Battery charging issues..again!

[ianoliver57]

I have a 2021 my XE R Dynamic P250 S. If I leave the car unused for 4 or more days, I get the warning ‘low battery press engine start’ on entry. It’s only just a year old, but the battery seems unable to maintain charge. I had it tested at the Jag specialist who confirmed the battery was 100% but only charged to 65%. This was after a two hour run to the garage! They suggested a Ctec charger, which I have now purchased. Problem is, the battery is in the boot under the spare wheel. I can connect the lead for the charger, through the spare, but how do I get the mains extension into the boot. I don’t have a garage, so the charging has to take place in the front drive via an extension cable. Obviously, the end of the extension cable with socket has to be in the boot with the charger. Am I liable to damage either the boot lid or the cable if I simply close the boot on the cable? Is it safe to have the charger inside the boot?
Any advice appreciated.

Regards
Ian.

[andypryce]

Hi Ian,

Definitely safe to leave charger in the boot, I do the same. As long as you can close the boot it should be fine, won’t damage anything.

[ianoliver57]

Thanks Andy. I’ll hook it up this afternoon. Surprised that the charge falls off so quickly. I have never had this issue with any of the previous Jags, and there have been a few…. .

Regards

Ian.

[andypryce]

Stating the obvious I am sure, but check everything shuts down when locked, eg interior lights etc all go off. Agree does seem odd...

[ianoliver57]

Thanks Andy, yes already checked all that. Suspected my dash cam but it does power down when I lock and alarm the car. According to the good guys at Prestige Jaguar in Paisley, the alternator in a modern car is insufficient to fully charge up a battery. They tested my battery and it was 100% ok (no dead cells) but showed only 65% charge. The previous weekend, I had a run to Dumfries, a round trip of 400 miles, followed by a two hour drive the following Thursday to Prestige for service. Even after all that, still only 65% charged! I hooked up the ctec yesterday and up to stage 7 after 6 hours so now fully charged! The ctec is now on the battery of my wife’s Freelander. Ahh, the joys of modern motoring……

[JimMann]

Hi Ian,
Yes the foibles of modern cars and their electronics. One further tip. When you lock the car, make sure the key is then at least 20 feet away from it when not in use / required. Even better, store the key, remember the spare key as well, in a Faraday box or bag - insurers were giving these away free - to block the signal between the key and the car.

If the key(s) are closer to the car, then the car actually stays awake - a bit like an eager puppy waiting for your command - as it sees the key(s) and thinks you are ready for the off. This has all of the underlying systems awake and therefore drawing power, quite a small drain but it adds up over a few days.

For my part, I simply close the boot lid on the charging leads to the remote connection points on my XKR, there is lots of give in the boot seals to allow that to happen safely - my charger is outside the car, hanging on the wall behind as I am lucky enough to park it in the garage.

Enjoy driving, but take care to look out for its idiosyncrasies.

Jim Mann

[ianoliver57]

Thanks for the heads up about the keys Jim. Hadn’t thought of that. However, I think there must be something in what the guys at Prestige said after the milage I did in one week and still only 65% charged.
Keys now removed to the back of the house and secured, just in case.

Ian.

[Marineng]

Good morning Ian,
I too am a little suprised that after such a long run, the battery is still only 65% charged - Having checked that all the auxiliaries have switch off have you also check the tightness of the connections from the alternator (might need the guys at Prestige to complete this or flag it up at the next service) - A high resistance on the circuit from the alternator could be affecting the alternator's performance.

Another thing springs to mind - is the car in-contact with the in-control app and sending it information at frequent intervals. (A bit of a long shot this one) MY XE used to be good for a few weeks of inactivity, after a relatively short run, before it would then start showing the 'Low battery' warning. I then started to use a battery conditioner on a regular basis.

Kind regards
Paul

Paul Russell
JEC XE coordinator

[BookerME]

I often joke that my XE uses more electricity than it does petrol.
When I charge my battery I use the connection points that are in the engine compartment for the crocodile clips of my charger. That saves me all the aggro of getting to the battery under the boot cover.
I use a CTEK MSX 5.0 and it seems to work really well.
Mac.

[BookerME]

My 2015 XE has probably still got the original battery fitted.
Very, very occasionally, if it’s been left standing for a while, I’ll get a warning message at ‘start up’ to say it’s low but, touch wood, it’s never let me down yet and once started, very quickly charges it all up and the message disappears.
None of this is helped really by the relatively short journeys I do with frequent stops and starts.

As an aside, the Auto stop/start has only ever cut in once in the two and half years I’ve had the car. It was such a surprise that it frightened the life out of me because I thought I’d stalled it or the car had packed up!
It turns out that the battery is monitored by the management systems and unless it’s in top condition, the Auto stop/start is disabled.

So, a pointer there. If your Auto stop/start normally works and it suddenly stops, it’s probably a good idea to check out your battery.

Mac

[ianoliver57]

Thanks for all the replies. The guys at Prestige did check the alternator when they checked the battery. All good and connected correctly. I do us the ‘in control’ app, but never leave it signed in, always log out after use. Also bought the CTEC msx5 which worked a treat on the XE and on my wife’s Freelander. Think I’ll just have to live with it and put it on charge, say, monthly. I’ve hard wired in the connections to the battery through the spare and got the plug out over the edge of the boot floor so just need to open the boot and plug it all in.
As regards the stop start system, it’s the first thing I switch off when I start the engine!
Can we go back to the ‘70s please? Life, and cars, we’re so much simpler then….

[andypryce]

Regarding the 'in control' app, I don't think this should cause a problem, if the car is inactive for a few days and you try to login you should get the message 'vehicle asleep', so presumably it disconnects itself. Not so sure about the 70s, lots of memories of breaking down in my dad's car and no air conditioning either!