As I live in the Great White North, I put my 2004 XK8 in my garage for winter storage. To make sure the battery didn't discharge and freeze, I hooked up a battery tender which trickle charges when required. The light on the charger started off orange which means it was charging. After a few hours the light turned green so I figured all was well. For security, I locked the car using the remote. Today, I noticed that the Jag was marking it's territory by dripping a bit of oil under the engine. I pointed the remote at the car and pressed the unlock button. ZIP! Nothing! I tried my other remote and it didn't work either. Lokking in the window, I can see a red light flashing just across from the gear selector PARK position. Don't have a manual but I presume the red flashing light is an indication that the alarm is set. Any help in getting into the car would be much appreciated.

 

Your ignition key will unlock the boot. The key opening is between the x and k on the rear. If you can't get the lock to work try some spray lube in it and work the key back and forth to free up the lock. You can then charge up the battery. The same key should open the door. Using the key will not set off the alarms.

 

BRICK

 

Tried the key on the door after the remote didn't work but, although it felt like it turned, the foor stayed locked.

 

Thanks Vern. I never noticed the keyhole before. Unfortunately I had no luck opening the lid. The key fit OK and turns to the right but not to the left. Will try spraying WD40 in there and see if it helps.

 

Well Vern I pressed down on the boot lid while twisting the key and it opened! FYI the alarm will go off! Much honking and flashing of lights. By the looks of it, the battery was fully charged. Tried the remote again and this time it worked and the doors unlocked and the alarm cancelled. No idea why it wouldn't work in the first place. I think it was sulking as it had been shut in the garage since mid-November. Thanks again!

 

Maybe you should check the key fob battery voltage. Perhaps they are on their way out. A voltage reading under 3.0 volts is no good.

 

No need to worry Jetjock17, it's normal. If you leave the X100 locked for a lengthy period it will completely go to sleep and the remote will not open it. Open the car with the key and the beast will wake up and then the remote will work again.

Took me awhile to figure this one out.

 

I am impressed by the help and support given by the members of this forum. The Jaquar is a beautiful car but it does have some strange charcteristics at times. It appears that it wasn't sulking but had gone into hibernation! I'll leave it unlocked and wake it gently in the spring! Thanks again all for your help!

 

Hi.
If you leave your car unlocked it will not go to "sleep", and slowly drain your battery.
You have two "sleep" modes. One after 60 minutes. Will unlock normally with FOB.
Another one after I think 30 days. Then you will have to use your key in the door lock to wake it up.
Use your key now and then both in the door lock and the boot/trunk lock to keep them working.

 

Really?... Never heard of the extended sleep mode...where the remote stops working. What would be the reason for this?

 

Hi again.


The reason for what I call the "extended sleep" mode is to save battery power.
In the "normal sleep" mode, which is entered after 60 minutes, the car may use up to 30 mA. A rough calculation will give you 4 months before the battery is completely dead. This is a theoretical value as your 90Ah battery is never completely full and many of the electronic modules will give up the ghost long before that.
In a modern car it is not the cranking power that is limiting. You need a minimum voltage to keep the electronics going.
As an example you will lose window memory before the car stops cranking.

 

This may be of interest to you Franks XKR Story. - Page 2 #18

Luckily I sorted mine before I had any problems. Enjoy

 

Hi Frank. Couldn't find the thread you mentioned. Rather than page number, what date was it posted as I would like to read it. Tnx!

 

Looks like a clickable link...

 

Hi. As the gentleman said if you click on where it says Franks XKR Story etc it will take you to the page. You dont have to do anything else.

 

Hi all,


I am a first time jag owner - a beautiful 1999 XKR auto convertible in Antigua blue. After several months of fun I rested the car for winter. On Christmas eve I tried to open the car, but neither the fob or the key would work. I read this thread and tried the boot lock - it opened but no alarm! I checked the battery - charge fine. I checked the fuses (especially the lock circuit fuse) - all fine. The key turns in the door lock against a spring about 1/8th turn clockwise then stops solid. I have used WD40 but makes no difference.


I am considering disconnecting the battery but am concerned this may lose the key fob-alarm system synchronisation.


Does anyone have any ideas how to overcome this problem or any way to get into the car cabin????


I am desperate to drive my car and I think I am going into withdrawal....or could that be due to the Christmas alcohol ???!!!


I look forward to any useful tips.......
Chris Roberts

 

When you used the key and did not get a reaction it would indicate low voltage. The door locks work on a solenoid and low voltage won't trigger them.
You said the battery was good. I assume you used a meter and checked the voltage. If so i would suspect bad/corroded connections. The battery needs to be well into the 12.5 to 13 volt range.
You could first try disconnecting the cables and cleaning them and while you are at it put the battery on a charger. Reconnecting will awaken the computers and probably set off the alarms but the remote should cure that.
You don't have to worry about the fob settings they will be fine. You will have to reset the windows and seat memories.

 

I have a different problem. I started the car two weeks ago and the AC didn't work and the fans didnt come on. I shut it down thinking it was another fan module failure (I happen to have a spare). Went to start it and the car was dead! I just replaced the battery with a top of the line XS-AGM. HOOKED UP THE BATTERY TENDER after unhooking the terminals. I bumped the trunk lid, it shut and I REALIZED MY ONLY SET OF KEYS ARE IN THE TRUNK!!!!!!! H E L P !

 

Open the bonnet, attach some sort of power supply at the +ve feed to the fusebox, then use the dash button to pop the boot. Then get a spare key, even if it's only a 'dumb' copy with no electronics that can open the locks.