I bought a 2004 XJR in March of 2014 - it had 36,000 miles on it - and what looks like the original battery. It was garaged through the winter, and didn't get out much. I tried to take it out on dry days every week or so, but then I let it go for about 3 weeks (lots of snow, salt and rain), and when I did go to drive it, the battery wasn't strong enough to start the car.


After jump starting it and driving it, it seems fine for the last 2 weeks, but now I'm worrying that the battery is weak and on its way out - after 11 years. They use big beefy batteries in XJs - but I don't think I've ever run on an 11 year old battery on any other car. I also have an '03 X-type, which had its original battery for 9+ years (also a record) before I had to replace it.


So how many of you folks are running on a 10+ year old battery?

 

The original battery in mine died in the middle of winter, at 8-1/2 years old. Had a CTek battery tender hooked up to it and the cold still killed it.

11 year old battery is very much on borrowed time, especially after a big discharge.

 

+1 on the above and defo time for a change I'd say
Even worse if you're going to be doing any amount of short / start/stop journeys, be sure to kill it off quickly
Perhaps bite the bullet get it changed and forget about it......

 

Our '04 was 9 years old when we purchased it and it still had the original Varta battery. I replaced it preemptively because I suspected some phantom trouble codes were due to insufficient battery voltage or current under load.

Jaguar saloons require a strong, healthy battery, so I agree with Cambo and Jim that you're on borrowed time. It stinks to have to replace a battery while traveling (with whatever brand you can find, usually at an inflated price). Better to do your research, shop around for a good price, and replace the battery at the time and place of your own choosing.

Cheers,

Don

 

 

I know that my battery for the '05 XJ8, bought in 2009 and now at 40,000 miles, is probably on it's way out. I keep it on a battery tender from Harbor Freight because we don't use it often. I have a 2001 Honda S2000 (#82), 10,000 miles, also. Both batteries are still strong and I hope they stay that way for more years. When they start to show problematic weakness, I will replace them. I guess I will be that old guy who drives around in a near mint classic car.

 

Mine had the original silver Varta, badged Jaguar, just under ten years old. I was not using it much through winter, and it went too flat to start the car after about six weeks.

The Varta part no has changed, I emailed them for the new number (mine is the 100AH version) H3. It is quite long and heavy.

My local motor factor quoted £120 but I got one online for £84

 

When I bought mine in July 2012 the battery was from march 2006

I bought a new one last year even though it still worked fine

The battery in my XJR6 died on the Ctek charger just after it was 3 years old it might have been recoverable because the Ctek charger died (Got a new one under warranty)

I had just sold the car to a guy in Tasmania that week and was driving it there to be delivered didn't want to take any risks bought a new one

I thought I would take the new one from the XJR6 swap it with the X350 and that way have a new battery again no such luck X350 battery is huge 1000 cca XJR6 800

 

I should look into a new battery. Mine is 9 years old and I keep getting random cruise not available and DSC fault warnings if I turn the key on and let it sit before starting.

 

I consider myself lucky if I get five years out of a battery, particularly for a Jag.

 

I replaced the factory original battery on my 04 XJ-VDP when the car was only a couple years old when it started giving me random electrical problems. I'm still running on the replacement battery with no apparent issues, which I got at the time from a Jag dealer. The car has ~60k miles on it now. I'm guessing the battery will need replacement soon.

 

Battery replaced this afternoon. No warning lights so far. The car starts much quicker now. It even seems to shift better, but that might be my imagination.

 

Exactly what happened to mine before battery died with a full boot ( trunk) full of luggage why did they not put a jump start point under the bonnet ( hood )