Hello, this is Martin in Menifee, CA. My car is a 2005 X Type Estate, BRG, 110,000 miles. I'm the second owner 2016.
The main headlight switch seems to be faulty, since the lights will go off at times while driving in the dark. A dangerous situation.
My Question: How to remove the switch from the fascia panel without breaking the locking tab at the top of the switch?
If the tab does break, how to re-fasten the switch without replacing the entire panel? I have read the shop manual but the operation to
remove the switch seems risky and could break off the tab very easily if too much pressure is applied, using the shop manual as a guide.
Need to get the switch out once to clean the contacts and get the exact part number and second time, if that doesn't work, to replace the switch
with a new unit. Advice is greatly appreciated.
Martin
2005 X-Type Estate BRG
2001 XK8 Convertible Topaz
2000 XK8 Coupe Phoenix Red

 

mjmindling, as for cleaning the internals of the switch, I would simply disconnect the battery and run the switch back and forth say 30-40 times. If that does not fix the issue, then you need a new headlight switch. Of note, if you buy it via the internet, you need to know which version you have. There are 3. The US version, canadian version, and Scandinavian version. You really can't switch from one to the other without some wiring changes. The different switches affect when/how the lights come on. So, please pay attention.

As for the cycling of the switch, most switches have a "self cleaning" feature of them. So, cycling the switch a bunch of times, it should clean the contacts and make a good connection.

 

Addition: There are way more than 3 versions of that light switch: There is a Scandinavian Version, where it is not possible to ever turn off the light (this is a legal requirement there), and there is the version, which does not have that light-on-always requirement. Some switches have the auto-leveling, then there are differences with fog lights (frt./rr.) and all kinds of combinations of above. While I did design that light switch (back then at Jaguar), it is long ago, and I don't know all the details anymore, but the number I have in my head is 12: I think there were 12 different versions. And those versions were all black. Way later they introduced coloured versions, like golden, which means, that there are now even more versions.

PS: Plus, there would be heaps more versions, if I would not have been able to convince Geoff Lawson back then to agree on a symmetrical design of the light switch - because the initial design-intend was to have also different version for LHD and RHD, which would have driven up the number of variants substantially...

 

Hello Thermo,
Thanks for the advice regarding X Type light switch issues.
Will let you know how this works on my car.
Martin

 

Hello Peter,

Thanks for the data.
If nothing else works (see Thermo) I will be removing he switch to see the part number.
My concern is to break off the clip which is part of the fascia.
If it breaks during this procedure, I'm going to be looking at some kind of repair to re-install the switch.
Will let you know how it works out.
Martin

 

 

Thanks Dell, for adding this video.
I was just about to look for it myself.
I vaguely remembered that it works somewhere along those lines - it was just too long ago for me to remember fully.

The light switch in the video is without the leveling switch and without trip computer - this is why there are so many versions, but LHD and RHD switches are the same.

@MJMINDLING: Let me know, where the fault was. I am kind of hoping that it is not in the switch - I'd rather see cable or connectors as possible suspects...
Or...: ...and even that is not unheard of: Maybe it is the incandescent lightbulb of the headlight itself: It is possible that the filament inside of the lightbulb is broken thru, but from time to time the 2 loose ends reconnect...

 

Hello All,
First, many thanks to Dell for the helpful video.
I am hoping that my switch is mounted the same way as yours. I'm going to work on it next week, but in the meantime, I'm referring the Haynes X Type handbook.
There is a picture in the handbook of the switch, indicating a tab, or plastic extension, from the dash panel which can be pushed down with a screwdriver to release form the dash.
If it ends up having the same fastening device as Dell's video, I'd be pretty happy so as not to push down a 19 year old plastic tab and break it, this causing problems with
re-installing the switch.
Steps will be 1.) figure out which fastening method was used in my car, 2.) take out the switch very carefully, even if it is the molded tab type, 3.) try cleaning the terminals and using the method of working the switch mechanism 40 times, retry the old switch to see if I can get solid night time lighting, 4.) at the same time, get the parts number from the switch and expect to purchase a new one if nothing else works.
On a recent drive from the desert where I live to San Diego, came back after dark and was shook up well enough by the headlights and dashlights suddenly going dark multiple times and only coming on after vigorous working of the switch. Not the thing to have happen on the 5 freeway at night, surrounded by crazy S. CA drivers with no fear filters.
In conscience, I could net even sell the car with this fault because someone will be injured.
Best Regards,
Martin
2000 XK8, 2001 XK8, 2005 Estate: Previously 65 E Type, 66 E Type, 59 Mark IX, 67 S Sedan, 67 420G, 87 XJ6 VDP, 76 XJ6C in Chicago, Hong Kong, Oregon, So CA.

 

Second owner, BRG, this taken in Ohio. Car came from Florida and is now is So. Ca. Martin

 

Ah, its ALL lights, not just one. OK, then it's not the filament, but it could still be a faulty wire or connector