Interior lights doing their own thing.

[Zennan101]

A week ago the interior lights didn't come on when returning to the car. No problem I thought...I must have inadvertently turned off the 'auto' function so following day read the manual and turned the 'auto' function back on and all seemed normal. Last night, about a minute after setting off the interior lights flicked on and off twice whilst driving. When I stopped the interior lights didn't work when the driver's and passenger doors were opened but when I opened a rear door on they came. Now everything is working normally again......
Has anyone experienced anything similar or have any suggestions?

Rod

[KevNoble]

Hi. I have the same issue in my 10-Plate XF. According to Google, it is fairly common and is due to dirty/corroded contacts in the light unit. Apparently it is relatively easy to fix: just (carefully!) lever out the light unit, clean the electrical contacts and replace. It is also worth cleaning the light lenses too as they are also the switch, so any muck on them will confuse the system. I'll let you know how i get on and how easy the job is.

Kev Noble

[Zennan101]

Hi Kev.

Thanks for the reply. Doesn't sound too difficult but I'll wait for your progress report.

Rod

[KevNoble]

The light unit is quite easy to remove: just lever it out at the rear then unplug the electrical connector. I carefully prised the black plastic part from the back of the unit along with the green electronics board. I could then see 3 spring steel electrical contacts on the back of the three light lenses which I assume are for the touch sensitive light switches: I bent these out slightly to ensure they make positive contact with the electronics. I also cleaned the light lenses inside and out with a meths soaked cloth before re-assembling the whole unit and replaced it back in the car. It now seems to work correctly, but I'll let you know if it stays that way after a couple of weeks.

Kev Noble

[KevNoble]

Further to my last post, the interior lights have behaved normally since my rectification work. I have just completed a near 2000mile tour of Scotland, including the occasional bumpy road, so I feel the lights have been fully tested and thankfully perform normally at all times now.

[Zennan101]

Thanks for the update Kev. My interior lights had been behaving since my last post until a couple of days ago when they went into a sulk again. I'll now be following your lead, take the unit apart and check the connections.
What did you use to prise out the back of the unit?

Rod

[KevNoble]

Hi Rod,
I just used a large flat-blade screwdriver- the light unit comes out quite easily.

[petergl1800]

My interior lights have stopped working completely
Checked all the fuses, tried a different central ( over the mirror) unit
Swore at it
Threatened it to buy a merc! Ok would not stoop that low,
Had a diagnostic machine plugged in, and guess what?
Still not working!
Any ideas?

[KevNoble]

Hi. All I can suggest is the obvious: check for 12v at the connector and a good earth! Good luck.

[SwissJaguar]

Is there perhaps an illustrated guide to the flickering reading lamps? Which contacts are to be cleaned and how? How can I remove and clean the lenses? The reading lamps of my 2010 XF rob me of the last nerve ... Again and again they flicker, which is annoying especially at night and also it is dangerous. There was once a TSB but I can not imagine that after 9 years this issue will still be running on warranty.

[Zennan101]

Hi,

I know it’s obvious but have you tried touching the centre light for 3sec plus. My interior lights sometimes go into a sulk and do not come on. Somehow they turn themselves off. They need simply to be turned on again manually.

An easy check before you start dismantling. The manual covers this.

Rod

[SwissJaguar]

Since this summer it is getting worse. I have already tried the procedure according to the manual, but unfortunately without success. I have already read somewhere that the replacement of the light bulbs by LED should solve the problem. Can anybody confirm this? I would also just replace the map lamps so that when the doors are opened the original light does not make the ivory colored leather appear in ugly blue.