Has anyone replaced the bulbs that illuminate the j-gate /transmission area? I think there should be two bulbs there, plus the 'S' button bulb (as well as the red LED on the button). All three (?) of my bulbs have now failed. I think the 'S' button bulb can't be replaced.

 

i have a question about that, is the j gate supposed to light up?

all i have light up is the letter the stick is at. so if its in drive the D is in red. but all the rest of the letters in dark.

Also i noticed that the driver side door window buttons are lit but the passenger side window button lights are not lit.

so Raheny my question is kinda the same as yours.

 

Your J gate is correct, only the letter of the gear you are in lights up. As for the passenger side window buttons, they should light up just as the driver's side is lite.

 

In addition to the letters on the J-gate illuminating, when the headlights are switched on, the entire gate should be backlit green. I think there are two bulbs for this - one of my bulbs had blown when I bought the car over a year ago. The other has now also blown. My question remains: how do you access these bulbs?

 

I don't know if you can easily access them, but you can take off the j-gate trim piece rather easily, first is the black portion, then the wood. If you've got mirrors and small fingers, you may be able to find them. To be honest, I don't recall if mine is lit up. i do know my selected gear is red.

 

My car is an 03.
There are 2 backlighting bulbs that should light up all the letters/numbers.
I had one burnt out when I bought my car. My tech told me they were replaceable. I watched him take the j-gate apart to get to the circuit board inside. On my 03 the bulbs were soldered onto the circuit board. They are clear with a little green rubber "condom" over them to give them a green hue. Jaguar doesn't sell the bulbs so I went to an electronics supply store & bought some similar bulbs. My tech soldered one onto the board but it was much brighter than the other original one so he tried to replace the orignal as well so the brightness would match, even transferring the green condoms over. Unfortunately, he could only get one of the 2 to work. So after 90 minutes of screwing around, I still had only one bulb working. Tricky repair cause you could ruin the circuit board with the soldering gun if not careful. My tech was not happy doing that repair.
He commented that he thought the older cars had replaceable bulbs that could be bought at the dealer, check with your dealer.

 

I was wrong in my previous post. The drive letters light up in red and the white line that makes the "J" is also lite up in greenish back light.

 

OK, well it looks like my green back light is dead on the j gate. Also i was wrong in my previous post, its the driver side door window switches that are not lit. The passenger side is fine. I will go take apart the jgate and let you know what i find.

 

on the same topic... on the steering column should the indicators for radio volume, cruise control, wiper speed, high low beam also be illuminated?
Alfred

 

Ok i fixed it. its doable if you are comfortable with a taking it apart and using a soldering iron.

"NOTE: DO NOT DROP THE BOLTS! its a PAIN IN THE A$$ TO FISH THEM OUT"

1. Remove the shift knob
2. Remove the jgate plastic cover. the one with the cruse and S mode buttons.
3. Remove the wood panel. 4 screw's.
4. Remove the 4 screws holding down the j gate.
5. Unplug the jgate electrical connector. in my case the connector was soldered down. ymmv
6. Unscrew the round spinning thing underneath the jgate. This has the felt on it and moves when you change gears.
7. There is 3 bolts that need to be removed to take the top cover off the jgate "the cover with the white p-n-d-4-3-2. gty# 2 t-10 bolts and one vary small Phillips.
8. Remove the top cover.
9. Remove the white plastic light separator peace that sits on top of the electronic board with the lights. You will know what i am talking about when you take it apart.
10. The lights you need at available at radio shack for $1.50 each part# 272-1154. Remove the blue condom
11. Use a soldering iron/gun to loosen the solder. Pull the old bulb out when the solder is warm.
12. Then install the new bulb. put blue condom back on bulb .
13. Reconstruction is reverse of removal.

YAY it lights up!

 

Damn, i'm no good with a soldering iron! And Battle Ground is a little far to drive!

thanks for the quick write up though 2000. No pics though??

 

Thanks for the instuctions '2000black'. No radio shack here in the UK. Can you give more info. on the bulbs please.
George. '03 XK8

 

camgear

the part is available from just about any good electronics store.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2104023

also mouser and digikey have them but you have to buy in bulk.

specs are as follows:
voltage: 12V
amp:50mA
size/type:T-1
light output: 0.12MSCP
base style: bi-pin

Alfred,
I to am wondering that. can some one else shed any light on the subject? pardon the pun..

 

I was unable to take pictures because my camera is at work. If i get some time i will take do it over again and take some pictures fo yall

 

If you'd like to take pictures while doing my j-gate, let me know

I FAQ'd your post BTW. congrats.

 

Thanks!

 

Both of the window switches on the driver's side should light up.

Nice job and write up on the J gate lights.

 

None of those light up on my 2000 XK8.

 

I dont think that the light switches would light up, but the cruz and the radio maybe... Any one know?

 

Thanks for that. A complete nightmare by the sounds of it, so I think I will live without the illuminated J-gate from now on! It's annoying how tricky it is to replace so many of the interior bulbs in the XK.