Interior lights on instrument panel not working

Milan · Postby **Milan** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:11 pm

Hi,

The lights on the instrument panel of my '91 XJS have just stopped working, along with the light that lights up the auto gear stick/shift. Anyone have any idea what might have caused this?

Milan.

ptjs1 · Postby **ptjs1** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:28 pm

Milan,

Welcome to the Bulletin Board!

You haven't said if your car is a facelift model or pre-facelift. If it's a facelift, I think that Fuse 18 in the LH fusebox controls the instrument and gearbox illumination. I would start there first.

Good luck

Paul

Milan · Postby **Milan** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:34 pm

Thanks for the reply! I'll check that fuse to see if it's the culprit.

My XJS is (I think!) a pre-facelift - it's a '91 J-reg. I've only had it for a couple of weeks, after longing for an XJS for several years. The car has seen better days; the bodywork is a bit rusty in places, but hey, it's an XJS, and it's great fun to drive!

dhdove · Postby **dhdove** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:54 pm

Milan

Hi and welcome to the Forum

You're an enthusiast after my own heart

"after longing for an XJS for several years. The car has seen better days; the bodywork is a bit rusty in places, but hey, it's an XJS, and it's great fun to drive!"

As long as it's going, enjoy and sort the problems out as you go, however, prepare your bank account for a major hit at some point

Very best Wishes

DH Dove

davidchevin · Postby **davidchevin** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:12 am

Welcome Milan

I'm a new boy, too, and my XJS has a load of unlit bits in the dash - we'll just have to learn where to look

Milan · Postby **Milan** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:57 am

Well, would you Adam n' Eve it.... I opened up the fusebox and had a quick look, but as it was dark I didn't bother changing anything. The next day, the lights are all working again! I guess when I wobbled them about a bit I must have done something...

Telsmoneypit · Postby **Telsmoneypit** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:45 pm

If it's not the fuse it will be the "fibre optic source", which is a posh name for a normal bulb that provides light via fibre optics to the switches and heater controls. This can be found in a black cylinder (cilla black?) lurking beneath the ski slope.

I plan to change mine for a super bright white LED. Brighter light, little or no heat generated and longer life.
I have changed all the dash illumination for green LEDs and now I can see the clocks at night! The rheostat no longer functions but who wants a dim dash again?

Tel