How do you get into an XK boot with a dead battery

[garry_capon473]

Hi all.

Just popped into the garage to get the XK out to run the engine (as it's a beautiful sunny day) but it's as dead as a dodo.

Suspect it's a completely flat battery although that seems a little odd as it last ran fine about three weekends ago and it's stored in a locked garage without the alarm on or doors locked.

So, firstly how do I access the boot to get to the battery if all the electrics are dead and second, how can a brand new battery go flat in three weeks!?

I have only had the car two months and this is a bit disappointing

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers Garry

[garry_capon473]

I found this online.....

https://youtu.be/aQDQ1SFUw-c

Surely there's another way??

Eeeerm I've been in engineering (design) all my life and cannot believe Jaguar designers didn't think of a better solution like a regular boot lock that uses the fob blade in cases like this.

So am I removing the rear seats chaps??

[Thixendale]

Hi Gary,,
If you search through these threads you will find the solution.

There are some posts in the engine bay that you can connect some jump leads to to get enough power to open the boot.

I can't advise which posts as I don't have an XK. I have an XJ but would like one. I do know it has been discussed before.

Don't be disappointed in the car though. They are heavy on battery demand and many people connect to a battery conditioner when not in use for 2 weeks or more. Again there have been many posts on this also so have a look. I have a CTEK one which I use on my XJ.

Just needs a bit of forward planning - but worth it.

And welcome to the forum, it is a brilliant source of information.

Tony

[garry_capon473]

Thanks Tony.
I kinda guessed the two/three weeks of inactivity has just drained the battery and yes I will have to invest in a conditioner but I need to get that boot open so if someone can point me in the direction of where the under bonnet connections are I would be very grateful.

The car is a thing of beauty, from every angle it just holds your eye.

Back in the mid nineties I was heavily involved with the Ford Bridgend plant helping with the design of a lot of the AJ32 V8 production line. I had an engine block under my desk for about eighteen months as a foot rest and promised myself one day I would own a car with that beautiful all alloy V8 in it.

It took twenty-six years but now I have got one and it's a real beauty (low miles, two owners and lots of history).

Just need to get that boot switch operating!

Cheers.

Garry

[Thixendale]

Believe me, I would have got an XK instead of the XJ but two teenagers and a dog meant practicality won the day. Don't get me wrong though, my X350 XJ is brilliant and I love it, but it isn't the car I desired. I'm sure that this will ring true with many.

I hope to retire in about 5-6 years which is when I hope to get my XK

Tony

[garry_capon473]

Hi Tony

Yes....mine was a 60th birthday present to myself to celebrate making that milestone.

I do think this boot / dead battery issue is a bit silly though and I think in future whether I have a conditioner connected or not the boot will have a small wedge to keep it fractionally open as the garage is secure and rodent proof!

As the key fob has a blade key it's somewhat short sighted of the Jag engineers not to have included a discreet manual release mechanism.

Still can't find the thread you mentioned, there were some for the XK8 (which has a hidden manual release) but not the XK.

Probably should look in the manual otherwise the rear seats are coming out (as per the YouTube video above).

[ptjs1]

Garry,

I may well be wrong, but I thought that inside the fob was the emergency key, and behind the numberplate was the access keyhole? I'd heard this and assumed it's also mentioned in the drivers handbook?

Once you're in, I'd suggest you fit and always use a battery conditioner when the car is parked up. The CTEK MXS 5.0 is the model I use on my cars. With a permanently-wired flylead fitted to the car, it's then very easy just to keep your battery charged up. You could fit the flylead direct to the battery posts or else to the remote +ve & -ve posts that are in the boot.

Secondly, I'd fit a bluetooth battery monitor to the same connections. Then you can just check the condition on your phone and also test for alternator charging efficiency and the battery state as a drop-charge when you start the car. You can also get it to alert you on your phone when the battery drops to pre-set voltage levels. Great little devices and £20 well spent. I have them fitted on a couple of cars and they are invaluable.

Thirdly, once you've got the battery charged up, I'd do some tests to check the current draw when the vehicle is locked to see if you've got a parasitic draw somewhere or a duff battery.

Good luck

Paul

[Astromorg]

As ptjs has explained, the boot key entry point is hidden behind the number plate, with the blade key clipped inside the fob/smart key. The handbook covers it all in detail.

The current draw after full shut down (For X150, 3 mins if fully locked but plus 15 mins if TPMS fitted) and 33mins if unlocked) should be <30 mA. This could be greater if extras such as a tracker are fitted

[JimMann]

Hi Garry, I am afraid your leaving of the car unlocked in a locked / secure garage is a major contributor to your 'dead' battery. The Modern XK (X-150) stays awake unless it is double locked To achieve that, click the fob lock button twice and the car will beep twice to acknowledge it is double locked. What this means is that all the battery drain elements stay on whilst the car is in its unlocked state, double locking puts everything to sleep.

The addition of a battery conditioner is a must on an X-150 that will be left idle for any length of time over a couple of weeks (whilst fully locked). The CTEK mentioned previously is okay, but my preference is for the Ring Automotive RSC 612, which is good for engines up to 5 litre and also for other modern cars with the stop / start technology. Both the CTEK and RSC 612 are available from most decent car accessory shops, or online, for around £70.

Making the connections to the car is best done through the boot, where there is enough give in the boot seal for the conditioner to be placed outside the car and the leads passed through into the boot. Lift the boot tray and on the floor to the left as you look down, you will see the negative peg. Above the boot floor on the left inside trim, you remove the louvre and look inside with a torch. There is a heavy gauge wire with a rubber boot over the terminal. Slide the boot back and there you will find the positive connection for the conditioner.

If you look back in the Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine repository on the website, to June 2020, there is a small article on making the manual boot release mechanism using the fob key, beneath the number plate, more accessible.

Welcome to Modern XK motoring and I hope you get past its little foibles.

Jim

[garry_capon473]

Thanks guys. Well the battery (brand new) from fully charged to seemingly dead took two weeks.

I'd be interested to know what the current load is in the 'unlocked' state (as opposed to double locked) and what exactly is drawing current??

I have one of those Ring chargers so I will give it a go.

Meanwhile I will gain entry by the key so thanks all for your help and assistance.

Only ten more days until it's taxed and on the road for the spring & Summer

[ng4xjs]

All very well if you have power in your garage. I don't, I keep my new (to me) X150 in a garage within a security gated entrance. Does have a new battery and just curious that I can leave for a week, possibly two without too much of an issue. I double lock the car when parked up?

Many thanks
Nick

[andypryce]

Two weeks or more should be fine, as long as battery is good and you double lock the car to shut everything down