XK / XKR Battery Overview and Replacement
#21
Did find it interesting that the battery I took out tonight was the original from 2007 based on the date stamp and ~15k miles, so it served us well!
#22
Odyssey PC1350, I believe. While I fitted it to an XK8 rather than an XK, it's the same one specified for the XK.
For the 4.0 XK8, the Odyssey was slightly shorter than the standard battery, and there wasn't enough thread on the vertical clamp rods to tighten the horizontal battery stay down. I used washers under the nuts to pack things up to the right height.
For your XK, I believe the battery is 2cm taller than the standard battery (check by measuring yours & comparing with the details on Odyssey's site) - from memory, the std. one is 17cm and the Odyssey is 19cm. However, someone has measured and there should still be clearance between the top of the battery terminals and the luggage area liner. The clamps on the XK hold the bottom of the battery, so the change in height isn't an issue for that, but someone mentioned using a strip of metal to pack the bottom clamps because of slight differences in width or depth.
For the 4.0 XK8, the Odyssey was slightly shorter than the standard battery, and there wasn't enough thread on the vertical clamp rods to tighten the horizontal battery stay down. I used washers under the nuts to pack things up to the right height.
For your XK, I believe the battery is 2cm taller than the standard battery (check by measuring yours & comparing with the details on Odyssey's site) - from memory, the std. one is 17cm and the Odyssey is 19cm. However, someone has measured and there should still be clearance between the top of the battery terminals and the luggage area liner. The clamps on the XK hold the bottom of the battery, so the change in height isn't an issue for that, but someone mentioned using a strip of metal to pack the bottom clamps because of slight differences in width or depth.
#24
#25
My battery died shortly after I bought the car in April. I called AAA and they installed a new battery for $182. Labor was free. I am a Plus member, but maybe that deal works for all members.
The tech did it in my driveway and then got in the car and reset all the items he was aware that needed resetting. Pretty good service I would say.
Two items he did not know about and I did not see mentioned here. The "service engine" light came on and the passengers seat back would not raise after being reclined. The dealer reprogrammed the seat at a cost of $130. Ouch!
The dealer also changed the oil, which was ok with me as I wasn't sure when it was last done. Now that I have seen the possible problem with timing chains and oil change frequency I'm very happy it was done.
The tech did it in my driveway and then got in the car and reset all the items he was aware that needed resetting. Pretty good service I would say.
Two items he did not know about and I did not see mentioned here. The "service engine" light came on and the passengers seat back would not raise after being reclined. The dealer reprogrammed the seat at a cost of $130. Ouch!
The dealer also changed the oil, which was ok with me as I wasn't sure when it was last done. Now that I have seen the possible problem with timing chains and oil change frequency I'm very happy it was done.
#26
#27
The following users liked this post:
Wullie Duff (07-02-2019)
#28
#29
Thanks a bunch for the suggestions and advise guys.
And thumbs up to stillwaters for his help as outlined in the other batter-replacement thread (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...acement-54583/)
Here are a few things I learnt along the way,
1. had a kinda sorta backup battery purchased from Walmart laying around that I used , Maxx Everlast H8 , fits well- dont know how long it will last. Hopefully more than the last one since I plan on charging it once a week ( never charged the one I had before, used to leave car unlocked in garage, kids would go in and out of the car,sometimes turn the headlights on and stuff ...lol, all wrong stuff basically)
2.this time when the battery died, it really died , i mean wouldnt turn or click or do anything with the booster jumper . so, dead silence and no lights or horn with jumper cable still does not rule out battery discharge as the problem.
3.This one is really a question, I have a Black and Decker 10 amp car charger , will that work ok to provide weekly overnight juice ?
And thumbs up to stillwaters for his help as outlined in the other batter-replacement thread (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...acement-54583/)
Here are a few things I learnt along the way,
1. had a kinda sorta backup battery purchased from Walmart laying around that I used , Maxx Everlast H8 , fits well- dont know how long it will last. Hopefully more than the last one since I plan on charging it once a week ( never charged the one I had before, used to leave car unlocked in garage, kids would go in and out of the car,sometimes turn the headlights on and stuff ...lol, all wrong stuff basically)
2.this time when the battery died, it really died , i mean wouldnt turn or click or do anything with the booster jumper . so, dead silence and no lights or horn with jumper cable still does not rule out battery discharge as the problem.
3.This one is really a question, I have a Black and Decker 10 amp car charger , will that work ok to provide weekly overnight juice ?
#30
Thanks for all of the helpful info. Replaced Jaguar (don't think it was the very original unit, but from 2013) battery with Bosch AGM. The Bosch unit is 1/2 inch taller but fit ok under the cover panel (tight but ok). Reset parking brake and windows and everything else the same except for trip data.
#31
#32
Well, yes...but what you really need is a CTEK battery maintainer permanently wired and to use it when the XK is not being driven. The connection time is about 4 seconds once you have permanently installed the wiring (and that takes 5 minutes). Use of this unit will eliminate any electrical issues caused by low battery voltage (and there are lots of those!)
#33
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envincibal (01-21-2019),
Stuart S (12-13-2018)
#34
I replaced my battery yesterday and was following JeremyB's excellent instructions from 2011 and discovered a missing step.
In JeremyB's photos it shows a #3 but there is no mention of it in the description and this leads to an important step not being included making the removal more difficult if not done.
I have addressed this omission in the update below by adding a step 9A - see below.
7. Disconnect Negative terminal (10mm bolt) on the left. (#1 in the photograph)
8. Disconnect Positive terminal (10mm bolt). (#2 in the photograph)
9. Pull the vent tube off, and save for the new battery.
9A. Disconnect the cable that is across the base of the battery and attached to the retaining plate. This is done by inserting a small screwdriver between the plastic plug fitting and the holding plate #3 to release a clip then gently pulling the plastic plug fitting and cable away to the left of the battery. (When installing the battery, just push this plug fitting back into the holding plate after bolting on the retaining plate.)
10. Remove battery retaining plate (10mm security bolts x2) and swing aside. (#4 and #5 in the photograph)
Hope that helps
In JeremyB's photos it shows a #3 but there is no mention of it in the description and this leads to an important step not being included making the removal more difficult if not done.
I have addressed this omission in the update below by adding a step 9A - see below.
7. Disconnect Negative terminal (10mm bolt) on the left. (#1 in the photograph)
8. Disconnect Positive terminal (10mm bolt). (#2 in the photograph)
9. Pull the vent tube off, and save for the new battery.
9A. Disconnect the cable that is across the base of the battery and attached to the retaining plate. This is done by inserting a small screwdriver between the plastic plug fitting and the holding plate #3 to release a clip then gently pulling the plastic plug fitting and cable away to the left of the battery. (When installing the battery, just push this plug fitting back into the holding plate after bolting on the retaining plate.)
10. Remove battery retaining plate (10mm security bolts x2) and swing aside. (#4 and #5 in the photograph)
Hope that helps
#38
#39
I just bought a DuraCell AGM from Battery+ Bulbs. I asked the sales person if the unused vent on the other side needed to be plugged. He said No. Moreover, he said the neither hole went anywhere. There were there just to have a place to plug the vent tube into. The AGM batteries are sealed and therefore there's nothing to vent.
#40