Good morning. I'm sorry if this duplicates another thread, I am really, REALLY frustrated and what searching I could muster found nothing.

I was sick for several months and my S-Type just sat in my garage all that time. When I went to start it in March, it was dead. Not even any lights came on or was there any clicking sounds. I called my brother-in-law (a professional mechanic) to help me out. We got the car started using a small portable "jumping box" he used in his work. The car started with it.

It was after the start I noticed things after letting it idle for about half an hour. The lights in the footwells were flickering and there was a subtle pulsing dim-bright action with the instruments console. I pressed the accelerator a little, it revved, then dropped off like it was going to stall. I backed off, let it idle another half hour. Nothing changed with the lights. This time I pressed the gas and the car revved, then quit. I turned the key and it was dead again. No lights, nothing.
Oh, and before I forget, while the car was idling, the message center said "GEARBOX FAULT".

So. Is this just a case of a totally dead battery (a 4 year old Duralast AGM with a 3 year warranty) or am I facing something more serious? I really need this car to get to doctor's appointment and also find a job (I'm unemployed). Am I just going to have a $300 bill for a new battery, or are we talking 4 figures serious?

Thanks.

 

With what you have posted I would stay calm until you install a new battery.
Can you do any repairs? You should have put a meter on it and posted what voltage your seeing?
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Nah, I like to go straight to FullPanicMode. For added effect, I also like to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Saves all those intermediate steps.


Yes, please take a voltage reading. Try turning on the headlights or hitting the starter to put a load on the battery. Even if the reading is acceptable at rest, the voltage may drop off dramatically under load.

Was the battery connected all this time while sitting? Even with everything in sleep mode, the quiescent drain over several months may have been enough to kill the poor thing. And I don't mean just discharge it, but ruin the battery so it won't take or hold a proper charge.

With money tight, you MIGHT get away with giving that poor battery a proper charge. The alternator isn't really designed to do so. If you don't have a charger, most auto parts stores will do it for free. They can also test it for overall health.

 

Didn't think to grab a tester. The ones I have are meant for small electronics, but think I have a heavier duty one, someplace.

Thanks

 

A new, FULLY charged battery will resolve every issue mentioned.

 

Thanks, that is what I suspected. I'll just have to wait until I can get $300 together for a new AGM battery.

 

BTW... The Jaguar S-type's charging system is not really optimized for AGM type batteries. Get what you want, but the high output portion of the charging cycle does not last long enough to fully charge an AGM battery.

 

I picked an AGM battery when I bought this battery 4 years ago. One of the benefits I read about was they were supposed to hold their charge longer, if a car sat unused. Obviously I found the limits of it.

 

Post back as you should have an easy fix. At least I hope so!
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I will. I decided to follow S-Type Owner's recommendation and go with a regular ol' lead acid battery. I have my eye on a DieHard Gold from Adavnce Auto Parts. DieHards have always been reliable, my father used them and I did in my first few cars. I'll get to see if this independent DieHard company is of the same quality as when it was Sears.

It will probably be next week, when I get some more money.

 

Huzzah! Huzzah! It lives.

Finally had the money and I put a DieHard Gold battery in the car. That SOB weighs a ton, 50lbs. Nice to find that all the bolts I had undo were the same size, 5/16th.

Got it hooked up, immediately heard the security system start beeping. I climbed and it started like the champ it's always been.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.