The battery is completely dead. Pushing on the trunk opening switch on the dash and the round opening button on the trunk lid has no response. Inserting key and turning it only moved less than 20 degrees and trunk does not release.

Any advice on how to open the trunk to replace the battery? TIA.

 

Take off rear plate using a long thin screwdriver insert it into one of the holes don't remember which one on the right hand side then work the latch it will pop open jrb53

 

Spray WD-40 into the lock and keep working the key. It will free up and at 90 degrees rotation the trunk will open.
It is common for them not to work correctly due to long periods between uses.

 

If you have the option, use another battery to "jump" the Jag, hook cables to a ground and to the battery post on the firewall. It might give you enough juice to trip the trunk lock. Barring that, and if the lock doesn't work, you might have to go the drastic route. I'm not sure if you can actually get to the latch from one of the existing screw holes for the rear plate. There's a post showing the details somewhere, but you can carefully drill a hole just offset of center behind the plate, and easily reach the catch from there. Afterwards, put some paint around the hole to help prevent rust, and put a grommet back over it. Then you always have an emergency method to get back in. I had to do this myself, and keep the small screwdriver in my glove box just in case.

 

Drill a hole as you intersect the 2 lines from the outer edge of the plate mounting slots . Round shafted Phillips screwdriver . The lever has to go to the right

 

This from the S-Type forum section.

 

Hi jrb53:

Can you be more specific about the exact location of the rear plate? Better still, attaching a picture would be worth a thousand words. Thanks!

 

Can you tell me exactly where is the battery post located on the firewall?
Better still, positing a picture would be worth a thousand words. Thanks!

 

The positive has that rubber cap over it, the single wire that's mounted just beneath the cover. You can ground it wherever, but should only need to hook up for a moment or two while you press the button.




EDIT: I'm not sure offhand if the location is different between the XJR and XJ8, but here's a video on youtube from a 98 XJ8

 

Here's an idea of the layout of the release mechanism guts behind the license plate panel (don't judge me, it was a wrecked junkyard x308 at the local pick n pull)

 

Also, here's a link showing the drilling procedure in a last-ditch scenario.

X300 Emergency boot (trunk) access ~ Jaguar Vanden Plas "The cats meow"

It's for the X300 not the X308, but the procedure works just fine. As long as you're in the vicinity you should be good, just takes a minute of fiddling with your small screwdriver to find the release but once you do, it pops right open. It's what I had to do..

 

Before you go drilling do exactly what Avern1 says above. I had a similar problem with the key lock seized solid and wouldn't rotate at all, after 20-30mins of spraying WD40 in the key hole and wiggling the key back and forth it eventually freed up enough to unlock.

 

From a Jack Nicholson movie , The Shining , with the ax and smile . " Ohhhhhhhhhh , there's the bunny "

 

As stated in previous post regarding stuck boot lid locks, I have very little sympathy for those when the locks seize from lack of use.

I use my key in ALL the keyholes on ALL my cars a few times every month just to make sure they work. It does not take much time!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT SURE SAVES TIME!!!!!!!!!!

bob

 

Just in case, you should turn the key clockwise. If you can turn the key ~20 degrees, it means the cylinder is not seized. After that initial easy turn, there is quite a bit of a resistance in further turn to unlock. Try pushing a bit harder but judge the force so you don't brake the key.

 

Thanks to everybody for offering various suggestions.

I tried the WD40 route and managed to open the trunk after 4 squirts in about 10 minutes, but then I was unable to return the key to the vertical position to remove the key. Took another 5 minutes of wiggling the key clockwise and counter-clockwise gently to finally able to take the key out.

If the above didn't work, I would attach a spare battery positive pole to one of 3 positive studs in the engine compartment to enable the trunk switches to operate.

Thanks again everybody!

 

Thanks for letting us know. Glad to hear you got it resolved.