Dashboard error light identification - help!

[mat1227]

Hi - a bit of help for a new owner please, I've just brought a 1991 Daimler 4.0 (XJ40) I love it so far but I'm getting an error code on the dash. It's halfway down on the panel to the left of the speedo/tacho and lights up bright orange, artists impression below (!)



I don't have the handbook so can anyone shed any light on this? Doesn't look like anything drastic but thought I'd check

Thanks!

[a8hex]

You've got a bulb out somewhere.

Congrats on the new car BTW.

Does the warning just come on when you brake? If so it's a brake light - you can often work out which type of bulb is dead...

Edited by a8hex on Monday 9th July 12:10

[groomi]

This symbol is always good fun on an XJ40.

It is supposed to mean that you have a bulb out somewhere. What it actually means is that you may have a bulb out somewhere or you may be the victim of some unidentified, inconsistent, frustration-inducing glitch of electrickery regularly found on such a vehicle.

I would say carry out a regular check on your lights, but ignore this symbol - else it will drive you crazy.

[mat1227]

Ha ha - excellent, thanks chaps much appreciated. Glad it's nothing terminal, it did occur to me it looks like a bulb but that would be too obvious..

Come to think of it I do have a red exclamation mark jobbie that comes on when I brake (looks a lot like the 'handbrake' light on other cars) but the brakes behave perfectly and pull up fine. No idea what this is?

All in, a big XJ40 convert - love it

[mat1227]

Groomi - just noticed from your profile, like me you also have a 205 GTI. What a great combination of cars, for one to complement the other eh going from one to the other is always a pleasant contrast, good taste sir

[groomi]

Ha ha, great minds and all that...

I actually preferred the contrast from when I had my old 205 at the same time as the XJ40. One with ultra-cosseting ride and oodles of power and the other which just begged to be driven within an inch of it's (and your) life.

With the XJR, they're both too tempting to live life on the edge...

[a8hex]

mat1227 said:

Ha ha - excellent, thanks chaps much appreciated. Glad it's nothing terminal, it did occur to me it looks like a bulb but that would be too obvious..

Come to think of it I do have a red exclamation mark jobbie that comes on when I brake (looks a lot like the 'handbrake' light on other cars) but the brakes behave perfectly and pull up fine. No idea what this is?

All in, a big XJ40 convert - love it

Not sure about the XJ40, but if it's like my early X300 the other brake warning light you'll probably see is from the ABS, it's a amber not red one if I remember correctly. When it's lit you have no ABS. I think it's caused by a slightly low voltage causing it to fail some of it's power up tests. The central locking can do this too. If the car sits for too long between use then I sometimes get these errors. Run for a short while, then turn off and back on again and it goes away.


Cheers
Ken

[mat1227]

Excellent - I'll have a play around thanks guys

Groomi that gives me an idea for a good thread, best 2 real-life 'contrast' cars. ie. one that really makes you appreciate the other and vice versa. I think 205 GTI and 4.0 XJ40 would be hard to beat for under a grand all in

[melhook]

The red light that comes on when you brake, means that your brake pads are getting a bit low. XJ40's have pad sensor wires, you will probably need to replace the sensor wire aswell as the pads.

[mat1227]

Ok thanks melhook