Hey All
Help, after storage battery went dead , can’t access the trunk to charge the battery remote buttons nothing works, is there a manual release or way to access via the rear seat???
2006 XK8 ragtop

 

Why not use the KEY?

bob

 

There is no trunk key access unless I’m an idiot and have never seen it in the years I have owned it?

 

Graham

 

Rankster,

As per GGG's post no4 above, my key trunk access is in hidden between the X and K of the rear XK8 badge. It may be stiff and needs the black master key to open. The Green Valet key will not open this trunk release. Shot of lube through the hole may free it if it's stuck. Hope it works for you otherwise you're in a world of pain!

 

Isn't another option to connect a battery charger/maintainer to the terminals in the engine compartment? Not sure how quickly you'd have enough juice to pop the trunk or if it simply works as soon as you connect the charger. Either way I believe this method is an option.

I never needed it but I wonder how did I miss the keyhole in the emblem all these years! I'm sure I read through the entire owners manual at some point.

 

You are correct.

I usually have to do this as despite many applications of wd40 and even removing the complete boot lock assembly it still will not turn more than about 30 degrees.

Be aware you cannot jump the car from these terminals though! Power will be available to as soon as you connect to them but only use it to open the boot or windows, etc as required.

 

The positive battery lead touching any 'earth' (grounded) point in the boot will spoil your day when the power is applied to a connector in the engine compartment!!!!!!!!

That is pretty much the only way the 'alternate' method to power the electric boot lid release would fail.

I still recommend using the KEY at least once every few weeks to ensure it works when you need it!

 

What he said....

Use your key in the trunk lock on a regular basis. Takes less than five seconds....

 

I've owned my car less than a year and it has not worked from the day I got it. As yet I have been unable to repair so sometimes you do what you gotta do.

 

Thanks All
Cannot believe I had not seen that key access on the XK8 decal!
I really am chuckling at myself now.

 

I have been thinking......now that is really dangerous but anyway, I have an Aston Martin that has similar situation. The battery is located behind the passenger seat and if the car is locked and battery goes dead...good luck. You can remove the right front wheel and then the liner to access a positive stud that will allow you to power-up the car to get the door locks to work. This seemed crazy to me so I simply wired a small connector that presented me with a positive and negative tap that I could access from the front of the car through the grill and apply voltage in order to power the door locks.

Now, if you apply this logic to the Jaguar XK8 convertible that I have, it seems very simple to attach the same type of wire harness to the battery and access it from below the car. To make it even simpler, there is a grommet already located next to battery that has a spare hole in it with no wiring that would allow this set-up to be very simple. I fully understand the key situation and mine works fine but......when I would need it, as a result of a dead battery, my luck would be that it would not work. This work-a-round provides maximum flexibility and safety. Seems like a no brainier.

 

This forum has the solution already, way back in 2012 by astromorg. Link below.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-access-79432/

 

Did it work?

They often seize with lack of use. Locksmith's Graphite is the best treatment.



Graham