I recently bought my wife a 2002 XK8 with 30,000 miles on the little beauty. I got her for a steal because the previous owner couldn’t get to roof to lower, so I did some investigating. I discovered it would work if I pressed a little switch manually while depressing the roof switch, however the rear windows do not show any sign of working. I am including a video link to show the process.
Also, if anyone can tell me what plugs into the yellow connectors shown in the separate pictures, I will be eternally grateful. On a side note, what do you Brits think about Ted Lasso?
Cheers and thanks!

 

Here is video of relay in question

 

I believe the yellow connector is for the roof console light and switches.

When you hit the "roof down" switch, the BCM (Body control module) will send a roof down request to the Security and lock control module. The security module will then send power to the rear quarter window down relay for 3 seconds and the chime will give a beep to warn you that the roof are about to open. If none of those are happening the problem is before the roof relays and hydraulics.

Here you can download the Technical bulletin:
501-11

 

there are many videos on youtube how to manually open the roof. the xk8 has a opening sequence starting with the windows dropping.
there is a way to bridge the power of the rear windows in the relais box (cant find the instructions atm).

in the top you have light switches.

btw do you have a airbag fault (light on)? 😅

 

Another TN XK8 owner here! I left my 2002 xk8 at BNA during a really cold snap and when I lowered the drivers side window both of the rear windows came down too. I know this wasnt supposed to happen. I was able to raised the rear windows by jumping out the relays, but now when the top down button is pushed, I get no action from the top, but the rears go down as normal. All fuses are good, I released pressure on the pump.

Any ideas?

 

What happens when you use the key to lower/raise the roof?

 

By key do you mean the allen wrench? I unlocked the latching claw, but still nothing happened when I did that.

 

no - if you put the key in the door and turn/hold in the unlock position, the top should go down. Conversely, if the top is down and you insert the key and turn/hold to the lock position, the top will go up. Just be sure in either case to hold the key in position until the open or close cycle completes

 

Wow, I will try that ASAP. Where did you learn this bit of witchcraft? It wasnt in the manual.

 

@TreelandXK8 learned it from the forum, but in the Driver's Handbook, section 8.1 there is a small note on the first page of that section that says top can be opened/closed with door key - doesn't tell you holding in unlock opens the top or holding in lock position will raise.

 

One of the reasons why my username isn't 3500dollarXKR or 4500dollarXKR is that, for the life of them, the lot that had my car could not get the top to go down. I verified the top was operational with the key trick when I test drove it (the switch had come loose from its harness).