635
Gordon Clefton made a less radical fix than simply removing the green lenses. “I removed each green lens (two
screws), drilled five holes into the plastic, cleaned the plastic, and then replaced the green lens. The pattern was one
hole at the end and four holes around the side. I am pleased with the results; the panel still has the Jaguar green glow,
but all the instruments are very readable.”
Yet another idea would be to remove the green lenses and install green bulbs. Green bulbs are commonly available in
auto parts stores, which often have an entire aisle dedicated to dressing up cars with various colored lights. You can
also visit an arts-and-crafts store and purchase some of the goop they offer to make stained glass designs -- pretty much
whatever color you want -- and apply it directly to the bulbs.
Another method for making lights brighter would be to improve reflectivity. White paint helps, Liquid Paper works
well, or you can apply small pieces of aluminum tape. For the illumination of the big gauges, there is an easy
reflectivity improvement that can be made. The cowling around these two gauges, just outside the face itself as you’re
looking at it, is a single piece of white plastic that has been painted a dark grey on the surfaces that show. The reason
they didn’t just make it out of dark grey plastic is because the back side of this part that doesn’t show is supposed to be
white to reflect the light from the green-lensed illumination bulbs. Unfortunately, someone in the paint shop must not
have understood this too well, because large areas of the back side of this part may be painted dark grey as well. So,
take a piece of sandpaper and remove the dark grey paint from the back side, especially on the bevelled section
surrounding the gauge. Or, if it’s easier, you could just paint over it with white paint.
Keith Morris says, “If you will notice there is a cutout on the back plane of the large gauges that can accept another
green lens and bulb setup. I obtained these extra lamps at my local Jaguar dealer and added them. They simply plug in
- the electrical connections are present in the circuit sheet. The gauges are now brighter.” This author’s ’83 has no
such openings for additional bulbs, but Bob Gallivan says his ’84 “has 3 extra holes for the lights.”
Walter Acker IV went to further extremes and installed 900-series wedge bulbs: “The new bulb is #921, but you will
be able to install the new bulb from the front only. The new bulb is too big to insert from the back, but can be installed
from the front if you make sure to hold the sockets from the back with your finger to keep the bulb socket from pushing
out the back.
“I found that the sockets pull on the copper part of the plastic board. When you have the plastic off of the back half of
the dash cluster, if you chamfer the ends of the holes where the socket goes in very carefully you can reduce the pulling
effect on the copper part of the plastic circuit board.”
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT: It may not be obvious at first, so John Himes sends this
description for getting to the bulbs: “Feel or look on the underside of the cover; there are 2 black indentations on each
side of the cover. Place your fingers on each of these, or you can also do one at a time. Press up on the indentation
which is a sprung black square button that keeps the cover from rattling off. After your remove the cover, you have
access to the bulbs. They are in gray plastic holders that you turn 1/2 turn to release.”
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT RE-INSTALLATION: Apparently the things fall off. And apparently most glues don’t work
very well for putting it back on. Ray Schmitt says, “"GOOP" worked for me in that application. It's clear like silicon
but stickier and sets up firmer. I had "Marine GOOP" on hand but I think the other types are much the same. Available
at most hardware stores.”
John Kjallberg says, “Try some window stop leak, silicone windshield and glass seal; this is flowable so look out for
drips. You will have to support it for a day. I had no luck with other fixes.”
INDICATOR LIGHT BULBS: The tiny bulbs used in the row of indicator lights at the top of the dashboard are
“miniature capless”, similar to capless but a bunch smaller. 14V versions are available at auto parts stores in the US in
several different wattages: