My 2009 XJ8 was starting and driving great until this Morning when I tried to open the glove box the screen said Valet mode, pressing the valet button does nothing, locking and unlocking the car manually does nothing, I can open the trunk with the remote, the lock and unlock feature on the fob has stopped working a while ago so I use the manual keys all the time, battery is fine I can't figure out how it got into Valet mode but I would like to get it out of Valet mode so I can get into the glove box! Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks
Chris in LA

 

Does the luggage remote Unlock work? That one should cancel the valet mode too.

I got into the valet mode myself couple of times when fishing for stuff under the dash and accidentally leaning against the valet button.
Pressing the valet button does nothing because that would provide a valet the access to your glovebox and trunk, i.e. it would defy the purpose of the valet mode.

So, in risk to suggestion the obvious: IMO, the non-functional Unlock on the key fob is what you need to solve.

Why?
IMO the Valet mode is unlocked EXCLUSIVELY by the remote Unlock on the key fob. Keep in mind, you're not supposed to hand the key fob to the valet. You're supposed to hand over the (usually green) valet key. As far as I know that one is just that: a plain non-electronic key. (Don't worry, I never got one with my car either.)

I would get a new key fob and pair it with the car. You only need the remote half of the key fob only, i.e. the one without the blade: https://www.ebay.com/itm/163502766321 (The other half contains the immobilizer transmitter rod, which is programmed to your car's ignition by a dealer... I think...?)
I suspect you can find one for less than what I got mine for, just make sure you get one operating on the frequency of your region: US-spec cars work with 315 MHz, Euro-spec cars work with 433 MHz. (This also applies to the garage door opener within the roof console.)

Owner's manual: