Hi,

I just got my first Jag today... A 1989 XJS Convertible. Started our tonight and wife asked about the panel lights. Remembered the round know, that I read about in owners manual... When I turned that knob to the right to bring the panel lights on, A bunch of warning lights on the right side of the instrument came on and absolutely shut the engine down!!! I quickly shut the switch off and can not tell you all of the lights and\or messages that I got. That did shake me up!! Can anyone shed any light on this one????

Bill Giardina 89XJS

Submitted by daddina@aol.com on Fri, 02/14/2003 - 12:13

Thank you George and Steve! I will have check that out ASAP.
I do have Kirby Palm's book on CD and , ya'll are right, there is a lot of information in the book.

Thanks again,

Bill...

Bill Giardina 89XJS

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Fri, 02/14/2003 - 11:05

I agree with George on this one. The dash lights controlled by the knob draw very little current. Certainly not enough to cause a system failure anywhere in the system. On my '89, they barely illuminate the dash enough to see anything, even in pitch darkness. As George suggested, someone probably bogged the wiring in the dash at some point so that something is shorting out on a critical circuit when you energize the dash lights. My guess would be on the negative side of the switch, since it happened when you turned it on. If it was on the positive side, it would happen all the time.

Since you're new to the XJS, do yourself a favor. Go to www.jag-lovers.org and follow the links to get a free download of "The Book" by Kirby Palm. "The Book" is a compendium of the collective wisedom and experience of multiple XJS owners and mechanics, compiled by Kirby and available for free. Just download it and read it. You may even find someone who had a similar experience with their car in there. Also, try posting this question on the XJS-lovers list on Jag-lovers as well.

Steve Weinstein, JTC-NJ
'72 E-type 2+2
'89 XJS Coupe

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Fri, 02/14/2003 - 06:41

Someone has modified something. The Reostat is simple and if it it shorted it would not cause that. I am afraid that when the underpannel is removed you have a wiring mess due to some ham handed work.

George Camp