My 2004 XJR had a dead battery from sitting over 3 months.

So I was able to jump start it. I left the key in ignition to keep it running to charge the battery. I used my spare key to lock the door.

Now my spare key won't unlock the door and I am stuck. I can turn the lock- i can hear it trying to unlock. But security system would just beep and not allow it to unlock.

Is there anyway I can unlock the doors?

 

I presume you tried the actual metal key in the key hole in the handle?

 

I did.

I just got it to open. Instead of unlocking it turning clockwise, it needs to be turned counter clockwise with little bit force to unlock.

Silly me

 

I like happy endings!

 

I also have a 2004 XJR which a friend borrowed and brought back withthe key locked in ignition, doe not turn all functions off so drains the battery. Manage to unlock the trunk recharge the battery and drive it home but have a message of park brake failure which is probably what prevents me from being able to turn the key completely and remove it from ignition.

any idea what needs to be addressed? The parking brake had not been working for a while but I do not know how many buttons my friend tried.

Thanks

Jagride

 

The key may be stuck on the "shutter" in the ignition switch?
Is your key old and worn?
Might need to remove the ignition switch to get the key out but look up broken/stuck key removal tool?
Basically a thin metal blade you run in against the key to help push the shutter back out of the way to release the key. I have seen home made versions too as it's not anything special other than it must be thin and slide next to the key.
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Thank you for the quick reply. I will try that. Still think it is linked to the issue with the parking brake but removing the key would at least allow me to lock the car.
Thanks

 

A parking brake fault shouldn't stop the key being removed. The brake may just need resetting. There is a simple procedure to reset it but I cannot remember what it is.

 

Reset parking brake (and pretty much the rest of the car) by removing the battery cables, touching them briefly together, then reinstalling. Depending on how badly the battery was discharged, you may actually need a new battery. Low voltage, even a tenth of a volt low, will cause issues with the parking brake, cruise control, and other systems.

On my own car, I push the parking brake button down when I remove the key to keep it from setting if I know it's going to sit for a few days. Just out and about, I let it operate normally, but if it remains engaged, it sticks. I hear the motor run to release it, but the brake doesn't release until I rock the car a few feet back and forth, then it pops.

 

Poor Battery is often the cause the handbrake failure, there is very little to go wrong in these modules. You can access them by removing the few screws, if there are no heat spots, or broken components visible it will be your battery.

Be careful with batteries, dont get a cheap one, even the higher powered cheap batteries will not be as good. I bought a Lion Battery to use as a spare shop battery, but when you plug it in all the faults still appear.

To reset your handbrake, I turn off the engine and remove one of the plugs from the module. The restart engine with foot on brake pedal and apply the hand brake, this resets it to auto, if you have bought a cheap battery or your current one is on its way out, the problem will not go away.