2014

[joejag308]

There seems a lack of postings so far this year,doesnt any one have any problems or enquiries re the 308, have they all drifted into a "perfect order" state, a lot of new owners buying used 308s and are eager to get to know their new steeds.......such an interesting car too.....funny old year so far.......

[Orkney]

I suppose as we are only 6 weeks in, some of the good 308's might be mothballed for another month or so. Ebay has lots of tired old 308's listed for breaking - so I guess that they are just getting rarer on the BB. I still think they are under-rated at the moment and many non-Jag folk are frightened to death of them. I love my 3.2 but am on the lookout for the right Daimler SV8 (or V8) This BB has been so useful to me this last year - not just from posting and the replies received, but also when searching for info - so that could be another reason for it being quiet. Maybe it's mostly been said?
Ian

[Architective]

Please allow me to pose the first problem of the year. I have a 2001 SWB Daimler V8. Like many owners I will be putting it back on the road in a few months; that is to say I will if I can get into the boot to charge the battery. Like a fool, I locked it and when I came to charge up the battery after only 10 days, it would not unlock from the key fob. No problem I thought, I will use the keys to unlock it, however the key would not open the passenger compartment lock nor the boot lock. After liberal amounts of oil I have gained access to the passenger compartment but still not the boot. I have tried boosting the dead battery from the positive terminal under the bonnet but to no avail. I have another battery trickle charger coming in a few days (the other is locked inside the boot) but I do not have great expectations.

I am getting desperate. The question is, if I have to cut or drill to get the boot open where do I do it. Is there any reference material on the locking mechanism I can refer to?

Thanks

Roger

[Brakebuster]

if your in the car ( but not the boot ) ,

then why dont you press the boot release button on the dash ?

this will work even if the battery is dead if you put a charger into the cigar lighter and turn the ignition over to position one, and press the button on the dash ( or the remote )......


there is a way into the boot by drilling holes,

BB

[Orkney]

I can't see the difference between getting into the boot to charge the battery and using one of the underbonnet terminals - unless you are thinking that the battery is complete toast and needs replacing. Are you sure that the 'booster' you quoted was actually working? I would put it on a decent charger overnight using the underbonnet terminal and a good earth point (you should see the needle move on the charger ammeter as you connect it or turn it on) and then after charging unlock the boot from the dash button assuming it's not in Valet Mode. Also check that your remote buttons function correctly - they may need reprogramming if they went flat too. Plenty of info on here for that process.
If you get it running with a less than good battery, don't be surprised if you get some temporary spurious error messages on the display.

Ian

[Architective]

Many thanks for the suggestions. It is possible that the charger I used was rubbish, as I tried it on a charged battery and there was no movement of the needle, so I have chucked it and await the new charger. I have also downloaded a manual from Jagdocs.com, it seems pretty comprehensive. I will let you know I get on.

Many Thanks

Roger

[robv12]

try a booster pack or a good battery and some decent jump leads on the pos terminals under bonnet, you have already located these??, ensure you have a good earth. This should give you enough power to use the remote release in the car, UNLESS, the car is in valet mode and/or the boot solenoid is out to lunch, from here starting the car is easy. As has been said above, these cars need a battery at 100% all the time, other wise all sorts of spurious fault codes and odd electrical conditions will appear

hope this helps a bit more

Rob J

[Architective]

I have now tried a 3.8A charger that will not charge the battery and a 12A charger that has no effect whatsoever. When the 3.8A charger is attempting to charge it chicks into 6V mode as there is so little current left in the battery this charges for half an hour and then clicks off with a bad battery symbol. A circuit is being made because the flashing red alarm light in the passenger compartment comes on but that is all. Am I missing something. Where is the best earthing point on the car?

Can a battery be so knackered that it just will not take a charge?

Desperate Daimler

[Orkney]

No, I don't think you are missing something, batteries do fail catastrophically sometimes, especially at this time of year and it has just happened to me with my Mini Clubman Estate.
Unfortunately when a battery fails in this way it acts as a 'short' accross the charger. I would try Rob's method using a very good well charged spare battery (not connected to anyone's electronics laden car) via a good heavy duty set of jump leads and be ready to press the boot release immediately. You've obviously found the positive terminal, so any good clean earth point under the bonnet will do - bolt head, casting protrusion - anything connected to the engine or body.
After that it's going to be trying to lube the boot lock and then finally drilling holes - but I don't know exactly where that should be - perhaps Rob does?

Not sure if you can remove the cable from the post under the bonnet to isolate your failed battery so it doesn't appear in circuit and try from there?

Ian

[joejag308]

Re the problems with leaving the car for a long while, either take the battery out and leave it on a trickle charge CETEC, you can purchase one in the club shop, remember to free the boot lock off and keep it well oiled and free from dirt by just trying it every week or so,
308s do have a history of battery drain, its either a very expensive or long lasting job at times
Im in the middle of searching for mine, its cost me buying a new battery then finding out the previous one was very good, its been over a week and two garages we now have found two usual suspects, both quite expensive.......hopefully this will sort it, if not its back to the drawing board.

[Architective]

I am pleased to say that the jump leads and key fob did the trick! I now have the boot opened and the battery on charge with a Seeley 12 Amp charger. I have found with this new charger that I could only use it once my old 6 Amp charger had put some charge into the battery. If the battery is right down then the new charger seems to sense the battery as dead and does not even attempt to charge it. The up side is that once the battery is fully charged it will sense it and revert to a demand trickle charge. I may need to replace the seized boot lock now that I can access it. Is there any art to replacing boot locks on X308s or is it quite straight forward? Just as well the spares day is coming up.

Regards
Roger

[Brakebuster]

the lock is only seized , and several applications of wd40 from inside and gentle wiggling of the key once soaked should free it up ,

once free , blow out all the wd40 with a can of air , and then get some graphite lock lubricant and apply , do this to all you locks, it will make them fell like stirring butter once lubricated

and........dont trust this battery again , spend £80 and get a new one, this duff battery will be the instigator of lots of unwanted faults , our cars NEED a fully fit battery to operate correctly , a duff battery will even cause rough running , and so on


good you got it sorted


BB