Charging or jump-starting the battery XF3.0dS 2010

[SwissJaguar]

Hello everyone
The battery in my 2010 Jaguar XF 3.0dS is low because I haven't used the car for a while in winter. I am now looking for a solution as to how I can charge the battery when it is installed without running the risk of damaging the electrics or causing other problems. I don't want to remove the battery, otherwise I'll have to drive to the dealer to re-learn everything. So what kind of charger do you need and where exactly do you connect it? In the boot, plus to the terminal and earth to the chassis, or in the engine compartment, plus to the alternator by the red cover and minus to the chassis? If I have to JumpStart, what kind of JumpStarter do you use for the big 275HP diesel engine and where do you connect it?
Thank you very much for your advice.

[JimMann]

Hi Swiss, there is currently a thread started on the Modern XK Forum about low battery and problems that can create. Do you know the age of your battery is the first question - 5 years in a modern car with lots of background electronics is about the limit. The battery's ability to start the engine is no longer the best measure that the battery is in good condition.
Personally, I recommend the Ring Automotive Smart Charger, but others swear by the equivalent CTEK, both are what would be termed "smart chargers" and able to work with modern car systems. Not sure if your car has the stop / start system, but if it has, then it will be fitted with an AGM battery type - different to a standard lead / acid battery. Accordingly, any charger you purchase should be able to be switched to operate on the AGM cycle - the Ring Automotive version has that facility.
As to location, typically there are positive and negative terminals in the boot, under the floor / and or behind a side vent grille. In the XK, the positive is behind the LH side grille in the boot lining, whilst the negative is under the boot floor and looks like a screw spike sticking up into the wheel well. You may have to slip back a rubber boot from the positive and just scrape some paint off from the negative.
Jump starting is not widely recommended for any modern car as the electronics can be very sensitive to spikes caused by the jump start. If you have to resort to that, then best to use a "Boost Box" as opposed to another vehicle.
Where you attach the charging leads can vary, but if the car is kept in a garage, then often the boot area is the better solution. The charger can remain outside of the car and the leads to the terminals fed inside and the boot can be properly closed and the car locked to make it secure. If the car lives outside, then I would opt again for the boot area, but this time place the charger inside the boot and simply have the power cable emerge from inside to connect to the power outlet.
If you have problems choosing an appropriate charger, then send me a PM and I will send you a link to purchase a suitable version.
Jim M

[ptjs1]

SwissJaguar,

As Jim has mentioned, there are a range of intelligent battery conditioners on the market, with some new very cheap models right down at £14. I can't speak for the quality of those, but they all broadly seem to work on the same principles, with a number of different charge / condition programmes. They all seem to have different settings with the ability to also handle AGM batteries. If you buy one of the cheaper ones, just check the spec that it can handle the amp hour capacity of your battery. I use CTEK MXS 5.0 models on my cars, but I've just ordered one of the newer very cheap models just to try it out.

I would wire in the ringeye attachment leads for the charger direct to the positive and connect terminals of the battery.

As regards using a boost pack for jump starting, Noco make a great range of different models. I carry a Noco GB40 1000a model in my cars and its certainly capable of starting a Supercharged Range Rover. Look around as prices will vary considerably in different outlets.

Cheers

Paul

[SwissJaguar]

Thanks for the support. The cat is purring again and we were able to carry out our trip to central Switzerland as planned without incident. The XF will soon have 200,000 kilometers on the clock and is still running without any problems. Aside from a burned-out generator, I haven't had a single problem with the car so far. I hope that with care and love it will continue another 200,000 kilometers.

[drjohnehunt100]

Why not write your trip up for the magazine?