I have a 2000 XJR. The last time I went to move the car, it was very difficult to start, low battery. So, once she was running, we went for a nice drive, as I like to do regularly to keep her running. Once I parked her, the next start required a jump. Which was fun since the boot is electric. Once the car was running another drive and then back in to the garage and on to the trickle charger, where she was parked.

This time, the charger shows the battery has a full charge, but NOTHING in the car is working. No lights, no starter, nothing.

Anyone have any ideas? Is this common?

 

When I put my pick-up's battery on the charger, it will show full charge at first and then move on down and show that it is low. Batteries with a bad cell can show a full charge, but they won't start the car. First pull the battery cables off of the battery and clean the batt terminals and the cable connections. Bad battery connections can give the symtoms that you have.

 

Having the battery tested is a good thing and would recommend that you take it to AutoZone, Sears, PepBoys or the like to have it tested properly. If the battery tests good you should check the power supply path to the rest of the car. I am attaching a oneline for your car that might help. http://www.gusglikas.com/images/Auto.../jagxj2000.pdf

 

Comaaz, a battery with a bad cell will exhibit the situation that you are seeing. The easy check that you can do at home is to take a battery that has a "full charge", connect a multimeter across it and then turn on just your headlights. You should see the battery drop by about 0.1 VDC. Anything more than that and you are looking at potential problems. From there you can attempt to start the car. If the battery drops to less than 11.0 VDC, then you have a bad cell (especially if it drops to something under 9.0 VDC). If the battery remains up near 12.0 VDC when starting the car, then you are more than likely looking at a cable issue, not a battery issue.

 

Thanks gang! Sounds like it probably really is the battery. I will head down that road first. I am in Arizona and have had the battery a number of years now. I just wanted to rule out any strange Jaguar-ism.