Key issue 99 XK8
 

Hi all.

I couldn't get into the trunk/boot yesterday, the battery was flat, the key wouldn't open it, I tried WD40 to no avail. I have two keys, black & green. I get it that the black key should work on the ignition, drivers door, glove box & boot.
The key works in the ignition and drivers door, won't work on the boot or glove box.
The green key will unlock the drivers door but will not lock it, also it will not operate the ignition, boot or glove box.
I am sure you have heard this all before, your advice is very much appreciated.

Plastic Paddy.

Open the bonnet and attach a battery charger or another battery to the +ve feed to the fusebox and to any ground point. That should give enough juice to pop the boot open and get to the battery (don't try and jump-start the car like that).
Not sure why your keys don't work, especially why the green one won't work with the ignition.

You need to lay the keys side-by-side and look at the cuts. Are they EXACTLY the same???

The tip should be the ONLY difference.

bob

Hi blade runner
Thanks for that, my neighbour helped me with his booster to do just what you said.( my booster unit was stuck in the boot.)
Motorcarman.
The keys are not the same, I have come to the conclusion that the locks to the ignition and door were replaced. Why? The first owner keeper the car at his holiday home in Florida, he passed away up here in Canada, in clearing his possessions keys could not be found, locks were changed. This is guesswork.
Thanks for you help.
Plastic Paddy.

Hi all
Have read up on how to find things in the Jaguar Forum I used the advanced search and came across the Tibbe key code, the two keys I have, one black & one green differ, therefore my thoughts regarding the key issues seem correct. I am sure over the last few days I have read somewhere about filing the valet to enable it, and n my case to gain access to the boot. I will continue in my endeavour and once again mays thanks for all your help.
Plastic Paddy.

The difference is in the tip, you can file down the valet key to work in all the locks.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...f49ecfa081.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...1785a461b.jpeg

The 'tip' of both of the keys look similar, or an I missing something?

They are BOTH VALET KEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are BOTH GREEN.

bob

Ok guys calm down.
Sorry, the centre peice on the one on the left is black, the one on the right is green. I assumed that is what I was to go by, from your reaction I guessed wrong. So, if I were to file down the 'black key that would then allow me to access the boot with that key?
If you could explain exactly what I need to file it would be great.
Many thanks.
Plastic Paddy

As Bob says, they are both valet keys. From your original post I would assume the one with the black logo is for your car and the other one is nothing to do with your car. If you file the one with the black logo it should then operate the glove box and boot as well as the doors and ignition.

Hi Bladerunner.
Thanks for your help, can you clarify exactly where I should file? I am thinking that I should file each side on the first section?
Plastic Paddy.

If you look at the picture Norri posted, the bit that needs modification is marked in red.

It's a bit difficult to see, but the area to be filed is not the entire
length of the red bit. It is about half of that.

At the end of the key is the beveled tip, like a chisel.

The area to be filed down is the two sides of the beveled tip
on the non-beveled surfaces. In Norri's pictures, it would be
the farthest left 3/8 of the red line. And the surfaces towards
the top and bottom of the screen.

From looking at the arrangement in the past, I guess that the
boot and glovebox lock cylinders have a smaller "port" into
which the smaller tip will fit, but the larger tip will not.

To Motorcarman, Bladerunner,Norri & Plums. Many thanks for your help & patience. It's all good. I am sure I will need your guidance again, this is all new to me but the car is a beauty and I am going to stick with it.
Plastic Paddy.

different codes?
 

The Tibbe codes look different.

LHS key 12122331
RHS key 12322113

compare with Norri's which are both 12132133

QED

Mike

I realize the guy I bought it off was not the most honest guy on the block, luckily the two issues that have shown up ( keys & loose battery clamps) are relatively minor. A few other things have come to light, passenger seat controls, interior mirror 'fogged up' & exterior mirror controls not working can be dealt with over time and with help from the forum.
Thanks to all.

If the interior mirror has fogged because the seal has gone, I would suggest you address that sooner rather than later. The fluid is corrosive and can eat its way out of the mirror housing and drip on the centre console, causing damage.
As a short-term fix you can open up the mirror and get rid of the fluid completely - the mirror won't dip, but you'll avoid the damage.