So I went to fill up a couple of days ago and when I pressed the button on the dash the fuel door would not open. I think it was stuck because it was a cold day. I had to ask my wife to gently pull the door while I was pushing the button on the dash and it opened. Is there a backup lever in the boot for this type of problem?

 

Don't recall seeing anything when I pulled out the interior lining back there to do some work (LED tail light install). I've had it in other cars, so maybe its hidden and I missed it?

 

Wow...that's not good. I am surprised that Jag didn't put in an emergency backup lever for the fuel door.

 

Found this in the service manual:

"The fuel filler is electrically locked by a motor located on the fuel flap housing. The flap is locked when the vehicle is locked and alarmed and can be released by pressing the fuel flap release switch located in the auxiliary lighting switch."

Maybe because its tied into the electrical and alarm system, they didn't include a manual release, or maybe it just doesn't get that cold in Great Britain, so they didn't think about it.

What I found funny is the paragraph just before the one I quoted above:

"The liftgate latch is attached to the bottom of the liftgate. The latch can be released electrically by pressing the interior release button located in the auxiliary lighting switch, the exterior release button located in the licence plate finisher or the liftgate release button on the Smart Key. On North American Specification (NAS) vehicles an emergency release cable is attached to the latch. This allows the latch to be manually opened by pulling a handle located in the liftgate interior trim."

Guess us Yanks carry more kidnap victims around in our trunks/boots than the Brits do.

 

I would have thought South America, but then I watch too many movies.

 

I vote for Central America.

 

I recall this to be a problem on my X350 and if you removed the carpet piece in the trunk, there was a lever you could pull to release.

As you said, the cold weather could have impacted it, especially if wet, whereas the door could have been frozen but the electronics are fine.
Hopefully this was the case.

 

Yes and why for God sakes? We can't get a set of golf clubs in there. How are we supposed to fit in? I get it on the XJ's but the XK's? But I guess if you can get 20 clowns in a VW beetle.....

 

I can get 2 sets in the boot but do not use cart bags.

 

I've assumed that the black looped cable behind the plastic grill on the right side of the boot interior was the fuel door release. I've never tried it, but now I think it may be something to do with the convertible top, as it's right there with all the pump and such....

 

Yep, that's a release for the tonneau cover.

 

I'd be fearful of pulling on any cable release in the boot for fear of the emergency evacuation chute may be deployed.....

 

Upon closer inspection, I think i found the culprit. The dongle was interfering with the trigger that releases the fuel door. I moved it to a better spot and it opens perfectly now.

 

Damn dongles!

 

Old story - When I owned my 04 XJR, my better half and I lived in Chicago and wintered in Naples Fl. We would drive the XJR to Fl and back. I always wanted to start the trip with a clean car. One year we left Chicago in weather that was below zero and a full tank of gas. When we got to Cairo, IL about 350 miles south, the temp had risen to about 15 degrees, still way below freezing. Couldn't open the gas filler flap. spent much time finding an indoor garage where we could go to work on the problem.

After a good 45 minutes of fiddling around trying to locate an auxiliary opener; my better half said why not defrost the filler flap with a hair dryer. Opened suitcase already removed from trunk, extracted hair dryer, plugged in, melted ice, opened filler flap, unscrewed gas cap, filled up drove off after tipping garage owner $20 for use of his garage.

Two morals to this story: don't get car wet within 48 hours of venturing out on long road trip in weather described above. And, if you do, travel with smart better half equipped with hair dryer.