Thanks for the information Michael. Mine is at the stage of having removed the rubber around the nicads. I have peeled the tabs off the end of the nicads, to use later, hopefully to solder to the tags of new ones, and the nicads are out. I have a blown capacitor, around which I have cleared the rubber too. This disintegrated the cap, leaving me with only the legs in the board, so if I knew what to put there, I could at least try. Doubt that was the only thing that was damaged when the smoke was released, but it was the only area with burn damage, so who knows. I'm trying to find out what it should be. The removed nicads are useless, and none is chargeable by my high tech, multi-chemistry charger.

Still waiting for an eBay shop to confirm he has a serviceable unit, because I don't hold out much hope for my original. Like you though, I shall keep it in my box of bits.

 

Sorry to bring this up again, but today I finally decided to take a look at my car to figure out why I get the no chirp and have never actually heard the alarm go off. Based on the information here, I decided to check what type of sounder I had so I could either replace it or try changing the batteries.

I bought my 1997 XK8 about 18 months ago with just under 19,000 miles on it, so I figured corrosion probably wasn’t the issue and that the batteries were more likely the culprit. Instead of removing the wheel and inner fender liner, I found an access panel and opened it up—only to discover there was no sounder at all. Just an empty connector with one of those Jaguar caps you see on unused plugs in many later models.

So apparently a previous owner had issues, took it to Jaguar, and they decided to simply eliminate the sounder altogether. Now I have no idea what the original part number was or whether I should be looking for an active or passive unit. Does anyone have an idea if the US Coupe models come with active or passive?

Thanks a lot, previous owners!

 

It would almost certainly have been the passive unit.

The parts catalogue shows OE # LJA2620BB

 

Is it safe to say that if it is passive, it has no batteries? If that is the case, and I still don't get the chirp with it hooked up, what problems may I have? I received one from ebay and it still does nothing.

 

Have you tried setting the alarm off to see if it sounds? Chirp on arm/disarm is a configurable option in IDS, so the chirp could be turned off.

If the alarm doesn't sound then I would first check the fuses, next check the wiring for power/ground at the sounder, next check continuity back to where the sounder wiring is connected.

You also potentially have bought a non-working second hand sounder.

 

Sorry, I'm a bit lost. I came across this thread out of curiosity. Do all XK8s have this alarm? Could you post a picture showing its exact location? I've looked in the workshop manual and can't find it on my XK8.

 

AFAIK, all the X100s have one. In some markets (USA) it's the passive unit, others (Europe) it's 'active'. The latter contains the NiCd batteries which corrode and kill it.

It is located behind the RHS wheel arch liner, adjacent to the fog lamp. This video will help you locate it - about half way through:

 

Just replaced mine. No chirp but I know have an alarm

 

Just added mine where there was none. No chirp but I know have an alarm

 

Thank you so much Michael. I've taken that area apart many times, removed the fog lights on both sides, and recently took apart the headlights. The alarm has gone off a few times when I've only opened the trunk. I always thought it was the horn. I'll check it, take it apart, and inspect it. If it has batteries, I'll replace them. Thanks again.