I recently posted under "is this the end of car"
So many issues on jag mechanic's diagnostic autologic report.
One said quote "battery voltage was out of range" B1676
I was told the car is not happy when battery has issues and can throw up many codes.
I had battery checked by auto store where it was bought less than one year ago and they say it is good.
I write the mechanic and tell him what transpired and the best he could write is quote "Curious. Only time will tell"

What the heck?
a) What does he mean?
b) Would a kosha mechanic come up with such a ridiculous answer?

I know I only paid $115 for the report, but I would have thought this might buy me some answers?

Anyone have an opinion?

 

There are several archived posts on the Lead Calcium battery that were installed on these cars when new, including how to find the manufacture date for your battery. If it is 9 or ten years old, start with the battery, but you want a lead calcium. I bought mine at Home Depot of all places. The Varta battery the cars came with are not available in the US.

Start with checking the battery to see what is in the car. Do not get an AGM or regular lead acid, voltage will not be high enough.

 

Mike
How long have you had the Exide battery from HD? I'm thinking the dealer supplied interstate/Jaguar battery I purchased 2 years ago is already shot $$$$. It won't hold a charge over 2 nights, when the temp drops to 40F. Charging is at 13.8-14+ at idle. Service manager said the dealer interstates are eaten up by the jags, and not lasting very long. As stated by earlier posts the Exide sold at HD is a silver CALCIUM similar to the original Jag/varta batteries and can tolerate the high charge and demand of the X350's much better. I work at HD and walk by that battery every day. Boy do I miss Varta batteries!!
Also, hows the fit of the Exide?

 

Just understand, Interstate, which was prior to 2007 a calcium based plate, after 2007 when purchased by Johnson Controls switched to JC's patented PowerGrid plate which is not a calcium based item. The Exide is in fact a lead-calcium-tin composition specifically designed for charging voltages in those vehicles that were originally specified for silver-calcium. Fitment for the L5-49X is exact, and I have had one in mine for a couple years now.

 

Thanks Box. Does 13.6-14v sound normal? I'll pick up an Exide at work today.

 

Voltage will depend on the load. The maximum voltage for the X350~X358 series can run up to 14.7v, which is too much for both lead-antimony and AGM designs. Look at the side of the battery at HD and you will find it's build date. Select the newest build date if more than a couple are there.

 

My Exide was a direct replacement.

I have had it for just over a year. No problems yet. Then again, in south Louisiana, it seldom gets down to 40 degrees and when it does it worms up during the day.

 

Why would the mechanic not bother to explain this unless he didn't know.
I bought this battery from Autozone. They said it was correct.
Where can I find the specs necessary for the battery for a 2004 XJ8 VP?
I can read the voltage at rest and under load and compare perhaps?

 

Gentlemen this old gal did some research and once again it seems the testosterone is clouding common sense.
I was getting B1676 Battery voltage out of range.
I took to place I bought battery not 1 yr prior and they say it is good. I write the mechanic who said everything emanates from bad battery.
Yet when I tell him the battery shop says everything is good the best he could come up with is quote "Curious. Only time will tell"
When I pointed out the lack of a scientific response he simply ignores me.
So I check with a dealer and the battery I have is correct for my 2004 XJ8 VDP. And there is no difference between models as some have suggested in other posts.
For reference it is an H8 with 825 CCA.
Now the next question must be.
Is there any reason not to believe Jag dealership?
Are they aware you guys talk about Calcium vs Magnesium and every other vitamin.
You are all too funny.

 

If you don't understand battery technology, then you can have the same confusion you seem to have. Jaguar specification brochures in fact specify the type of battery to be used. There is more to selection than size and CCA. Plate technology determines the voltages at which a battery is to be charged. Jaguar uses elevated voltages from the regulator to support calcium technology batteries which exhibit much longer life properties than standard lead-antimony designs. However, these elevated voltages will boil off and overheat both standard lead-antimony or AGM designs.

 

Are you saying that the H8 battery that dealer says is correct actually has a calcium plate or calcium technology which is not present in a normal H8?

 

In 1997, Ford introduced an extended life battery technology in their vehicles using plates with calcium, which has some unique properties to reduce sulfating. Jaguar, at that time owned by Ford, introduced this technology starting with the S model in 2001, and carried over into the new XJ8 model line in 2003 models. This technology was adopted by a number of European manufacturers like Benz and BMW. However, batteries with calcium coated plates require higher voltages than regular lead-antimony alloy designs.

I have no idea what a Parts Manager may decide to purchase for his inventory, but due to the number of battery manufacturers out there today, since Johnson Controls has been cornering the market the last 2 decades, leaves few choices to obtain the proper battery design for the XJ8. Just because it is a H8/L5/Group 49 battery size, doesn't presuppose it has calcium alloy plates. In the USA, Varta (the primary vendor for Jaguar, and calcium based plates) is not available due to licensing and cannot be sold in US markets. TSB's from Jaguar in 2003~2006 recommended for US markets batteries produced by Interstate, and at that time was also calcium alloys, after Johnson Controls purchased Interstate, no longer have this technology in them.

I do know Exide produces the Global Extreme, and Bosch the S5 series which both calcium based plates are fairly available, and as I understand it, Ford's Motorcraft division still sells a battery with calcium based plates. I would contact the Parts Department where you are seeking to purchase from ,and ask them the manufacturer and model to determine the answer to your question.

 

I have contacted so many.
Battery manufacturers, dealerships, Jag HQ in UK and USA.
Most have been helpful.
It should be no surprise that neither of the Jag HQs have tried to help even thought they acknowledge receipt of enquiry.

Two companies produce all the batteries in US.
East Penn and Johnson Controls.
Johnson confirm they do not make a silver calcium.
East Penn refused to let an expert answer. I will try another avenue.

Jag battery is simply a 'branded' battery called Interstate. As are all different named batteries.
Exide have still not returned calls.
A very helpful Interstate dealer has this to say
quote
"Here are a few quick notes/ideas that I came up w/ after reading your notes:
- Silver calcium batteries do indeed operate best under a higher charging voltage (14.4V-15V) and if your charging system is putting out that much voltage, silver calcium would be the way to go (if possible).
- Most alternators are considered "bad" if they are putting out more than 14.5V which makes sense as anything higher than that does "burn out" standard liquid lead acid batteries. I do not know if the same is true for burning out AGM batteries as well, but quick research confirms that to be the case (your research seems to confirm the same).
- If Exide batteries do typically perform better @ higher charging voltages than other batteries we *may* be in luck as I do carry Exide batteries (branded as Interstate of course!) that may be worth a shot. Unfortunately though I can not say w/ any confidence that ours would actually perform like it should in your vehicle.
- This is a dumb question, but do you know if there is a way to replace or rework the alternator/charging system to where it isn't putting out so much voltage? I realize toning down the alternator voltage could lead to a whole host of other problems, but that may be something worth discussing w/ a "expert" Jaguar mechanic?
- Would it be possible to bring me the Autozone battery that has started acting up? While I am limited in what I can do here, I can usually open up the battery to access the cells to see if the liquid inside is in fact burned out (it will have a dark discoloration rather than being clear). That wouldn't really solve your problem but would at least confirm the battery isn't good like Autozone said it was.

What do the experts here say?
I really really appreciate the help.

How come my issue has not occurred before with say Merc or BMW cars which one person says were fitted with the same battery.
I also found instances of people talking about Ford Focus having silver calcium.
So many questions.

 

Exide is not a Johnson Controls company, they are arch-rivals in the battery industry. Interstate is owned by Johnson Controls and no longer use calcium based plates, they use the patented Johnson Control's "PowerGrid" plates, which do not utilize calcium.

 

This thread is a very interesting read--I never knew that Jag specified Calcium plate batteries or why the original Varta lasted so long. In 2013 I went to the Jag dealer and was sold an Interstate battery. I only replaced the Varta because everyone said 7 years was the end of life for the OE battery.

With almost 5 years on the Interstate, I am starting to see occasional glitches. If the car sits in the cold (50 F) more than 3 days I get a "cruise unavailable" on startup. Cranking is fine, but it appears the voltage is falling a bit low for that module. After sitting for a weekend I measure 12.3 V at the battery terminals, indicating approx 70% charge.

The Interstate is guaranteed for 6 years, but maybe I'll pick up an Exide before the winter weather really sets in (not that this garage queen XJ sits outside in the snow).

 

You guys in the US are not lucky not having the calcium Varta's supllied like here in Europe!
When I was not yet aware of the calcium battery issue on X350's, I replaced the original Jaguar (so, calcium) battery on the 2004 X350 I just purchased because it was 9 years old at the time and I knew that X350's were very sensitive to failing batteries.
Thinking that it would be a wise upgrading, I then purchased an AGM Varta of the same capacity.
I learned recently that the new owner of the car (that I sold 2 years ago) had many electrical issues apparently coming from the AGM battery.
So beware of the need to secure the higher voltage of a calcium battery (that AGM is not).
Incidentally, I kept the original old battery as a spare, still being maintained with an intelligent charger. It looks in super condition, keeping high voltage...