Hi, I know it's a common issue but I couldn't find the solution.
XJ Sport 1999, yesterday I replaced a couple of bulbs on the instrument panel, when I put back the dash it only worked the lights of fuel and battery levels.
Fuses are ok, lights dimmer has already been replaced (as the previous owner said. But actually looks quite new), the light dimmer harness looks pretty bad -melted- but seems that all the pins are in positions-contact. Before I go to the scrapyard and take a dimmer and harness, is there something I should check?

BEFORE taking out the dash everything was ok except 2 bulbs.

Stupid me, I didn't disconnect the battery when taking out the dash, so I was sure about fuses....but it's not.

Has somebody any ideas about that?
Ric

 

More details:

all the lights (airbag, handbrake, belts, engine etc) work.

Rpm, mph, oil temp and pressure and trip are without lights

Battery and fuel are ok with light, and even turning the dimmer they get more/less light

 

Post a photo of that harness.

 

Just had this issue, on my 94 XJ Sport, if the harness looks like this, replace it.

 

ok, mine doesn't look SO bad, but it's on the way...

Now ALL the lights are off in the dash and also the a/c doesn't work (till yesterday evening it was working only on position 4.
I have just bought new fuses and a multimeter, I'll do some checks and report

 

Does somebody know which pin from the connectors behind the instrument panel gives the plus to the bulbs?

I decided to swap to the relay headlights and get rid of the headlights dimmer and harness; get a new random switch and connect dash lights to it. Cheaper than replacing the dimmer and harness and more tough.

 

Hi guys, anyone who knows about it? In the meanwhile I got a new switch but the issue is still there...no lights to the instrument panel...

 

Did you check all of your fuses, and relays under the driver side dash? Also, you may have a bad switch. I had 2 bad ones, and had to keep switching them out. Finally, the 3rd one worked.

Are you going in through the upper or lower panel?

 

Hi, all the fuses are ok, it may be a relay, but is there one that works ONLY for the panel lights?? If so, than I must check it.

I can try one of these days to get a third switch from the scrapyard, but in case it's not working I will probably use it like it is and connect a neon wire for the instrument panel. New wires and the problem goes... but usually I don't like to mess with electrics, it's the only stuff that I prefer to be original