Jaguar XK Battery Replacement
#81
AGM = Absorbed Glass Mat.
Basically a more refined version of the conventional lead-acid battery.
Has a similar kind of lead plates, separated by a fiberGlass Mat which Absorbs the sulphuric acid elecrolyte.
Sometimes this plate/glass mat sandwich is wound in a spiral, like in Optima batteries.
They work in the same way as conventional (called 'flooded') lead acid batteries, but need a slightly different recharging profile for best efficiency.
Advantages:
- sealed and don't leak, can be mounted inverted...
- can accept a larger charging current
- lower 'self-discharge' rate (ie if left unused they hold a charge longer)
Disadvantes:
- more expensive (maybe 25% more)
- harder to find...
For all those reasons, they're a much better solution for an infrequently used car, or one in a hot environment.
Hope this helps.
Jeremy
(Ask an Engineer the time, and he'll tell you how a watch works...)
Basically a more refined version of the conventional lead-acid battery.
Has a similar kind of lead plates, separated by a fiberGlass Mat which Absorbs the sulphuric acid elecrolyte.
Sometimes this plate/glass mat sandwich is wound in a spiral, like in Optima batteries.
They work in the same way as conventional (called 'flooded') lead acid batteries, but need a slightly different recharging profile for best efficiency.
Advantages:
- sealed and don't leak, can be mounted inverted...
- can accept a larger charging current
- lower 'self-discharge' rate (ie if left unused they hold a charge longer)
Disadvantes:
- more expensive (maybe 25% more)
- harder to find...
For all those reasons, they're a much better solution for an infrequently used car, or one in a hot environment.
Hope this helps.
Jeremy
(Ask an Engineer the time, and he'll tell you how a watch works...)
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bobdr1 (05-05-2014)
#82
XKR Battery Replacement
I also had to replace the battery in my 06 as it still had the OEM and it was really about 8 yrs old, the car was built in 05. Interstate Batteries has the replacement battery and they will R & R for free. They have an adapter they plug into the lighter socket that keeps power to the car so reset is not a problem. I found out many high end cars use that same battery. After I had that done I had several beers to sooth the cost of $260.00. I think the dealer was around $400.00 to do the same service. Good Luck
#83
Thanks to all on this thread. I had my 08 XKR LCD screen freeze on the Jaguar logo, no music, etc. Found this thread, did some troubleshooting by installing a trickle charger, which unfroze my screen. Decided to get an AGR battery, even though my battery tested OK. I had to convince Interstate Battery to get an AGR (MT5-49/H8). Also had a bit of difficulty getting the proper vent adapter and plug, but Interstate was able to find them from a recycled battery. So far, there have been no repeats of electronic trouble.
#84
#85
#86
With an AGM, charging rates are theoretically about 5 times faster, so they are much quicker at recovering over a short drives.
I dont swear the AGM is our "failing battery" answer, but several of us bailed on the OEM battery and went AGM, and I have not heard of a battery problem from any of them since. Most are still under a year since the swap, so only time will tell if our choice was really the right one.
More food for the thinking....thought... errr...brain thing.
Vince
#87
>> I am familiar with Optima batteries for boats, not used every day etc.
Thanks for the Peer Compliment ! Regrettably, Optima do not make a Group 49 (the battery industry sizing name for our batteries) battery - I asked them directly !
And another point - for any cars still under warrantee. There is a Jaguar TSB (attached) that instructs the Dealers to replace type-for-type.
Personally, I think AGMs are the way to go (at least until Lithium Ion gets more affordable). There's no reason I can see not to upgrade, but the Dealers are probably constrained in what they can do.....
Thanks for the Peer Compliment ! Regrettably, Optima do not make a Group 49 (the battery industry sizing name for our batteries) battery - I asked them directly !
And another point - for any cars still under warrantee. There is a Jaguar TSB (attached) that instructs the Dealers to replace type-for-type.
Personally, I think AGMs are the way to go (at least until Lithium Ion gets more affordable). There's no reason I can see not to upgrade, but the Dealers are probably constrained in what they can do.....
#88
JeremyB,
For the majority of people a group 49 conventional battery plus a 3 stage charger( a must) is the way to go.
If you want to do aerobatics us an AGM and for LOW power applications Li Ion is fine but store in a metal box if possible, I do!.
Between my Boat, Motor Home and cars I have 10 batteries all conventional; got 13 years out of my 6V boat house batts (Trojan, deep cycle golf cart!).
A retired Boeing Engineer,
Adrian
For the majority of people a group 49 conventional battery plus a 3 stage charger( a must) is the way to go.
If you want to do aerobatics us an AGM and for LOW power applications Li Ion is fine but store in a metal box if possible, I do!.
Between my Boat, Motor Home and cars I have 10 batteries all conventional; got 13 years out of my 6V boat house batts (Trojan, deep cycle golf cart!).
A retired Boeing Engineer,
Adrian
#90
Vince et al,
Interstate shows MTP-93 850 cca's for 2007 XK's NOT the 49/H8 which the Dealers (mine incld.) install; 6.88 x 14.38 x 6.88, much confusion as usual.
WalMart carries the H8 for $120 but may not have a vent! and 760 cca's made by Johnson Controls (USA?)
Jaguars are always such fun; only had them for 53 yrs ...........
Please Fly your flag today, Adrian
Interstate shows MTP-93 850 cca's for 2007 XK's NOT the 49/H8 which the Dealers (mine incld.) install; 6.88 x 14.38 x 6.88, much confusion as usual.
WalMart carries the H8 for $120 but may not have a vent! and 760 cca's made by Johnson Controls (USA?)
Jaguars are always such fun; only had them for 53 yrs ...........
Please Fly your flag today, Adrian
#91
Vince et al,
Interstate shows MTP-93 850 cca's for 2007 XK's NOT the 49/H8 which the Dealers (mine incld.) install; 6.88 x 14.38 x 6.88, much confusion as usual.
WalMart carries the H8 for $120 but may not have a vent! and 760 cca's made by Johnson Controls (USA?)
Jaguars are always such fun; only had them for 53 yrs ...........
Please Fly your flag today, Adrian
Interstate shows MTP-93 850 cca's for 2007 XK's NOT the 49/H8 which the Dealers (mine incld.) install; 6.88 x 14.38 x 6.88, much confusion as usual.
WalMart carries the H8 for $120 but may not have a vent! and 760 cca's made by Johnson Controls (USA?)
Jaguars are always such fun; only had them for 53 yrs ...........
Please Fly your flag today, Adrian
Don't understand your question Adrian... Are you saying the AGM battery I have in my car does not fit?
I made a call to Interstate tech support and asked for an AGM battery to fit my car. They informed me the MTP-49/H8A (A for AGM) would be the one I need. We then learned that the part number given has since been replaced with a newer part number MT5-49/H8. Both numbers are the same battery.
Note: If you buy the plain MTP-49/H8, (without the A suffix) you are not getting an AGM battery.
Does that help?
Vince
#93
Vince,
No,I didn't say so or know about the AGM. Just wanted to make point that the MTP 93 has more cca's than the 49/H8 for a similar size.
Don't know why every body seems to fit 49/H8's; next time will use a MTP 93, hope it is refillable ! My Interstate 49 is not and made in CK!!
Next time at WalMart will look at their H8 for a vent, where it's made and is it topable.
Adrian
No,I didn't say so or know about the AGM. Just wanted to make point that the MTP 93 has more cca's than the 49/H8 for a similar size.
Don't know why every body seems to fit 49/H8's; next time will use a MTP 93, hope it is refillable ! My Interstate 49 is not and made in CK!!
Next time at WalMart will look at their H8 for a vent, where it's made and is it topable.
Adrian
#95
#96
#97
Another question on batteries. What percentage charge should a healthy battery be at after a good amount of driving in a day. I drove about 35 miles today and when I came home, I put my Shumacher charger on and the indicator showed that the battery was 64% charged. It took only about an hour to bring it up to 100%, but what is normal? Is this a sign that my battery is declining?
#98
Another question on batteries. What percentage charge should a healthy battery be at after a good amount of driving in a day. I drove about 35 miles today and when I came home, I put my Shumacher charger on and the indicator showed that the battery was 64% charged. It took only about an hour to bring it up to 100%, but what is normal? Is this a sign that my battery is declining?
However, in general, the more charge put in a battery, the higher the internal voltage gets, and the harder it is to 'push' charge into it. So, charging the last 20% typically takes waaay longer that the rest.
(on liveaboard boats, the batteries are typically charged to 80%, then discharged down to 50% as that offers the most efficient profile).
So - I wouldn't be concerned - it only took an hour to top-off the charge. If you're still concerned a 'load test' is the only real proof.
OEM rating is 850Ah, mine is down to 770Ah after 1 year.
Lstford asked:
>>
I have had some of the issues discussed and believe its time for a new battery. Will dealers put an AGM battery in or do I have to do it. Where do I get the vent and how to install it?
<<
Maybe they will, but there's an official Jag Service advisory to replace like-with-like, so maybe they won't.
As far as the vent, that should already be there for the OEM battery. Its just a question of connecting/adapting it to the new one.
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ndy.boyd (12-11-2013)
#99
Jeremy, it was colder than Michelle O's eyes here today, so I had the heater on, the seat heaters, even the steering wheel heater for a while. I'm pushing the limit on driving the car this late into the year, but as long as there's no snow on the ground, I hate to leave it in the garage and climb into that Lexus clunker. After today, it will have the maintainer on full time. I think the battery is ok. It just struck me as odd that it could discharge so much with the car running.
Thanks for your insight.
Thanks for your insight.
#100
A few months back I asked my local Jaguar dealer to install a new battery that I had purchased from a local autoparts store. The battery recently went bad (voltage dropped by more than half under a load test), so I returned the battery under warranty and received a new replacement.
After some thought I decided that I could buy a whole lot of beer for what the dealer installation charge would be, so I decided to do it myself. Knowing the battery was located in the trunk under the liner was a bit intimidating to me, but I decided to "go for it".
It could not have been any easier.....!!
So for any who might be interested, here goes:
1. Open a beer (preferably Guiness in honor of this fine car)
2. Remove the floor panel over the spare tire as well as the luggage cover (resembles the cargo cover one would find in an SUV). Lift the luggage cover up and out.
4. Remove the four round plastic knobs at each corner or the vertical panel facing you at the rear of the compartment (the rear of the back seats) remove these by unscrewing counterclockwise, pull out, and put in your pocket.
5. The vertical panel will now come free when pulled to reveal the battery directly in front of you.
6. The battery has security bolts on the front retaining bar and 10mm bolts on both terminals and the right hand safety retainer.
7. The positive terminal is on the right, the negative terminal on the left (don't forget to plug the vent hose into the side of the new battery).
8. If you do not first attach a power source to the car's electical system, you will have to reset the presets (radio stations, etc). This took me very little time (5-10 minutes).
9. Reinstall the trunk liner, etc.
10. Drink your second beer.
After some thought I decided that I could buy a whole lot of beer for what the dealer installation charge would be, so I decided to do it myself. Knowing the battery was located in the trunk under the liner was a bit intimidating to me, but I decided to "go for it".
It could not have been any easier.....!!
So for any who might be interested, here goes:
1. Open a beer (preferably Guiness in honor of this fine car)
2. Remove the floor panel over the spare tire as well as the luggage cover (resembles the cargo cover one would find in an SUV). Lift the luggage cover up and out.
4. Remove the four round plastic knobs at each corner or the vertical panel facing you at the rear of the compartment (the rear of the back seats) remove these by unscrewing counterclockwise, pull out, and put in your pocket.
5. The vertical panel will now come free when pulled to reveal the battery directly in front of you.
6. The battery has security bolts on the front retaining bar and 10mm bolts on both terminals and the right hand safety retainer.
7. The positive terminal is on the right, the negative terminal on the left (don't forget to plug the vent hose into the side of the new battery).
8. If you do not first attach a power source to the car's electical system, you will have to reset the presets (radio stations, etc). This took me very little time (5-10 minutes).
9. Reinstall the trunk liner, etc.
10. Drink your second beer.