For the 2nd time in as many weeks my 2007 XKR has a flat battery. This time, the car is in the garage with the rear end furthest from the door. As I Dont have a charger or jump leads long enough to reach to a car outside of the garage, I would like to push the car outside, but it can't be moved because of the electronic parking brake and the gear being in Park.

Can anyone provide any instructions on how I can release the brake and put it into neutral without being able to turn the ignition on?

Thanks

 

Your question interested me because I'm not yet entirely comfortable with Smartkeys and Electronic Parking Brakes for just this scenario.

The Owner's Handbook is no help but the Workshop Manual details the procedure.

The bad news is a special tool is required to release the EP Brake.



(click on the image to enlarge it)

There's no description of how this special tool works. It either simply shorts two pins to complete a circuit or it acts as a switch to trigger the EP brake Actuator. Unless it has its own power source, it will be useless in the event of a flat battery.

The alternative is to disconnect the parking brake cable from beneath the vehicle. I suspect this is not an option to you with the vehicle reversed into the garage?

Simplest solution has to be to take the battery off the vehicle and charge it.

As this is the second incident, a battery tender appears a good investment.

Graham

 

Workshop manual says:

However, the "manual interlock release tab" isn't described anywhere in the manual. I recall someone in an earlier thread saying there's a lever underneath the cupholder insert in the centre console, but I don't have a 4.2 model so I can't check.

 

There is nothing in the Owners manuals but the workshop manual says:

"The selector lever will remain locked until electrical power to the selector lever is restored. There is no emergency interlock solenoid release mechanism on the selector lever."

I think it is the later XK's that have a release mechanism under the cup holder.

 

Borrow a battery from another car. Use jumpers.

 

In the end I borrowed a charger and put enough charge into the battery to start the car, so problem solved for now.

I have seen some instructions on how to access a release switch underneath the cup holder, but these relate to later models of the XK. Obviously Jaguar decided to build this into the design rather than having to use a special tool (a bit like the 70's style electric aerial). It looks really easy to do on later models.

I'm looking to replace my battery and have been quoted £186 by my local dealer for a like for like OEM replacement. The problem is, battery technology has moved on, so I'm considering purchasing a bosch AGM type of battery instead, for the same price. My concern is the size and whether it is an exact replacement as my dealers weren't very helpful in suggesting any alternatives to the OEM battery, although they did confirm that newer models of the XK do use AGM batteries, but couldn't confirm if they would fit my model! The existing battery also has a vent pipe, but the new AGM types don't need this, so I assume I would just leave the vent pipe unattached.

The Bosch Silver 019AGM battery I'm looking at is also 95Am and 850 Amps rated, rather than the 90Am and 800Amps of the OEM Varta battery, but I assume this isn't a problem.

 

My 2007 is fitted with a Bosch Silver S4 013 800A 95Ah with a vent.



Rather strange as the vehicle has a full Jaguar Main Dealer service history.

I know how to find the manufactured date of an OE Varta battery but have no idea how or if Bosch are date coded.

Graham

 

As the parts department at my local dealer didn't offer much help, other than to replace my batter with an OEM battery at a cost of £186, I called the service department and was told that while the new models do use AGM batteries, they have a different charge system installed to cope with them.

He explained he wasn't able to recommend a different battery for my car, but said he probably wouldn't try the AGM type with such an old car as it may cause problems.

This is obviously cause for concern, but I'm reluctant to spend £186 on 6 year old battery technology.

GGG, thanks for the information. I can get the Bosch Silver S4 013 800A 95Ah for around £100, so much cheaper than the OEM battery, however, the photos I'm looking at don't appear to show a vent, so I'm wondering if this version of battery is sold with or without a vent!

 

I don't suppose anyone knows what the OEM battery is? I can see it is made by Varta and has the following code:

6W83-10655-BA
12v RC 160 800 amps 90Am

I suspect it will be a stock Varta battery, which would be much cheaper to buy elsewhere, rather than through the Jag dealers.

 

Called Varta and they identified the following as an ideal replacement battery for the OEM Varta:

Varta Silver Dynamic 019 Battery (H3)

The OEM Varta is 90Ah and 800A, but the Varta Silver is 100Ah and 830A, so more powerful.

I was told the Varta Blue Dynamic 019 Battery (G3) would be okay, but the Silver was recommended.

Compared to the £186 dealer price tag, I'm happy to pay £85 for a "better" battery from the same manufacturer.

 

The Jaguar battery isn't supplied with the vent fitted. The vent hole is plugged (just visible in this photo) and the right angle vent adapter is packed loose with the battery.



I'd expect the Bosch is supplied in a similar way. The vent adapter would be easily broken in transit or storage.

Graham

 

FYI: You will have no problems with an AGM battery in our cars.

 

Buy a rechargeable booster battery pack. It's required equipment if you own a Jag. That way it won't matter which end is facing out.

 

Ok, but to get to the original question ... Is there a way to release the EPB on a 2007 xkr if you end up without power?

 

Easiest by far is provide power but you can always get a brake off if you remove wheels.

 

On the issue of draining batteries, I've been told that leaving an XK parked without engaging the parking brake will cause the battery to drain faster, as some computer functions run longer. Can anyone confirm this rather odd electrical impact of the parking brake?

 

Not true for an S-Type and these cars have a lot in common. More likely the EPB not applying is a sign that something else is wrong - such as ignition key flap faulty - that then causes the drain.

 

The EPB doesn't apply automatically on the XK.

 

As I read things, no.

 

Hopefully linking to another forum is allowed (if not please remove mods) but this may, or may not, help. I have not tried this myself.