Thanks Derek, the indication is 38/04 which I have to assume means Week 38 2004. I know the car was made at the latter end of 2004, but not sold and registered until Feb 2005. That means the battery has lasted me 16 years. That's not bad.

 

Hi Jon, I have looked up various Jaguar parts catalogues and can't see this clamp. Have you got a picture of it or know where I can get one from? Other local XK8 owner I have spoken to, do not have it either!

 

Your best bet for finding that battery clamp may be a junkyard or someone parting out their car....

 

It's in the photo I posted above, Easy enough to make one or just use a perforated strap. It's not like anyone sees it.

 

The part number is GNB3542AB and is called a "battery hold down strap." There's one on ebay for about $27. https://www.ebay.com/p/1923353344

 

Hi Brobin, The item you mention I have on the car already. If you look at the 'gold' coloured bolt in the picture, it is adjacent to the battery and not in anyway connected to the "battery hold down strap." Still not sure what it is for, although I would have thought it should have some sort on bracket on it to secure the side of the battery. But as indicated before, other owners with XK8's that I know, also do not have a securing bracket.

 

OK, you're talking about the shorter one to the right of the hold down strap as in my photo, right? Having had this car since new I can tell you with certainty that the bolt's only purpose seems to be to fill the hole it's in. No other clamp or strap was fitted at delivery. A look at the diagram at https://www.terrysjag.com/category/X...d-Fixings.html shows nothing regarding the mystery bolt at least as it relates to the battery.

 

Thanks Brobin, how weird is that. Why put bolt in a hole that serves no purpose! Anyone have any other ideas?

 

Maybe it's used for something on RHD cars or maybe just a backstop in case the battery shifted. Unless it shows up in some parts diagram we'll probably never know.

 

Doug,

It's a safety bollard, and tall too, so when you lift out the battery, it doesn't smack into the connections on trunk fuse box behind.

Check out John Dee's To The Garage Youtube channel ep.67 where he discusses the bollard. Link below.

 

Hi David Yau, Thanks for the link and explanation. Have watched the video and now fully understand what is doing there. Problem solved!

 

I suspected it might be a backstop, good to have a definitive answer. The guy has a lot of great videos that I've started watching. Great find David!

 

I think i should change my battery out as well. The process seems easy enough.

 

It's very easy. Just make sure to hook up the vent port if the new battery has one (small plug on the end). Also, to keep all the radio and window presets, keep a Battery Tender hooked up while doing the change.

 

[QUOTE=stu46h;2271419]You're the only person I've ever heard of who beat my 14 year original battery. Congratulations! I replaced mine with a Bosch about 5 years ago and I haven't had a problem with it. I don't drive the car much so I occasionally find the battery dead. I charge it and I'm back in business.[/QUOTE

So my original XK8 battery has just died. It’s been 23years, so I suppose that’s not bad!?
Its been babied in Canada, trickle charged and only has 20k miles from new! I recently moved it to Arizona and it clearly doesn’t like to be trickle charged in a Garage which exceeds 100F in the summer!

question…. Can I buy a Jaguar battery??

Thanks

 

Why would you pay three times what a new battery should sell for at a Jaguar dealership (assuming they would even be willing to "help" you)?

I have had good success the past few years with NAPA AGM batteries made by East Penn. If you catch a sale and are also an AAA member (10% discount), you may wind up paying less than $200 for a new AGM battery....

 

im using the NAPA branded AGM battery also. Only 6 years on it, but it’s working like day one.

This one:
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT9849

 

Sam's club has agm for 199.00
should be one in AZ
Wj