I ordered a CTEK MXS 5.0 and it will be arriving within a day or two. Just in time too, I haven't driven my new F Type for a week and got a dash display yesterday to start the engine as the battery is low.
The owners manual for the car states that it has an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) type battery.

The instructions for the CTEK for selecting the charging program state: Normal battery program 14.4V/4.3A. Use for WET batteries, Ca/Ca, MF, GEL batteries and many AGM
batteries.
But the instruction go on to say under options: AGM option Use for charging most AGM batteries like Optima and Odyssey.

So which program and option is correct for the Jaguar ?
Thanks

 

I use the AGM setting. I have no battery issues having done that.

 

I agree with Tomasag regarding the CTEK in AGM mode..
BUT.....
why would your battery be low after sitting for just a week?
was it not driven much before then either?
is the red triangle light (mid dashboard) remaining on?
is tyour battery old and getting ready to be replaced?

 

I use the AGM mode

 

The battery low indicator seems to come on when the battery is just a small amount off fully charged. Lots of things can lead to the battery being a bit off charge. Starting the car for a short journey, or maybe just to move it on the drive, takes a fair bit out. Problem is, the starting uses a bit of battery, and when you stop the engine it can take 15 minutes for systems to shut down (when the red triangle goes out) During this time there is quite a drain going on. Also, as above, do look and make sure the red triangle IS going out after 15 mins. If it isn't, it probably means a dealer has plugged into the OBD port and not done a hard reset on the battery. Happens frequently it seems. You then need to disconnect the earth lead of the battery, wait a minute,. then reconnect. Have the key to hand as the alarm will go off! Also, you'll need to reset the windows for one touch operation and reset the clock. Batteries are a nuisance on this car.

 

Most of the reports I've seen have been from a smog test, not a dealer visit.

 

The car is brand new with only a couple hundred miles on the clock. I may have run the battery down a little from sitting in the garage and going through some of the set up and preference features with the ignition on. I have noticed that the red triangle/emergency flasher button does go off after a few minutes. I took it for a short drive to town yesterday but I'll install the CTEK device and put a good charge on the battery this weekend and then keep it plugged in. The car isn't a daily driver hence my decision to buy the CTEK device.

Even my Mazda CX 5 which only gets driven about 3 times a week and for short trips has an issue with battery drain. I have one of those Harbor Freight battery chargers and every few weeks I put it on a trickle charge and it goes for 8-10 hours to fully top off the battery.

Thanks for the answer regarding the settings, I will use the AGM mode.

 

I've read that you need to drive for about 20 minutes to replace what you've taken out of the battery by starting the car. If that's true, then short journeys will always end in voltage deficit. Can anyone knowledgeable confirm or deny this?

 

Wouldn't claim to be knowledgeable, but I was told I had to drive it for 30 mins to restore the battery. Remember though, Each time it shuts down it takes the top off the charge! So without a Ctek or something similar (I use Optimate) you will always leave the car not fully charged. Another thing I was told regarding my XF, so probably applies to the F Type as well, is that it shuts down more slowly, and uses more juice, if you only do a single lock - you should always double lock. Unless you're on a ferry of course!

 

My daily drive to work in my '10 XKR is under 5 miles and takes around 15 minutes. I don't tend to do many longer trips and don't need to use a battery maintainer.

My only concession is to lock the car whenever it is parked as that shuts all of the computer modules down a lot sooner on the XK.

I have been doing the same trip for 15 years in various Jags. and once I started always locking my previous car ('07 XKR) my low voltage battery issues stopped so I put the CTEK away.

 

Like others, just use the standard battery size setting, and the AGM setting. I used this model on my 2017 this past winter with no issues. I did connect it with the eyelets to the battery connections in the trunk.

 

Ms. Stabenow, when you connected the CTEK to the battery connections in the trunk, were you able to do so without the battery losing connection temporarily ? I have been through the various steps needed after disconnecting and reconnecting a battery before like having to reset the windows, reprogram the radio stations and other features that may be lost and hope to avoid that if at all possible.

I have an electrical outlet on the wall next to where the car is parked so I have the option of connecting to the charge points under the hood, or using one of the Comfort Indicator Panel accessories and installing that in the hatch area and connected to the battery in the trunk.

 

Your best bet to preserve settings is to connect a "proper" charger or spare battery to the jump points. The CTEK won't provide power if there's no battery.

 

Scm, do you mean that I could use something like my Harbor Freight charger attached to the jump points under the hood and set to trickle charge while I am making the connection for the CTEK ring lugs to the battery cables in the trunk ?
Thanks

 

I don't know about that charger, I understand Jaguar dealerships connect a power supply to vehicles that way as a matter of course when doing software updates, but I don't know the spec of that supply - it may need to be regulated and smoothed. Maybe someone with more knowledge can give a definitive answer.

 

Why not just connect the CTEK to the front charger positions?
One ring connects to an existing threadeded stud - just add a washer and a suitable nut.
Attach the other ring connector to the flat charging blade.
Drill an appropriate size hole in the blade and attach the other ring connector with a nut/washer/bolt.
You should be able to replace the blade cover over your connection.
The cables from the CTEK fit neatly down the wheel well with the hood closed.

 

I always made sure my battery was fully charged then hooked up a dumb 25 amp battery charger up to the front terminals during a VAP tune flash. I now have a Ctek charger with a 25 amp power supply function for that purpose. Never had any issue.

 

I think that is exactly what OzXFR does.

 

Yep, did it years ago and it's worked a charm ever since.
The biggest hassle by far was cutting a slice out of the red cover for the cable/wire to fit into so the cover would close properly, that plastic is incredibly hard.
Originally I tucked the cables/leads/wires in behind the headlight but later I discovered that the pigtail plug fits nicely and securely just under the edge of the top of the fender such that all it takes to access it is to fish it out with my fingertip. That way I don't even have to open the hood to connect the battery tender and I can do it with the car fully locked.

 

Yes, on my F, MY2017, the large battery to the left, in the trunk, there was a bar that offered the perfect place for the positive eyelet. I couldn't find a readily available bolt that was the same thread size as that 'bar' for the positive side eyelet, so used a standard battery bolt and retapped the threads in that bar. For the negative eyelet, much initial consternation, exactly as you are concerned about. I consulted an electrical engineer friend who indicated that as long as the negative cable, on that post on the mid/center of the trunk floor stayed in contact with that post, all was good. I had everything ready and had husband use a piece of wood to hold down that negative cable while I loosened and removed the the nut, quickly slipped on the negative Cteck eyelet ring and remounted the bolt. Here is my post from Jag-lovers. The Red Ctek eyelet is mounted on the postive 'bar' just to the side of the red capped bottle (tire sealant).. the negative/black Ctek is shown in the second photo, mounted on the floor negative post.

https://forums.jag-lovers.com/t/usin...ender/397617/6

There are MANY differing opinions on how to mount this Ctek. From what I understand, those charging plates under the hood are for the smaller battery that just starts the car. The method I used was from a Certified Jaguar technician. He also suggested that I could leave the trunk lid 'ajar', once the Ctek is connected to the car and to the wall outlet, so as not to mash the cord. press the lock mechanism in the trunk, so the car thinks everything is closed, then drape the cord over the weatherstripping. There are others who scoffed at this saying that it ( pressing the lock mechanism) was unnecessary. The way I look at it, it is better to err on the side of caution, and THAT has no bad consequences. This car is way more advanced than my 69 EType, and I HATE automotive electrical issues. Please PM me or post if I can help you further!