pn#LJA6490AC. I think that when I get home this might be a good place to start looking for the light issue. Has anyone had to replace this and where is it located.

 

What was the gist of the articles? Actual articles or board posts?

The lighting module is located in the pod above the rearview mirror, between the map lights.

 

I found it by doing a google search for jaguar dash lights.
the link was
http://www.watchet.dolphins.btintern...diallights.htm

 

There was good info at the end of the post regarding fuses. Many OEMs have issued TSBs regarding cheap fuses, especially the 'Storehouse' brand fuses available at Harbor Freight. Quite a few vehicles, and even more wiring harnesses, have been lost to fires caused by poorly designed/manufactured fuses.

 

This car has a dimmer module that controls the instrument lighting, it is connected to a signal from the headlight stalk. You will need a wiring diagram and testing tools if you want to find out which one is bad by testing. You could just buy the parts and try them too but that will cost you more.

 

The dimmer module is on the facia, adjacent to the RH side fuse box.

 

I haven't looked at the part but since the wiring connection from the headlight stalk to the illumination module has to flex as the steering column moves around, the wiring could be damaged so look at the harness as well.

 

By the way, there are four wires connecting the column switch to the dimmer module.

 

I have never replaced a fuse and repaired a circuit that way, it's always been a fault in the circuit elsewhere. I can envision the occasion where a bad or wrong size fuse could cause a problem, but I have never seen it happen in practice. I generally look beyond the fuse block when they start blowing.

 

Surely the author has an intermittent fault to ground somewhere in the circuit however he was correct in wondering and investigating why a fuse never opened before wiring damage occured.

 

Ok I'm home from my week on the road and started in on finding the problem. I removed the lower cover from the steering column and sure enough a broken wire(green) coming off the stalk switch. Good something obvious. Bad how do I remove the stalk switch to repair the wire or do I have to remove the steering wheel to get at this. If so is there any link on removing this or any guidance would be appreciated. I have removed steering wheels before but not 1 with an airbag. While waiting for all you guys to chime in I am going to take a much better look. Also I have not been using the tilt and telescope function of the steering column but did run it all the way forward and as I recall the lights quit working after that. Might be related but not sure.

 

Found links for the steering wheel removal and just 1 question about the removal of the airbag. How does the cover open to start the removal. I don't want to break it.

 

Everything is apart and now if I can figure out where to solder the wire back on to the back of the steering stalk I will be in business.