So this morning the XFR won't start. I was driving it yesterday without any issues. I can unlock/lock the car. The lights all come on but when press the brake and push the start button a brake light indicator shows up on the dash and that's it. No crank or attempt to start. Any ideas on what the issue could be? The car battery was replaced 3.5 years ago.

The brake pedal is rock hard so I wondering if it could be the fact that the brake switch isn't activating?

 

Does it give you a little message in the dash display saying 'press brake to start'?

If the brake pedal is rock hard, I've had that before on my Land Rover. The pressure switch isn't detecting that you are pressing the brake pedal as you can't push it far enough. So it goes to ignition on rather than engine starting

If you keep the brake pedal depressed for a while after you turn off the engine (or press it a few times while engine is off) the vacuum boost is all used up and you are having to push the brake manually - which is hard

I found stamping very hard on the brake pedal just as you press the start button got enough pressure to get it to register

 

Thanks for the response. The Indy shop just called and stated it was a dead battery. I thought a battery would have lasted longer than 3 years but I guess not.

 

Just for info..... if the brakelights come on, then the switch is being pressed hard enough & the car should start.

 

Glad you solved it. As you'll know reading the forum - always start with the battery!

And yes John is right that you can check for a brake light to confirm pedal pressing - although you mentioned a brake light on the dash which prob just indicating the e-brake is applied.

Happy motoring!

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Glad to hear it was an easy fix too!
Hate to see an XFR stuck in the shop.
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Yes, modern batteries do seem to fail suddenly with no warning. In the past a battery nearing the end of its life would slowly get worse - with steadily decreased cranking speed when starting, so you had plenty of warning of the need for a replacement. Now it seems you can go immediately from no trouble at all one day to a completely dead battery the next day.
This has happened to me before and I now carry a portable lithium battery jump starter pack in my car at all times in the hope that it'll get the car started if the car's battery suddenly fails.

 

I was sitting in car, waiting on results of my COVID test, with radio on. After approx. 10 mins I got the message "Start the engine or the radio will shut off in 3 mins to avoid a dead battery.

What would be a reasonable amount of time, in this situation, to expect the radio to play before killing the battery?

 

The electrics eat batteries fast. Even on a fully charged battery that warning seems to come on quickly. I'm not sure if it is triggered by low voltage or whether it just gives some time like 20 mins before warning you.
I'd have thought you should get several hours on radio. But don't forget you prob have a lot of other modules running too, maybe the fan, some lights etc. So that would shorten the duration