Headlight switch function
 

So many questions!! 🤪
My new-to-me, 2004, US spec but imported into Canada, XK8 is not operating the headlights according to any information that I can find.
At the "off" position the park and low/dip lights are operating, but there are no dash/instrument lights.
At the first (park) position the park and low/dip lights are operating but the high beam lights will not come up when selected, and the dash/instrument lights come on.
At the second (running lights) position the park and low/dip lights are operating, the high beams will come up when selected, and the dash/instrument lights remain on.

This seems incorrect as the information the I have found suggests that in the "off" position there should be no running lights on but should be full intensity dash/instrument lights.
In the first (park) position the low/dip lights should not be on.
The second position seems correct.

Am I misunderstanding something here or is the system malfunctioning?
Or perhaps, the imported US spec car was altered to provide DTRL for the Canadian environment?

It sounds very much like the car has been programmed to meet the Canadian DRL requirement.

It is one of the 'dealer configurable options'.

That sounds exactly correct to me. The dash lights are never on in the 'off' position.

Are the dip/lowbeam lights supposed to remain ON when the high beams are selected?
Also, is there a separate lights or headlights control module? Or is this function contained in the central ECU?

What tool is required to change the DRL setting?

As standard there are two modes for the dash lights. When the headlights are off, the dashboard lights should be bright on. When the headlights are on, the dashboard lights are on and the brightness is controlled by the dimmer knob by the steering wheel tilt joystick. The idea is during daylight hours the dashboard is brightly lit and at night the user can dim the dash lights down.

Whether this is programmable along with the DLR light option, I don't know. To answer the OP's question - you need the Jaugar dealer diagnostic tool to change these options. Search for IDS or SDD on the forum.

This is what I understood to be the norm, and why I asked the question originally. Visualization of the dash instruments in the current situation (lights selected OFF) is very difficult because the dash lights are off even though the projector headlights are on.
As well, they are on at their full brightness rather than ½ bright and the tail lights are on rather than off, as normal Canadian DRL usually runs.
So either there is something amiss in whichever module controls the headlights, in the headlight switch, or in the Jaguar perception of Canadian DRL norms.
I am hoping that someone in Canada with fully functioning DRL mode can provide details of their DRL operation.

Does your dimmer knob control the dashboard lighting brightness?

It's possible I suppose that someone bodged the lights to be on all the time and in the process screwed up the dash lights somehow.

When you use WDS or IDS to configure headlamp DRL it usually gives you the choice of CANADA or SCANDINAVIA and I never really thought about the difference.

USA never had a DRL mandate.

Yes, when the lights are selected to any of the "ON" positions, the dash light come on and are controlled by the dimmer control knob.

Can you provide details of the Canadian DRL operation?

Given the likelihood of owner shenanigans to create a DRL to meet Canadian import requirements, I would like to understand which module controls the headlights and where it is located.
Also, I would like to know which fuse/relay box contains these components for the headlights.

You can find the wiring diagram for your car here:-

JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

It's worth spending the time understanding the electrical guide as it answers all your questions.

Below video has some useful info. At minute 33 it deals with using fog lights as DRL without re-programming. If nothing else, it will show you the relay box and what the relays are for.
Good luck!

My 1997 XK8 came from the factory programmed for the Canadian market and the headlights, tail lights go on and dash board lights come on at full strength when the car is started.

This site appears to require credit card information as a part of site access registration. As there are no fees associated with access to site information, this seems suspicious.
Is the site to which the above post links legitimate?

JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource is a technical resource provided by forum member Gus.

It is entirely legitimate and an excellent source of information on Jaguar cars.

He does ask for support to defray the hosting costs, etc. via Paypal or card, but this is entirely voluntary.

So I completed the registration process at the linked website and immediately found a billing to my "registration" credit card for $55.75. by STRSNOW.CASA.

PLEASE EXPLAIN

You didn't complete the registration process on the website we linked to, because there is no registration process. I think you should scan your computer for viruses or check to see exactly what website you visited that required registration.

I've just had another look at the link and I think you must have clicked on an advert that took you off the website. Just to repeat there is no registration process or credit card required on jagrepair.

Thanks for this.
Contact with the subscription website resulted in a refund.