Hi Ken.

Thanks for your input. I now think that it is a dead IC, and have sent it away for testing and, hopefully, repair - see my other thread: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...7/#post1697871

Moderator: I have somewhat duplicated information, here. Can we close this thread to further posts?

 

So the cluster isn't completing the lamp checks.

Mmm. Not sure I trust my instinct enough to spend north of £750 speculatively and I'd be loath to advise someone else to do so from a distance, but it's a distinct possibility.

From what I can see, the clusters are the same from 2003 on but some are advertising as suitable for both 8 and R. They're not identical, but it may be as simple as the 'Supercharged' legend on the dial.

Once you've eliminated as many possibles as you can, the next move depends on how much downtime you can tolerate. Substitution is obviously the quickest (and most expensive) check.

I'd pull the cluster and give it a careful inspection for any damage. Do you know any electronics gurus?

For repair, BBA Reman has a UK outlet but they've got very mixed reviews; ASI has a good reputation but they're Stateside.

 

Been there and tried that a few years ago thanks to a very obliging local Jaguar breaker. A 2005 XKR IP was not compatible with my 2005 XK8.

Graham

 

I've merged the two threads as it's all part of the same issue.

Graham

 

I have packaged the unit and will be sending it to Autotronics here in the uk. If repairable it will cost £210 - more if parts are required (but I will be asked before committing to additional cost). If not repairable it will cost just £15. I selected this company because of favourable reviews.

At the same time I have found a cluster for a 2003 4.2 xkr via ebay, at a cost of £50, and £6 carriage, which seems a really good price to me I suspect that this might work or, if not, might be reprogrammable as I believe it to be more or less the same unit (any thoughts on this?). I have decided to buy this unit as well as having the other repaired, if it can be.

 

Do not just plug a different one in as the car will go into anti-theft (and of course not start) and require dealer tool to get it out.

 

Ah! Useful information!

Are you confident of this (which is something I did wonder about, briefly)? So would your advice be to see if I can get the original one repaired? Then, if it can't be repaired, to get the car plus the replacement noted here to the dealer to install and reprogram?

Cheers, David

 

You can always try it....

 

Getting the original repaired if possible is the best solution, IMO.

Failing that, or if you decide to try to source a replacement as a spare (and £50 does sound like a deal) then you're looking for part # C2N3091 according to JEPC and what I find bears that out. The number seems to be good from 2003 on, but beware that some sellers are advertising clusters as suitable for both 8 and R, but they don't always know the differences. C2N3084 is for the 2003+ XK8.

Note JagV8's advice above if you do need to go this route. Someone reported recently that he'd replaced one 'plug 'n play', but he may have just got lucky. Best to be forewarned that you may have to arrange a meeting between the car and someone with reprogramming capabilities.

 

Thank you, michaelh and JagV8 - wise words from both, and I think just installing the purchased one is a risk too far. I have sent the unit for repair and have purchased the replacement. If the original can't be repaired I'll get the car trailered down to the Jag indie I use, and ask them to install and program the purchased item.

BTW - does the anti-theft do anything particularly horrible, such as locking up the transmission? If not, then I might as well simply fit the purchased one if need be, and see what happens.

 

Basically it won't start and you can't clear the condition without the dealer tool.

 

There is another issue you may, or may not be aware of, beyond the PATS lockout risk advised by [JagV8]. May not be a deal breaker, but when I investigated a swap for no other purpose than changing MPH to KPH speedo scale -

• Speedo has either MPH (dual scale) or KPH (single scale) to suit market;
• XKR wording "Supercharged" on LH gauge, but absent on XK8;
• multiple combinations of warning lights according to fitment spec.

All these variations exist on the one piece poly film sandwiched into the IC gauge/warning area. Not all potential lit cells will be "iconed" or lit. An example could be whether ACC is fitted. Jaguar suggested I take a pic while IGN ON initially displays all lit cells and ensure replacement is ordered to match your pic. Doing so for a s/h unit may be problematic.

Worse still, most combinations of those films, especially those with superior all options fitments, are NLA . . . and very rare as after market replacements. So, even if your entire IC pack is a dead duck, guard it well as your existing gauge film for your car spec, may be irreplaceable.

Cheers,
Ken

 

Thanks, Ken, and also Jagv8 for the further info. I'll know in a couple of days whether the IC is repairable. If not, there is a problem, especially as the part is no longer available from Jaguar.

If it is not repairable, I think I will have to get the car trailered to my indie Jaguar specialist. In that case, I am thinking that I might as well have a go with the second-hand unit, because if that one also doesn't work I won't be any worse off. So am I likely to cause additional problems by trying the used unit and potentially triggering anti-theft, assuming that if I don't try it the car will have to be trailered anyway?

 

David,
Did you get confirmation of the part # for the S/H unit?

 

Hi Mike.

The part no. Is LJD4300KC/101. When I bought it (I have it here) I was assured that it was stripped out, by the vendor, from a 2003 XKR. However, I wonder if I have been misled, as it bears the date 13/11/00. It does have the word 'Supercharged' on the rev counter.

Written on the back by hand is PAO4721 XKR - I don't know if this is relevant or is, for example some kind of stock number of the vendor

 

Pretty sure that's for the 4.0 XKR: I'd wait for the diagnosis on yours.

Were you misled, did the seller not know enough, or did it indeed come working from a 2003 - who knows?

You could go back to the vendor, although it shouldn't be too difficult to sell it on if he's reluctant to play ball.

 

That's my strong suspicion, too. I'll report back when I have heard from the repair specialists - should be within two or three days.

 

Sorted.....ish.

Yep, you guessed it: IC. Sent off for repair to Autotronics in the UK. What I got back was an older unit. The car goes, and no warnings. So thanks everyone for your help.

BUT having installed the unit some strange things have happened. First of all, although the adaptive cruise control worked and maintained a correct distance, the orange symbol showing that it was in follow mode did not come on. Oh well, I thought, I can live without that. Also there is a button on the dashboard to warn of nearby objects in front - it is run from the front sensors. This didn't work - but I hate it anyway.

Then, two biggies - one of which I'm putting as a new thread. Dashboard lights. Most of them have failed in the replaced IC. One or two do come on, as long as the ignition is on and the engine off - but when I start the engine they all go out completely.

Then the second one. It is an earlier XK8 unit. Doesn't say 'supercharged'. I may be childish, here, but I like seeing that on the dial!

And, of course, in the process of starting the Realgauge installation, I have opened the unit - which seemingly voids their guarantee. However, under our UK 'sale of goods' act I think that should not be an issue, as the repair may fail their standards.

By the way, I do have another unit - which says supercharged'. I'm thinking of going down to my Jag indie and try it there - if the car goes into anti-theft I'll just get them to sort it.

 

I think there are several thinks going on here with the replaced instrument cluster.

First, it is really common for the backlight bulbs to go intermittent on a used instrument cluster. The old filaments get jarred out of place when the cluster is removed, and when it is shipped, things get even worse. Start by replacing the bulbs.

All the back-light bulbs are on the same circuit, so with new bulbs it should be clear if you still have a problem. If you do, it may very well be the dimmer module fried along with the original instrument cluster.

Lastly, the software in the early model cluster is probably not compatible with all the features of your car. You will have to decide if this is an issue or not.

 

Sad, Diddion . . . issues I raised earlier . . . being from an early car, an XK8 that had no ACC, it has no transparent icon over the ACC cell, it may not have the backlight nor even the IC driver for it, and as you note, no "Supercharged". I would be quite angry that this pro fix is based on the wrong part which has now injected a new batch of problems.

Perhaps fix #1 is to return unit and seek the correct unit. Alternatively, fix #2 starts with finding an instrument tech to remove the gauge needles, split the gauges, remove the poly film and replace with that from your original dead unit. I agree with WhiteXKR that, even then, your downgraded replacement IC may not have the software drivers and agree also on replacing all backlights.

Best wishes,

Ken