Ok, so the big freeze has hit in Canada, -35 yesterday without the windchill, my 04 3.0 S-Type sits most of the day apart from my 5 minute commute, block heater plugged in overnight. So yesterday morning started first time but all the dash lights went crazy, so left it for 10 seconds and switched off the engine and tried to restart, would not crank, just clicked. Charged the battery last night and started first time, although got a Hand Brake fault light. Took it for a 20 minute drive, no other issues aprt from hand brake fault light. Left her in the garage ovenight, not heated so stil had the block heater on. Started first time this morning, but now have the handbrake fault and gearbox fault light. It was real stiff getting into reverse gear this morning, but no real issues after that.

I am planning to change the battery as a matter of course, do you think this will solve my issues? Or do I need to look deeper?

Thanks

 

Any battery may flatten if you only do 5 mins commute and car sits very cold otherwise - right?

You might clear the pbrake issue by following the forum sticky about the EPB re-calibration

 

Wow that is cold! Seems like a lot of things would freeze in place.For your weather conditions don't they recommend a certain weight gear lube as they would engine oil? I would guess that if you drove for a hour or so and get things thawed out,that everything may clear up??
I bet that it is just beautiful outside! Pictures?

 

I'd get the new battery and take it from there, it may be that simple.

-35 will play havoc with the battery.

 

Well, the chill might have hit Calgary, but we had +11 here yesterday near Montreal.

Yes, your battery is toast.

 

I would agree with the battery here. I had the same issues with mine right after I got it. The first winter it went though was rough. Wouldn't like to start, had to charge it all the time, etc. Got a new battery and all has been well since! Yesterday morning was around
-25 here in Winnipeg and she started right up! Also, all those faults are most likely a bad battery as I have to park on the street here and I have never had an issue with the park brake or trans or anything for that matter freezing up. Heck, last winter she started after sitting out for a week at -45! I did get the dash to light up like a christmas tree, but once she warmed up and I restarted, everything went away and ran perfect!

 

So its defnitely the battery, went outside to go home for lunch and truned the key - nothin........

So my problem is, I walked home (its warmed up to minus 15 now...) grabbed a couple of tools and came back to disconnect the old one and grab a new replacement. Disconnected the old battery and tried to remove it, I was having trouble getting the clamp off, so decided I would be better off with a different wrench, so I shut the trunk lid.............. went home and grabbed the new wrench and guess what - how the hell do I get into the trunk without the battery connected???????????

 

You may well have a lock on the trunk that you've never used.

Failing that, you can get in through the rear seats.

(Though if you had an STR you'd have to disassemble them. Posts about it somewhere..... but it's pretty obvious, just keep undoing things)

 

Put the key in the hole and turn. It's right under the letter 'u' in Jaguar.

 

Thanks Mikey, did not even realise there was a key hole under there......

 

Well got the new battery in, $191 seems a little steep, especially for one of NAPA's own brand..... should have enough power to light our Christmas lights with those cranking amps! Seems to have fixed all the issues, except the parking brake, but I guess I will give it time and see if it rectifies itself.

Thanks for your help guys

 

Glad to hear you got going again, you should check that the parking brake is not partially applied or your brakes will be the warmest things in Calgary.

 

*******. It was only 5 in Quebec and we had freaking freezing rain.

 

you have to reset the parking brake. look in your manual or do a search here. I am sorry I cannot post the link for you but it is here.

 

Here you go,

Electronic Park Brake (EPB)
Re-Calibration Procedure
2003 MY-ON
S-TYPE
M44998-ON

Issue:
On some 2003 MY-on S-TYPE vehicles, a customer may report a concern of premature
parking brake pad wear or the brakes binding. This condition can result if the electronic
park brake (EPB) system is not re-calibrated after the removal of the rear brake callipers
to replace the brake pads.
Action:
Should a customer express concern regarding the above, refer to the calibration
procedure detailed in this bulletin.
1. Reset the EB module:
a. Switch off the ignition.
b. Disconnect the battery for 30 seconds. For additional information, refer to STYPE
Workshop Manual Section 414-01.
c. Reconnect the battery.
2. Start the engine.
3. Firmly apply and release the foot brake five times.
4. Confirm that the message ˜NOT CALIBRATED" or ˜APPLY FOOT AND PARK
BRAKE" is displayed on the instrument cluster message centre. This indicates that
the parking brake is in calibration mode.
5. Lightly press the foot brake pedal.
6. Apply the parking brake by using the EB switch.
7. Release the parking brake.
8. Release the foot brake.
9. Confirm that the brake warning lamp is no longer illuminated on the instrument
pack and that the ˜NOT CALIBRATED" message is no longer displayed in the
message centre.
10. Apply and release the EPB five times to ensure no error is present.

Good Luck.

 

Thanks again for your help, will complete the reset when I get home tonight, should not be a problem seeing as though its warmed up to an almost balmy -12