I found, thanks to the forums the fuse that controls the heated steering wheel. I've pulled the fuse, as my wheel gets so hot, it is uncomfortable, and likely damaging to the wheel. My question is, can I put a resistor on the fuse to tone it down a bit? That would seem like a fairly straight forward solution, but I'm not an engineer. Assuming that is a good idea, will 1/2 watt 1k ohm resistors do the job? If so how many, in parallel or in series? Thanks in advance.

__________________
2005 XJR (added by GGG)

 

I've moved your question from General Tech Help to X350 forum. This is the place to post technical questions about your model.

Graham

 

No. That's dangerous and your resistor values are way out of kilter.
It's a 15A fuse. I don't know what the current draw is, but let's say:
5amp = 60W = 2.4ohms
If you put a 2.4ohm resistor in place of the fuse (to 1/4 the power), the steering wheel would drop to 15w, but the resistor would also be dissipating 15w. YOU WILL LIKELY MELT THE ENCLOSURE.
A 1 ohm resistor would be required to 1/2 the steering wheel power and would dissipate perhaps 13w, still quite a bit in an enclosed fuse box. It will age the fuse box even if it doesn't melt/catch fire.
I s'pose one could bring wires out to a heatsinked power resistor. Or just harden up like the rest of us without these sissy things
You could wear gloves, welding gloves, to protect yourself from your heated steering wheel...you could paint them white and people would think they are chauffeur gloves...

If the actual current is more than my example of 5A, then fire approaches much more rapidly.

AND, this car has electronic modules oozing out of every orifice. I read that there might be one in the heated steering wheel?

 

I appreciate your response, I suspected the resistor might get hot, I didn't intend to replace the fuse with the resistor, but to put it between the fuse and the load. Still introducing a bunch of heat into a plastic enclosure seems foolhardy. For now I'll just leave that fuse out. We don't get that much freezing weather here, I've never had a heated wheel so I won't miss it. They did miss the mark here though, I rented a loaded Chrysler 300 that had that feature, and it was mildly warm, and rather pleasant. This one the wood part feels like over 100°, the leather part is tolerable but still way too hot.

 

It sounds possible that the heated steering wheel module temperature control has failed.

I believe that it may be located around the base of the steering inside the car.

It may be possible to repair it or replace it with an used one but I have never seen

an used one for sale.

 

I've got a guy who can likely source one. That seems likely if there is something that is supposed to control that, it isn't doing a very good job.

 

"I believe that it may be located around the base of the steering inside the car."

Not correct-looks like it's easy to get to:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-HE...gAAOSw0iNelEN9

I can see what looks like a power transistor on the PCB which is probably for the wheel heater but where is the temp sensor?

Maybe it is supposed to monitor the current as a way of controlling temps.

No thermal fuse in evidence.

 

My guess was right - this thing is a bunch of rivets and control modules flying in close formation.
Therefore, dropping voltage by way of a resistor at the fuse box probably won't work...more likely the control module has failed ON.

The other thing of course, is that the heated steering wheel is switched by the heated seat control. So you have a choice between Hot Hands or a Cold Bum.
Or live in a wonderful climate like...oh never mind.

 

I tried it today with boot fuse 54 pulled, and the seat works fine, but the wheel stays cool. I'm contented leaving it like that for the duration. We have mild winters here, it is 50 right now and that's considered on the cool side. We have our moments, I've seen -20°f for a day or 2, and if it bothered me that bad I could always put fuse 54 back in for a day or 2.

 

Whilst I'm a retired electronic/computer technician, yet would not normally even think of repairing a Jaguar module, that "power transistor" on the steering wheel module looks like it could be worth trying replacing.

Except it has 5 pins so is not just a transistor. It would be necessary to read the ID off the package, if there is one.

 

Maybe I was right in the first place since I have found this:

https://parts.harperjaguar.com/oem-p...module-c2c7505

I now think that the title of the e bay parts is wrong

ie JAGUAR HEATED STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS

 

Meirion...in Australia you need a Cooling Steering Wheel.