Where is the emergency key slot for when the key fob battery dies? I remember the XF used to have it under the trunk release button near the drivers left knee.

 

This is yet another subject where the Owner's Handbook is rather vague. I think the principle remains the same for the XJ, but where the XF had that dedicated slot, with the XJ you hold the "Smart Key" close to the auxiliary switch pack (below the fog light switch) and start the car.

As I recall in my 2009 XF, the slot was just a holder; proximity was important, but there was no electrical contact.

 

thanks. ill have a talk with my dealer about this when i take it in for service

 

The emergency key slot is in the handle of the driver's door. You just pull on the cover beside the handle (to the right of the actual handle), and it easily comes out and then you will see the key hole in it.

 

thank you. I already know about that one.

Im talking about the emergency slot to start the engine.

As Diablo said, it might just be under the trunk button, no slot, just proximity

 

Sorry I misunderstood. I do not think there is any emergency key slot to start the engine in that car. My keyfob was dropped in the water by a valet parking attendant last June. It completely broke the key fob (major short circuit). I put the key fob on the dash area 1) where the parking button is and 2) where the start button is, and it did not work both times as the key fob was completely broken. I guess it could work if you have a little bit of battery left in your key fob. Otherwise it is just easier to change the battery in the key fob. For me Jaguar came to tow the car in less than 2 hours after I called the 1800 number and they replaced the key fob with a new one. They did not charge anything even though it was not the fault of the car, but the fault of the valet parking attendant. It was great service, much better than I used to get with my 7 series BMW.

 

thats what I was afraid of. thats a horrible user experience.

in my infiniti when the battery died, i put the key in the slot and started the car.

id love to know which monkey at jaguar thought this would be a great idea to not have a slot

 

Wanting a definitive answer whether or not the car will start with lifeless Smart Key, I removed the battery from the key fob and tried to start the car by placing the key fob as shown in the Owner's Handbook - the car will NOT start.

To be fair, the Handbook says nothing about starting the car - the procedure is used to deactivate the alarm if the car was unlocked using the emergency key. Looking at my old XF Handbook, the procedure is used for the same function (though XF has a docking slot).

It might be a good idea to keep a couple of spare batteries in the glove box to save yourself a major inconvenience, as it's been my experience that the battery doesn't last long after the "Smart Key Battery Low" message flashes. Last time I saw the warning, I had enough time to stop to pick up a fresh battery; returning from the store there was just enough juice to unlock the car but not enough to start it.

The Smart Key activates a number of systems when the car is unlocked; a diminished capacity battery in the fob may have some other unwanted consequences. About a day or two before the low battery warning flashed, my backup camera image and navigation image disappeared (the overlays were still visible). After replacing the battery, the problem was resolved - perhaps this was just a coincidence, but maybe not.

 

I was able to talk my mother through this issue while reading these forums. Since there wasn't a definitive answer here I thought I would provide one for future jaguar owners in distress.

With a totally dead key fob we were able to place the fob into a slot by the drivers left leg. With the fob in this compartment the car will start. Not sure if the car is looking for an rfid chip in the fob or just the physical presence in the slot alone but it worked.

 

JJM 10 02 34 131 - XJ Owner?s Handbook 2013 (Issue 1) | TOPIxIf this was helpful, please press at the bottom right.

Stuart

 

Wernerj21 I do not believe your Mother ‘has’ a Jaguar X351 or XJ as the IS NO KEY ‘SLOT’ on an XJ. I believe only on the XF but haven’t seen (In person) the other models (Besides XF & XJ) around those years.

I think they should’ve stuck with it unless there were ‘unforeseen’ security issues. (Like could someone else’s ‘dead’ clamshell fob start her XF?

 

YOU LITERALLY SAVE OUR LIFES today! Thank you for posting that tip! We were stranded on the side of the road for 2h at night, our smart key decided to stop working and miraculously found this post after trying to call everyone (service included) i could for help. And it worked 🥲 thank you!!!

 

With the problems you have had PLEASE make sure you have 2 operating keys/FOBS. So many buy these cars used with one key and then wait until disaster strikes!
Glad to see your up and running with a zero cost fix too.
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One more thing ... Keep a spare CR2032 battery for your Smartkey in your glove box. Make sure it's a brand name with a "Best Before" date.

 

Another great suggestion Stuart!
These small things can prevent major problems down the line.
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There are at least four other X351-specific "tricks" that you should learn and commit to memory:

• how to open the trunk with a dead battery (covered in a "sticky")
• proper jump-starting procedures
• jacking up the car without seriously damaging it
• shifting the transmission of an electrically-dead X351 into neutral so it can me moved or towed

You might consider flagging the appropriate pages in your owners manual for anyone else who may be driving your car. Failure to follow these procedures can be costly or worse.

 

Is this by the "Emergency Park Release Mechanism"?

 

Yes that's it and thanks for posting that!
These little tips are wonderful to prevent a small issue from turning into a big cluster!
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