Hi All....I noticed another thread relating to how to access your car and boot (trunk) without the key.

I recently had a similar conundrum....on trying to unlock my car by key at the driver's door lock. Before you say anything...my keyfobs don't work and never have...and...I set my car up to disarm the alarm system from the key...rather than having to quickly turn said key in the ignition before the alarm went off.

1) So...turn key in door lock...feels loose with no resistance...and door does not unlock

2) Realise that the connecting linkage from the lock to the lever on the door lock mechanism, that activates the microswitch, that unlocks the central locking, has come apart inside the door

3) PANIC!!! SWEARING! EXPLETIVES! GUTTED!!

4) Realization that I have the key....so can open boot and disconnect battery terminal and thus stop the alarm...which would go off and keep going whilst I tried to fiddle with things

5) Go into MacGyver Mode and try to figure out a way of opening the doors (coupe...not convertible!)

6) Saw that I could push something thin between the rear vertical edge of the door glass and the door frame rubber...so remembered I had a home wiring cable access kit that I bought from Aldi a few years ago....I attached the small hook provided and screwed two lengths of the access rods together and so inserted that into the gap

7) Managed to get in the general area of the opposite door handle..but couldn't get the hook over far enough...so needed something thin with a bend in order to guided the rods towards the door handle

8) After searching and scratching my head...I found a short length of lawn edging strip (used to separate the grass from gravelled areas) that I had just bought and used in my garden the week before....it was naturally curved and quite stiff (no schoolboy comment here please!) as it had come rolled up...so I adapted it and cut a slot in the end for catching and guiding the rods

9) A couple of minutes later...and after a few attempts...managed to place the small hook over the opposite side door handle...and...a quick tug..and the door popped open!

10) Much relief...followed by another 2 hours of gynaecology inside the driver's door...and the lock connecting rods were fixed and again working perfectly

P.S. the wooden spatula was used to first open up the gap between the glass and the door rubber so as to minimize the risk of damaging them.

And I am keeping the said plastic lawn edging piece in a safe place in case of any possible future problems

I hope you find this useful, informative and amusing....and do note that even though it clearly shows how to get into the car without a key....I do stress that I had the black key and was able to get into the boot (trunk) in order to disable the alarm by disconnecting the battery. And that none of this would have been necessary if my keyfobs had worked!!

I humbly suggest that this thread is NOT added to the sticky "How To's" section

Andrew

 

That is brilliant 'outside the box' thinking Andrew - a mixture of garden ornament, kitchen implement and curtain hanging supplies!

I have a secret wire link from the outside of my XK8 convertible to the inside boot mechanism which operates irrespective of electricity - well it was secret until I let you lot know!

cheers

 

MacGyver would be envious! Lucky the cops didn't happen by whilst performing this feat.

 

Spectacular work, well done!

I may have to replace the alternator in my wife's 2006 XK8 once the weather cools off a bit. I would welcome your innovative and magical powers on this nasty job....

 

 

Not...the petrol tank is in the way...and if you remove the back rest portion of the rear seat...there is a full bulkhead behind

 

Yes...your secret's out now! These cars are just a gift that keeps on giving, aren't they...

 

I'd be delighted to help....especially if you pay for me to come over to North Carolina...........

 

Nice one andyzeg, but you do need to get those fobs sorted...

Is that an egg lifter or a spatula you're using?

 

The joys of Jag ownership! Never boring!

 

I wouldn't worry about thieves finding out about this method - they would just use the fictilis per fenestram entry method.

 

It is a slotted wooden spatula...it is essential that you use exactly the same type when attempting such procedures...

Yes...the keyfob issue has been plaguing me for 3 years now! The fobs are fine (one is new!) but somewhere in the system there is a problem that prevents them from programming.
Even using IDS SSD software...it keeps coming up with communications failures for the Security Locking Module...Door Modules and also the Body Processing Module will not reset.

Tried everything...apart from the one thing that will work!!!

I would one day like to meet personally with the Design Team that put these XK8s together....and "personally" thank them!!!

 

I almost did myself...Furthermore...any car thief worth his (or her) salt would have already studied this Forum and would not touch XK8s with a proverbial barge pole!!

We, however, as Jag obsessed fruit baskets...cherish and nurture our prides and joys....despite the plethora of obstacles that the Jaguar Design Team have put in our path towards Jaguar Nirvana!

I love my XK8 slightly more than my desire to take a lump hammer to it....which is the only reason it still sits on my driveway.....but Aaaah! When it all slots together...it is such a pleasure to drive. I have, of course...just slapped myself back to reality before getting too carried away.... Lol!

 

Oh, I thought that was unique to the convertible. The more you know.

 

There was a post on here recently with the same problem (non-responsive key fobs). A replacement ECU fixed the problem.

 

Wow ! What more could I add, and I see that I already have all the paraphernalia to pull it off. Thanks!

 

Yes...I was following that thread too. I will definitely look into the ECU issue...and possibly also the Body Processing module....something is definitely not playing properly.

Many thanks

 

Oops....I hope we suddenly don't start hearing about a series of mystery break ins to XK8s in North Carolina..... Lol!