is there a trick to turning on the bright lights in this car? I pulled the lever back on the left side of the steering column, the high beams come on while I'm holding the lever back, but it never clicks into place so when I release the lever it just goes back to normal running lights. I suspect that the switch is broken but want to make sure that I wasn't just doing something wrong

2003 XK8 convertible.

 

If you look in the owners' manual you will discover that you are using the switch wrong.

 

true, its british, therefore, uniquely backward...stick away from wheel for high beams engaged, stick toward you for a 'flash' only. Get your manual here via download if you don't already have one.

 

ah, thanks.
I do have the manual, didn't think I'd need to resort to that for something as mundane as headlights, lol.

 

It makes very interesting and useful reading.

Reading the owners manual when you first get a car benefits you in two ways. You will find out about features you might miss and some bit of information might come in handy on some dark road when you cannot read the manual.

Of course, it seems even on multiple readings that Jaguar manuals will reveal something missed in prior readings.

Drivers should take the time to be familiar with *every* control in the car. Fumbling around during an emergency is not the time to find out. It is a requirement for every pilot for good reason. It is also a habit for most professional drivers, even though it is not a legal requirement.

 

I gave it a quick skim when I bought the car, skipping over some sections which I thought would be too simplisitic to be bothered with, i.e. turning a switch. There are still a few mysteries I need to go research, such as how to use some of the radio functions, and how I managed to set off the alarm by merely opening the trunk with the remote.

 

Around 10 years ago the most common question we got at the dealer was 'How do I programme the GDO" (Garage Door Opener). The service writer asked if I could print out the info from our service literature. I would open the customer's 'Operators Handbook' and find the page on using/operating the GDO. I went to the copy machine in the office, made copies of the pages, folded them and inserted them back in the handbook placed on the passenger seat.

Several times I was called into the office for EMBARRASSING the service writer and customer. I simply stated that all the info was in the book that NOBODY READS!!!!!!!!!!!

bob gauff

 

It was a time honoured tradition on usenet to answer with a single "RTFM" whenever someone asked a question that was fully addressed in the manual of whatever the special interest group centered upon.

Others were honour bound once RTFM was issued to not address the question until the miscreant had read the manual.

The place of discussion groups is to discuss and share what is *not* already available in the manual, faq, and thirty prior threads on the same trivia.

Discussion groups are not for spoonfeeding the lazy. The place for that is twitter.

 

And therefore, you should have gone back to the canonical reference, and looked at what you skipped over.

 

edit: nevermind. there's a saying about not arguing with certain types who drag you down to their level and beat you with experience...

 

RTFM is also an old saying. It is intended to reduce the noise level on usenet, and other public forums.

++

 

I don't consider answering mundane questions to be "spoonfeeding the lazy". I think the instructions on how to reprogram the windows after a power failure is in there somewhere, but I'd have no idea where to find it. Nor would I know where to find the instructions on how to operate the high beams.

 

It's probably on the "Quickstart" card.

But even so, there is a table of contents and and index for both the owners manual and vehicle maintenance manual. Then there is always just flipping through the pages and looking for a likely illustration or chapter heading.

Reprogramming the windows after a battery disconnect is one thing, but high beam operation?

 

I can never get this download to work. I go through the model and year menus ok and then when I click on, for example, "User Manual LHD cars only", nothing happens. Where am I going wrong?

 

I just tried it and had the same problem. Then I noticed that up at the top there was a little notice saying "popup blocked". I turned it off and was then able to download with no problem. Try turning off your popup blocker.




Oh, dammit! I should have just told you to read the help file for your internet browser.

 

Some time ago, someone posted a brief video on operating the Jag. It was old. Maybe 1997 but it had things I have never read anywhere. I wanted to show my wife but can't find it again. Maybe someone can remember. It would be helpful on this thread.

 

Martin, are you remembering this one by K.Westra?