Hello everyone. I have a curious item in my 97 XK8 convertible. I have small 2 inch square speaker grilles on the dash on the left and the right side of my steering wheel. There is a 3 way switch to the right of the right grille with a volume control in the center of it. When I turn it on left or right, (the center detent is off) there is a little red light on my speedometer at the top of the 45mph and 135mph area. This is definitely factory done as the grilles are part of the dash and the lights are in the speedometer. When the key is on and the switch is to the left or to the right, the start up is a bird like chirping on the left speaker with the left light (the one at 45mph) blinks, then the right chirps and the 135mph light blinks. The lights and chirps will go off without any warning while driving. I can't make heads or tails to what this device is. Nothing in the manual. Any help?

 

Welcome to the forum.

My guess is that you have a radar detector installed on your cat. There was someone else with lamps carefully installed in the gauges, although I don't recall a description of the sounds.

Post some pictures?

Steve

 

Howdy folks:
Sounds like another stealth K40 Radar detector similar to mine. Had I installed it, I too would opt to put the leds in the instrument panel for that factory look instead of the bezel.
Here is a link to the old post which contain my comments. >>> https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...at-they-61503/


PS Don't get caught with it on in VA.

 

I would disagree. It may be neatly done but it is definitely not an OE factory fitting on the XK8.

Graham

 

I have added the pictures of the system. The little lights on the speedometer above the 45mph and 135mph. The little speaker grilles are definitely molded to the dash. They aren't added on. Hope this helps.

 

Gilbert
The grilles are standard fare for all XK-8's, the switch is not, the factory wouldn't add a switch like that, it would match the other rocker type switches. The lights I couldn't tell you about.

 

Still looks like a K40 to me.
Try this link >>
http://www.k40.com/filebin/pdf/1000_2000_INSTALL.pdf
(Also look on the front bumper / grille area for the FRONT RADAR RECEIVER)
I agree that the little grilles are factory and that the inboard one is for the factory aspirator fan. Hope this helps

 

The grille arrowed in red is for the In Car Aspirator (part of the A/C system) and the one arrowed in blue is to allow the sound of the small speaker for the warning buzzer to be audible.



These are standard OE Jaguar fittings.

The switch is not OE and, as others have suggested, is likely to be part of an aftermarket radar detector installation.

Graham

 

That's a K40 radar detection system. I wish my car came with one thrown in... they cost $$$$

 

Thanks everyone for the information. I do believe it's a K40. There's a shop no far from here and I'll take it down to have them check it out.

 

If you decide to have it removed, I would be interested in purchasing.