Ridiculous electrical issues
 

Got a 2010 XK. We average about 5K miles per year. Over the last two years the battery has drained and we've gotten it replaced 3 times. The tech said if we don't drive it at least 10k per year this will happen. The presets on the radio always clear and for the forth time (today) it will have to be flatbedded to the dealership. Has anyone experienced this before? Any advice is appreciated

Tia

Put a battery tender on your battery to keep an eye out on it's charge. Have a battery charger on hand to charge as needed. Never had problems with a fully charged battery.

How often DO you drive the car? Not miles, but frequency?

I am no authority on the electricals on modern Jags, BUT.....

Broadly speaking what you're describing isn't unusual for modern high-end cars with tons of electronics....and are typically subject to periods on non-use. I take care of new/newish Corvettes, Porsches, Bentleys and the like and they all require Battery Tenders to keep the batteries charged if the cars sit for more than a month or so, at the most.

Not sure about new Jags but many of these cars come with a battery charger in the trunk. That oughta tell ya something right there :-)

Cheers
DD

I second the battery tender/conditioner it also prolongs the life of the battery.

Most 'weekend' sports car manufactures now include the battery tender in the options list.

I use my XKR the same as you, its a 2007 still with the original battery, I used a battery tender/conditioner since day one.
Mine is a: CTEK Multi MXS5.0 (Google this).
I have this hardwired in the boot (Trunk in your money!). Takes 30 seconds to hook it up after use.

Next time you have the battery replaced, have it replaced with an AGM/sealed battery. Apparently those last longer.

Tia,

This forum has a lot of advice regarding battery chargers, including brand names, how to hook up, and potential hazards. See this thread: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lay-ups-73471/ and my posts ##17, 19 and 21. Also, be sure to always lock your car to minimize battery drain.

Hope this helps,

Stuart

I'd be asking the mechanic what the current draw is on the car when the car is locked and looked at after 15-30 minutes give or take. It should be no more than 35ma after fifteen minutes.

If more, then they need to FIX the car. If 35ma or less........customer induced problem imho. Lock the car after you get out each and every time helps ....some.

I've a '07 with a five yr old battery and have no problems other than not getting off my butt and buying another before I have problems. Procrastination seems to be a problem here. Been thinking about it for months.

Hailers is exactly correct here. I was just going to say that normal drain is about 40ma (0.040 Amp). So, if you have a 100 Amp-hour battery, the normal drain should only drain it down about 1 Amp-hour per day. So, you should be able to park a car with a fully charged battery for many weeks.

Just like Hailers recommends, a simple check by you or your mechanic should be able to determine the drain rates. Just install an inexpensive digital Ammeter in line (in series) with either the positive or negative battery terminal.

I have not made any battery drain checks on my '08 XK but, certainly did on my 2012 XJL. The XJL draws HUGE amounts of currents just from opening the door, having all the interior lights and computers/screens power up. If I remember it was about 18 Amps and when I turned on the radio/CD player it went to something like 26 Amps. So, if you open/close your doors regularly while the car is parked, that could account for your drain.

Albert

We drive it daily. Not real jazzed about paying that much for a car, and having to plug it in.

Don't blame ya!

If driven daily there's no reason for this to be happening. There's certainly an abnormal parasitic draw draining the battery. Possibly one of umpteen different control modules remaining lawake rather than going to sleep.

Wild thought: on some cars the key fob/keyless entry fob, if kept in or too near the car, will keep some systems "awake".

Cheers
DD

There have been a number of TSB's and Service Actions regarding battery drains on the XK's. The two attached are applicable to your model year so it would be worth checking to see if the updates have been done.

I'd consider selling it to Hailers at a discount. After he gets back from Ca next week (I like driving my XK).

If you have something like LoJack on it, that would cause a drain, but if driven daily or every other day that drain should not be killing the battery.

Dealer, if a Jaguar dealer, should have been able to ID the problem in the past imho. Odd.

The KIWI ....U102768 seems to be quite the helper with the TSB's he's listed on this and other theads on this forum.

Thanks Hailers. I think the TSB's are required reading. I always have a good look through them before buying a new Jag to see if there are model years to avoid or things to check whilst tyre kicking.

I have a 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas and has 9,600 miles on it. Original owner and have never replaced the battery. I drove it about 18 miles in the last year. Start it every month, and have a trickle charger on and it fires right up. And if anyone was wondering the 18 miles were racked up from taking it back and forth to the Jaguar dealer to get serviced for the year check up.

It could be you have a mass diode leak in the alternator. It will drain the battery when the ignition is off, and will show up disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery and connecting a voltmeter between the cable and the negative terminal.