Odometer epoxy
 

98' XK8, now with the little odometer reset/clear switch that quit. I checked connections, the switch seems to have collapsed inside of itself. Anyone know what will melt the epoxy Jaguar used to cement the switch in to the wood dash panel? I was thinking of cutting it out but the epoxy is in the tabs holding the switch as well. Not sure if it even an epoxy. I tried several solvents without any results.

Thanks for any help on this one.

Gosh I didn't know it, the switch pod, was hard to remove. Is it just the reset switch that is malfunctioning?

Are you trying to repair the one, reset switch? All other switches in that pod (miles/km, A/B...) work ok?

Seems to me that you might be able to save yourself from headaches by tapping into the connector and moving the reset function to a switch mounted elsewhere. I haven't looked att the schematic but it could be as simple as momentary ground, or shorting the 2 wires together.

Please tell us what you want to do, repair/replace/customize. I dont want to assume anything so the more details the better.

Thanks,
John

Just unclipped in my 1999 XK8
 

A while back, I had to remove my instrument cover to investigate a rattle and I don’t remember any problems like yours. I think mine just unclipped, so I don’t think it was glued at the factory.

Suspect a previous owner must have broken a clip and subsequently glued it in. I hate it when you uncover “bodge” jobs like that.

As you’ve tried solvents already, it could be silicon, mastic or RTV. Good luck getting the bugger out.

On this one I am trying to remove the existing switch pod as its internals are failing. I have a replacement for the switch pod, so I need to remove the old switch and then epoxy in its place. Right now, and looking at other wood dash units, Jaguar appears to epoxy these things in the wood dash unit for some reason. So I need to find out how to loosen the epoxy then bend back the bent tabs holding the switch in. I am writing "epoxy", but I cannot say it is. It appears to be some sort of resin, semi-transparent and hard, I don't believe it is an RTV or other items such as that. When installed originally the liquid epoxy flowed around and into the tabs as well as the around the switch itself. I believe the only way of getting the old switch out and replacing it is finding a solvent that will loosen the epoxy so I can bend the tabs back. I've thought about just replacing the entire wood dash, but then the wood would not match the other wood pieces.

Once again, many thanks.

The fixing should be with just the three fold over tabs, no adhesive. This is the only photo I have showing the original setup in my car. Also a photo of how I reused the same tabs to secure an oil pressure gauge in place of the trip switches that I located elsewhere.

What this means is that it's difficult to advise on what might remove your adhesive as it's unlikely to be a Jaguar one and could be anything that a previous owner fancied. A solvent that does the job is likely to damage the finish on the woodwork, so I think I'd try the dentist's drill approach and grind it away bit by bit. If necessary, epoxy some new tabs to the panel to allow the new switch to be fitted as originally

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...a87f954a07.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...c2a83fab28.jpg

It would appear that by the date of your car, Jaguar figured out a better way. On everybody's favorite, eBay, there is a number of units from cars dating 1997 to 2003 and they are all secured as mine is, some sort of epoxy resin poured over the tabs. I have to agree with your thought that a solvent has the potential of damaging the wood veneer so I thin I will get out the Dremel and do a little surgery. I've attached several pictures of different listings -
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...523d795498.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...b3337d939d.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...7353333f68.jpg

So as you say the later cars seem to have benefitted from what may even have been a cost cutting exercise!

If your problem is just the actual switch internals, can't you just unclip the body of the switch from the glued in holder and replace that. It comes out very simply.

Well I've now slapped my forehead while uttering "daaah!". Something about the simple solution being the best?

Thanks