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I'm considering getting an XKR but I'm told that flat batteries in them are a nightmare. My last car was an XJS so all this is new to me and I use a wheelchair all of the time so
it's very important. Will I be able to shut down an XKR by removing the battery if I'm not using it for a fortnight or so?
Thanks
Just do it simple, add a trickle charger to the battery that unplugs in the trunk area.
Many of us do it for the long winter nap or just as a routine when we park it.
Just do it simple, add a trickle charger to the battery that unplugs in the trunk area.
Many of us do it for the long winter nap or just as a routine when we park it.
Thanks very much.
Unfortunately that's not an option. My garage houses my trike and if I parked a Jaaag in there I wouldn't have enough space to get out of the car (into my wheelchair). I'd need to be able to either detach a battery and charge it or do the charge within 3 hours. Disability sucks but I don't have a choice. Most of the time I'd drive it daily but I need to hedge my bets.
Just disconnect the negative cable when you are not going to use it, but make sure you can unlock the trunk with the key.
Wahey, thanks again.
is locking the trunk subtle?
How would I make sure I could unlock the trunk (outside just trying with the risk of failing)?
A thing I saw on the Interweb (sorry, I know!) said I'd struggle to open the car if the battery failed.
Will I have a physical key with which I can override locks?
The boot (trunk) will unlock with the ignition key. Just key the locking mecanisium well lubed with graphite and be careful and keep it off your cloths.
On the trunk the key fits between the XK8 on the bottom right side.
I was considering this as I've left my Jaaag for a couple of weeks over the holidays but apparently it can cause problems because of the electronic sensitivities in this car.... A P1000 code can crop up, which I think is to do with sensor readiness and can be temperamental... especially around the time you need to get a dreaded MOT.
Perhaps one of those solar trickle chargers that could be left inside the car on the dash and plug in through the cigarette lighter?!
That looks like a very good idea. Does anyone know if the *** lighters in XKs are "live" (apparently some cars aren't)
What you wrote about interfering with the oversensitive electronics is exactly what I was warned about.
That looks like a very good idea. Does anyone know if the *** lighters in XKs are "live" (apparently some cars aren't)…..”
Cigarette Lighter Not live with ignition off on my ‘02 XKR.
But you can sit the solar charger under the back window and run its wiring direct to the trunk battery. However, how much sunlight are you getting when the car is parked inside the garage ?
Mine is pretty dark and a solar charger wouldn’t be charge anything
Splendid, cheers! Putting a charger in the back will give it by far the best sunlight here. How difficult was that to wire up? Is there access for wires between where the charger would be and where the battery is?
I have a solar panel placed under the rear window and connected to the OBD socket (under the dashboard near the pedals), using a cigarette lighter socket to OBD adapter, this is an always live connection.
As long as you have a good battery, essential in these cars anyway, there should not be problem leaving it for 3 weeks as long as the electics are shutting down correctly and not drawing more than the 30mA quiesent current.
You can leave an XKR longer than an XJS.
One other thing to be aware of is that if left for a long period the system will shut off the wireless remote receiver to save power (on my 4.2 anyway), you will then need to use the key to unlock the door and wake everything up. Caught me out the first time it happened I thought the battery had gone flat in the car or remote FOB !!
Last edited by Stumpy; Dec 20, 2021 at 08:02 AM.
Reason: add info
That's a good idea, ta. It's nice to see that as battery capacity improves they're being applied to something other than electric cars.
Halfords also has its own brand version which is cheaper: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ba...4aAiUsEALw_wcB
There is so much rubbish talked about batteries so lets get a few facts.
To get the battery to 100% charged you must get it to 15v ( which a car dynamo does) the downside is that it gasses so needs to be topped up. So a charge to 15v is a good idea every 6 months to maintain capacity.
As a car alternator only gets it to 14v then it is never at ultimate capacity..about 80% but it does not gas so needs no maintenance. Remember when the engine is running the battery does nothing. Everything on the car runs from the alternator . The battery just charges for a couple of minutes to replace the tiny amount of energy used by the starter.
So if your battery becomes fully discharged ( what the ignorant call flat) your car alternator will not fully recharge it because it only goes to 14v .
Your alternator my have an output of 120A but the battery charge current will be about 15A max ...ever seen a battery charging at 100A ? Not Good. Heat and fumes with bubbling electrolyte ....
To keep the battery maintained best to get it up to 13.5v . It won't gas and will be ready for use .
I use a standard electronic charger which has a 14.2v setting and drop the voltage with a diode in the lead which reduces it to 13.5v giving a 0.7v drop . I have this on 24/7 when the car is not in use .
What I dont understand with you Americans is ...can you not run an extension lead to the car wherever its parked or extend the charger cable so it is long enough to reach the nearest plug?
A couple of recent posts seem to reject that possibility.
Cheers Pistnbroke,
knowledge is power! You seem to recommend charging the battery to 15v at least twice a year then write that's not good for them. That's overcomplicated electronics for ya!
I don't know who's American here, I'm a Geordie now living in County Durham.
As I wrote above, my garage houses my trike and if I left that in the garden and parked a Jaaag in the garage I wouldn't have sufficient space beside the car to get out of it (into my wheelchair). I don't have an alternative about that. I'm also only able to spend around four hours a day in my wheelchair at present and I'm trying to hedge my bets. There isn't access to park a Jaaag in my garden and (although I live in a charming little village and know my neighbours well) leaving a charger plugged into a unmonitored car is just asking for trouble.
I hope that clarifies things for you and thanks again for your input.
Battery charging
