In other threads that I have read here it appears to say that some of the electronics will remain active if the XK 8 is not locked. I very rarely lock cars because I keep nothing in them to steal and the local thieves will break a window or slash the top if they CAN'T get in but will only open the gloves box and search about inside if they can........My question is this : will it harm the electrics in the car if I don't lock it ? Will it drain the battery (assuming the battery is good) in a day or two ? a week ?

I understand that a dead or almost dead battery can cause all sorts of grief.

 

Similar car (2004 STR) and I often have left it unlocked without grief.

I think those who have trouble actually have a (minor) fault without realising it (and ideally would find & fix it).

 

When it's good weather out I'll park and leave the top down. I make sure I put anything and everything in the glove box and lock it up. Then I'll actually lock the car too. The built in alarm will honk the horn if anybody messes with it. And nothing gets other people's attention like a car honking. Kind of an instinctual survival thing.

 

I am not at all concerned about stuff getting stolen. I do want to be well informed though if there are any electrical/electronic idiosyncrasies in the XK8 that arise from not locking it

 

There is no difference electrically if the doors are not locked. Some cars are setup to passively arm the alarm after the car is turned off. The doors will stay unlocked as there is no option for self-locking with the passive alarm arming. I plan on fixing this eventually.

Depending upon your local area laws an audible alarm might not be acceptable and you can change the setting with computer access.

On another note, one rule that a law enforcement officer told me is that you should leave something for thieves to find. There is almost a code of ethics that if they get something, they do little to no damage. If the glove box must be locked, leave $20.00 under the console cover. Cheap insurance to keep them from breaking the glove box lock which I have seen.

 

One more wrinkle in this. It has been reported before that when a car is locked and remains inactive for a long time (a week?, 30 days?), it goes into deeper sleep and, for example, the remote unlocking does not work anymore (the car has to be unlocked with the key to be woken up). Apparently this is done to further save the battery from the load of running the electronics in charge of "listening" to the unlock signal.

 

I tested this twice with my 2001 and it did not happen. Apologies included to the Jaguar gods for not driving for so long. It might be years specific, possibly newer models or voltage specific. Perhaps they do this when the battery is low. Some electronics will not function below a certain voltage, yet there is enough current to start the car. using a battery tender means that this does not happen.

 

Mine does do this, it is regularly left for several weeks and requires manual unlocking when I get back.

 

Mine also does it.

It has a rather different design of electrical systems than the 2001 that's mentioned as not doing it.

 

Barry, I agree with all above. You said locked, think it was semantics, car uses less electricity after a period of time with alarm on. You know what I mean, alarm locks, but locks don't arm alarm.

John

 

Mine shuts down either way, simply doesn't care. I believe that's how they're meant to be (can't speak for as early as 2001).

 

My Miata has been broken into enough that I made it look like the stereo has already been stolen (with a hidden bluetooth receiver that plays through a hidden Amp/Equalizer)



Its hidden behind the used paper towel... shhhh don't tell anyone.