On my 1990 XJ the high beams wont stay on. The high beams turn on when I pull the stalk towards me, but when I release the stalk they turn off, (high beam flash function works) and cant get them to stay on anymore. The low beams work fine. What is in the stalk mechanism for this issue? What might need be replacing?

 

Well, we know the lights & the wiring to the sockets are good, so that leaves the dimmer switch, or the wiring from it. Personally, I'd suspect the switch.

 

I'm not too familiar with the 1st gen XJ's, but on the 2nd gen's you push the stalk away from you for high beams. Pulling them towards you gives the same momentary flash like you describe.

 

Well it started working again this morning. Go figure. Perhaps the cold last might did it. Wierd.

 

From memory they're the same but, as far as I can work out there are only 2 systems, those that allow you to flash when low beams are on - & those that make you use the dimmer function.

 

That's good, although I'm always uneasy with self-repairing faults.

 

It failed again.

 

I'll bet the switch inside the column is wonky.

 

On my '88, there is no "flash to pass". The high beam is switch in the stalk is like a toggle switch with a detent. Pull to switch to high. Pull again to go back to low. Yes I can flash the highs if I pull just a bit, but that doesn't always work. So to flash I have to do the "double pull".

So I agree with Cruiser. The multifunction switch is suspect. You do need to pull the steering wheel and steering lock.

A peek of the inside.