OK, when i got her she had two functional trunk lights. I had the trunk open for a couple of days for a trickle charge which was no use...and now they do not work, tried bulb replacement no dice, put a multi-meter on it and seems not to have power. everything else works, cabin lights, door lights, mirror light, etc...
is it realatistic the bulbs which are 5 wts and new are not the right bulbs, cannot read the writing on the old bulbs? same shape and size.
any thoughts..again i am with a 1999 xk8 convertible.

 

The trunk lights will go off after several minutes (15?) with the trunk open, to prevent battery drain.

 

Please put year and type of Jaguar in your signature in your profile page. And why duplicate posts? Why did you have to trickle charge the battery in the first place? And if the trunk lights were working, why did you leave the lid open? The trunk weatherstrip would have compressed around the power lead to the charger. Always best to charge a weak battery out of the car or at least, with cables disconnected.

 

Thanks for the advice

 

I had posted a response on your other posting. Here it is for this posting.
The power for the trunk lights are controlled by a micro-switch located on the trunk locking mechanism. Check and make sure you have power available to the micro-switch. If you don't search for a blown fuse, if you do the switch is probably bad.

 

You could always try swapping the bulbs over to eliminate the possibility that you have/have not got the right bulb.

 

so i replaced both bulbs, fiddled with them, took off rear trunk trim and looks at whater i could for obvious short...and they came on...then after a few min they went out which is normal...now they are out again...so it could be a wire or this modual ?

 

Please list year and type of car in your profile signature!

 

I thought I did?
If it's not there can you direct me to exactly how I do this?

 

To replace that modal what is it called and w here di I find it( source) is it a ford part?

 

Is it the actual latch located under the actual latch or the modual that opens the lid remotely situated on left rear ???
Which controls the trunk lights would this "work" once and a while?
Bulbs are good for sure

 

The bulb 'tabs' on the bulb carrier, behind the plastic brake light cover inside trunk, have become loose or corrosion of some type may have set into the light bulb 'spring tabs' that hold the bulbs in place and need to be bent out some to provide a tighter bulb contact, and stop the intermittent off/on of the light bulb. Be careful not to bend the 'tabs' too much or they will break, just bend them enough to where the bulb is held tightly in place by the 'tabs'.

 

Click on your name on the right side of the blue menu bar for the forum.
You should see a drop down menu with a list of items.
- Select "USER CP"
- Select "Edit Signature"

 

Thanks to all
Still no idea of what to change and how too etc? Bulbs fine connections all seem good

 

OK I guess i completed my signature, anyone know any specifics on this, does anyone have a fix or had the issue and had it fixed or even care if they have trunk lights????
There is a locking mechanism that works and has juice and a thing that remotely unlocks the trunk, that works and the key works in the lock...and i have no lights, no power to either wire that plugs into the plastic fixture and all the connections to the bulbs are not bent and are ok, so are the blubs...so it is some sort of wire that is grounded or cut or some sort of power thing that is not fuse related.

 

Both my trunk lights also do not come on. The bulbs light when I remove them and hook them up to a 12v dry cell. I measured the female plug to the car and got 13.2V. I also get this when I measure the bulb holder terminals. BUT when I insert the bulb the voltage drops to 0.
You say you have no power. Remove the bulbs and check your voltage at the holders. They might be doing the same thing. That would redefine your problem a bit.
I am looking for help with my issue. I think the bulb causes the power to cut off as if it can't handle the resistance. What to do?

 

my bulbs are new and they work, the power is not getting to the trunk lights, i checked both of them, there is not juice...so whatever powers them must be bad, however the interior lights work, so i am guessing there is a wire that is not 100% in my case, have to do some digging into the interior of the trunk.

 

The Trunk Light Switch is mounted on the Trunk Latch Assembly located at the base of the Trunk. These switches are known to fail frequently. Mine was intermittent and replaced under warranty when I bought my car in 2003.

 

thanks, that is useful, any place you know that has a how to video or blow up of the unit? I have taken off the plastic and it reveals little, so i guess i just have to dig deeper.

 

Hired. Don't forget you can get the microswitch at DigiKey for a reasonable amount.

This came up last year so a quick search on microswitch will get the part number.