How the Jaguar XF manages it's battery charging

The Jaguar XF has a battery module which monitors the battery voltage and sends warnings via the GPS display.
The XF's battery monitor charges the battery at around 14.5 volts in hot weather and 14.9 volts when it's cold outside.
The reason for this is that it takes a battery longer to charge when the weather is warm versus when its cold.

[@nevillefletcher7518]

Wow, great and informative video 👍😃

[@AndrewKNI]

Hi Hilton. Very interesting as this applies to most cars too. I was hoping your could have filmed some of the drive. It would be nice to see the XF being driven and a talk through how it drives. :-)

[@carfanfan]

Andrew K, Northern Ireland Thanks Andy. That's a good idea. I just may do a video of a drive walkthrough. ;-)

[@AndrewKNI]

That would be class. Enjoy your day :-)

[@chrisjeffries8167]

Hi I had a problem with my XFR and I took it to jaguar/land rover and they told me that the cells in my battery had collapsed, it charges at 15.2 volts when the battery is good and in the warm weather it will charge at 14.2 volts I find your videos very helpful so keep them going for the likes of myself as I am new to jaguar, I absolutely love my jag all tho it cost me £481 that’s for the new battery and a software update

[@carfanfan]

Holy cow. That's steep for a battery. I paid half that for a new genuine battery a couple of years ago. But at least you know you're good for 5 years now, at least. Just make sure the terminals were tightened properly. Check them for looseness because if they're loose, you will have all sorts of electrical gremlins. 😉

[@chrisjeffries8167]

@@carfanfan I already have but thank you, how is your jag doing I must admit I like the upgrades your doing to it I am getting through your videos slowly, they are so helpful for a novice like myself

[@carfanfan]

@chrisjeffries8167 I sold tgos Jag a few years ago. Bought a Mazda CX5, sold that for 2016 XF then sold that to buy and XFR 2011 model. Then sold that to buy a Ford Everest and recently bought an Audi A6 as a project car for the channel 😊

[@chrisjeffries8167]

@@carfanfan wow !! You have been busy ! Well try and get another jag as a project lol 😂 as I am learning so much from you especially the boot mod, and the mirrors, I wish you all the best I am in south wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 UK

[@carfanfan]

@chrisjeffries8167 well hello to you Chris in South Wales. Pretty far away but kindred soul as we both love Jags. I will always love Jags but they all have big wheels and our roads are just too bad for them. The ride becomes rough with buckled wheels from large potholes. The municipalities are all bankrupt and do do road maintenance so it's just getting worse. I wanted to buy another XF but memories of having to repair wheels all the time out me off. The Audi has large profile tyres and small wheels which makes it ideal for our bad roads. It's also nice to try out the Jags competitor from the time and see how it measures up. So far, I'm not disappointed. But time will tell 😁

[@catlanzuliani2157]

Hilton, thanks for the video. I work in the oilfield, and so my XF sits for 3 weeks to a month. And lately I've come to the car completely dead. The battery is only a year old. Frustrated. Where did you get that volt checker that plugs into a cig lighter? Also my infotainment screen has been acting weird since this battery problem. It shuts off, then just stays on the jaguar screen, then shuts off. It does this many times, then suddenly behaves, and turns back on where I can access everything. Any ideas on that? Bluetooth module? Has it happened to you?

[@chooselife3000]

I would suggest for example using a solar panel trickle charger, look up on ebay or amazon good luck @Catlan Zuliani

[@walterreed717]

I have a cigar socket Digital Volt Meter, search on line, mine probably came from China for a few £

[@catlanzuliani2157]

I bought a battery tender for $80. Best thing. Works well. Thanks for the replies

[@rotageorge5844]

Hi Hilton, do you know if i will replace the battery by my self,if is any risk?Like, reseting the system ?

[@carfanfan]

You can change the battery yourself, there's no physical harm. Only thing is, you'll get a battery warning on the center screen until the battery module is reset. Any tech with an OBDII scanner should be able to reset the module for you.

[@MrSingingMachine]

Hi Mr. Hilton. It’s safe to say that on a 2010 XF if the red battery light is on then it’s most likely referencing to the alternator?

[@carfanfan]

Yip - I would agree with that. Alternators don't fail often on these cars, but they do fail just like any other car and that red light is a tell tale sign.

[@MrSingingMachine]

@@carfanfan Thanks

[@MrSingingMachine]

@@carfanfan Do you have a Jaguar scanning tool? If so, where did you purchase yours from?

[@trainout2grass1]

Hi Hilton, I don't know if you have any ideas before I take the XF to the garage. This morning the battery message came up intermittently this morning. I had been teaching the wife to drive in a car park the night before so we had lights and heaters on so it would have used a bit of power. I took it for a run on the motorway for a bit and then fuelled it. After that the warning stayed on. There is no charge from the alternator, so it will probably be that. I noticed that the negative connection on the battery was loose so hoped it was that, but no still no charge. Is there a fuse that could have blown due to the bad connection or bite the bullet and get a new alternator. Thanks Jeff

[@carfanfan]

Hi Jeff, no charge from the alternator is probably the cause. Even if the battery module is not allowing charge to reach the battery, the alternator should always be charging. An alternator is going to cost quite a bit new, I'd recommend getting a used one from a breakers as they don't usually fail. Very odd. Two good things on these cars are the alternators and a/c compressors. Have it diagnosed properly first before taking out your wallet though. Good luck, hope it gets sorted soon

[@trainout2grass1]

@@carfanfan Thanks Hilton for your comprehensive reply. I will probably book it in somewhere today, but I have found people have replaced the battery and alternator, only for it not to work still. After scouring loads of articles, I found one that said it was the fusable link on the positive terminal. Considering that I found the negative clamp loose, it may have caused it to blow. I am still prepared for a big bill though, as it a pain in the back side job. Thanks again for your help, Jeff

[@carfanfan]

@@trainout2grass1 hey Jett, you're welcome. My motto is always look at the cheap and easy things that could be wrong first before suspecting the expensive stuff. The fuse connected to the + battery terminal could indeed be the culprit, but it could also be the battery module. That fuse protects the battery module from a spike as it is very sensitive and manages the entire car's power usage and regulates how the battery get's charged. My car kept throwing a low battery warning after I disconnected the battery and the dealer then had to reset the battery module as a result. It throws out the settings when you disconnect the battery. But what concerns me is you saying the alternator isn't charging. You can check this by plugging a little mp3 player that shows the voltage into your 12v socket or if you have a multi-meter you can check the voltage coming out any 12v socket - that will tell you if the battery is being charged at all because it should read above 13.9v if it's charging the battery properly. My guess is, the loose negative has thrown out the battery module and that it just needs a resetting (which usually requires a good charging at the same time).

[@trainout2grass1]

@@carfanfan Thanks once again. Obviously I don't want it to be the alternator, but I just have a gut feeling it is something else. I will check the fuse off of the + terminal. I will maybe book it into an independent Jag stealer. Thanks Jeff

[@mygodisable2]

Hilton, does a phone charger bring the battery level down like mp3 players?

[@carfanfan]

Deborah Saddler Hey Debbs, as long as the engine is running a charger or mp3 player won't affect the battery in any way. The newer models though (2012-2015) have a "live" 12v socket which means you need to unplug anything hooked up to it when you turn the engine off. 😁

[@mygodisable2]

So, when the car is off, do I need to remove this external device? Also, what is the make and model of your device?

[@DarksideoftheMoon79]

The battery for my xf confuses me my alternator is working as should at the terminals (meter tested) but occasionally it's a laboured crank or just wont start throwing up all sorts of errors gearbox, parking break etc but after a jump start and 15-20 min cruise all back to normal and battery shows full charge on my meter admittedly I'll only do a cruise to blast out the dpf occasionally so doesn't get long runs I dont know if the battery is knackered or whether it's my driving style! Strangely there is intermittently a 1.5amp drain when everything is off I haven't a clue what this could be.

[@iLoveTheseRemoras]

Hilton I know I'm commenting on a three year old video, but I wanted to ask you if you know of any way to check (other than having Jaguar diagnose it) whether or not the battery management system is working? Should there for example be some situation where it gives the user a message? Reason I'm asking is because I sometimes have issues with the touch screen not staying on after starting if I've driven shorter distances, and I've never seen any power related messages from the car.

[@carfanfan]

Yes, indeed the dealer can interrogate the battery control module and possibly reset it if it's giving hassles. However, I don't think this has anything to do with the screen going off. It sounds to me like the screen is actually faulty. If it is, I would just replace it with a salvage unit as they don't often fail.

[@iLoveTheseRemoras]

@@carfanfan Yep, dealer can do it for sure but I was wondering if there's any way to deduct if it's working by myself. I'm not close to a Jag dealer unfortunately. I think suspect it could be power related, not a failing display, as it only appears after igntion that follows shorter drives, never after long drives or during driving.

[@carfanfan]

@@iLoveTheseRemoras I would think the only way you will know is if you aren't getting a low battery warning on the display if you have the sound system on too long. If you get that, then it's working.

[@iLoveTheseRemoras]

@@carfanfan Ok, it's never given that or any other warnings - it just turns the music off with a timer. I'll have to get the dealer to fix it then.

[@carfanfan]

@@iLoveTheseRemoras what year model you got.

[@RohitThakur-vq8oq]

Hello. Have you experienced that the air vents stop opening/closing on auto when not driven for a few days?

[@carfanfan]

Yes. My XFR does that too but only briefly. It's due to the battery not being at full charge. The system cuts power to everything while the engine is being started and will wait for a minute before allowing other things to work. My backup camera also takes a while as does the sound system. It's co trolled by the battery control module.

[@RohitThakur-vq8oq]

@@carfanfan I fixed..hhere's the video with the fix..kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHylnoykmdFlnsU

[@daveking77]

Great video thanks. My 2013 XF has an issue whereby after long amount of driving I get the red "battery not charging" message and gradually all electrical systems (ABS, EBD etc) including gearbox and power steering will shut down. Any idea? Looks like the Battery Management System is not sending enough Amps to the battery from the alternator. When I restart the car I'm getting 15.4V on the battery and 80 Amps off the alternator so I'm really thinking it's a software issue?

[@carfanfan]

How old is your battery? I doubt it's the alternator. A battery's lifespan is about 4 years. Then they become difficult to charge. The battery module picks this up and gives you the warning. I think a new battery would solve your issue 😉

[@daveking77]

@@carfanfan 5 years old. I hope it's that simple :) Would be my first port of call too. The battery once charged holds 15V+ and holds its charge over many days of not driving hence why I thought it might not be the battery.

[@daveking77]

@@carfanfan I've now found out that the alternator is cutting out after a certain amount of driving, ca. 45 minutes. I saw on jaguarforum.com that it could be oil leaking from the cam cover onto the alternator, causing it to cut out.

[@robbob1693]

Smart charging does this, its to leave room in the battery for any regeneration that may occur, just disconnect the sensor and you will get a continuous charge.

[@stefaneggenberger7214]

My XF was at the airport for 8 weeks. The battery is now too weak to start. How do you bridge and charge the battery in such a case? Which connections do you use and what chargers do you recommend? Where do you connect these? Disconnect the battery or leave it connected?

[@carfanfan]

Jaguar have a video on KZbin that shows the correct way to jump start it. Make sure you follow the procedure to prevent frying all the modules. You can use standard good quality jumper cables.

[@emmanueljohnson9014]

Hi Hilton, thanks for the previous advice, it helped. Meanwhile, i got similar notification last night and this morning , i started my jaguar xf, drove to few kilometers, stopped to get stuff , came back, start the car but it went off immediately, the keep was stocked in, the light went off. I suspect battery , the trunk is not opening , how can i jump start the car ? Thanks.

[@carfanfan]

Unfortunately the X250 didn't have remote terminals under the hood to jump start. You need to manually open the trunk using the wet key in your keyfob. It's the metal key. On the opposite side of the camera above the license plate, there is a little rubber grommet. Use the key to unclip it and insert the key there to manually open the trunk. Once open, you can check the battery. Check that your terminals are on tight because if they are loose, you will get all sorts of electrical gremlins showing up. They must be properly affixed to the battery terminals. On my XFR the positive terminal was loose after a battery replacement and my car did the same thing, but luckily started after a few tries. When I checked the battery, I found the loose terminal. Took a rubber mallet and pounded it lightly until it was properly on the terminal and made sure the bolt was tight (not too tight though) and have never had another issue again with odd starting or my driver's door not reacting when I pull the handle.

[@emmanueljohnson9014]

@@carfanfan thanks , i will do as you just said thereafter update you.

[@emmanueljohnson9014]

I for to mention, my key is stocked inside the starter docking unit , what should i do?

[@carfanfan]

@@emmanueljohnson9014 try and press the little release to release the metal key from the fob. Once you have that, you can open the trunk and access the battery. Once you have battery power, the fob will release from the docker. I'm guessing the steering lock is activated which is why you can't release the fob.

[@emmanueljohnson9014]

For reasons I don't know, the wet key could open the door but cannot open the trunk , this is the first time I am attempting to open the trunk with the wet key I always use the button or remote fob key. Should i apply oil to the key to try again ? Thanks.

[@denzilnaidoo2481]

Hi Hilton i have a 2013 jaguar xf and after having a low battery which i replaced with a genuine jlr battery the car doesnt start... it comes up as steering column locked but it actually isnt... any advice

[@carfanfan]

Hey Denzil. I'd suggest checking that your terminals are properly connected to the battery. If they are even slightly loose, you will have many issues. Then check fuses for the steering as well. Also check the new battery charge. New batteries can also be bad. If the car isn't getting more than 11.5v it will act up with all sorts of strange behavior

[@janet53589]

A 12.1 battery voltage is really quite low. It corresponds to around 30% charged. I'd recommend that you give it an equalization charge from the wall, after disconnecting from the car. It's almost certain that the battery is sulphated to some degree, and an equalization charge should cure that. You should aim to bring the terminal voltage up to 16 to 16.5 volts, and only then will you have recovered it. Keep an eye on the water level during charging. Driving the car isn't really gong to help, as the car only uses 14-15 volts and won't attempt to equalize.

[@marino4691]

isn't 12.1 neraly flat? and also you said it should be at around 12.3 and 12.4, isn't that close to empty aswell ?

[@carfanfan]

12.1 is the level a charged battery should be at, but due to constant charging it will vary between 12.1 and 12.4 and that's normal. A castle battery will even start the car at 11v. Any less than 10 is not good but will still run most accessories. Near flat is 5v or less is nearing fly status as it can't supply the amperage to start the engine. It's amps that powered the engine not the colts, so one needs to look at amp hours on a battery too, but saying it's flat at 12v is not correct as that is the fully charged status of a car battery.

[@walterreed717]

@@carfanfan I disagree, Fully charged (after standing 12hours) 12.7 /8 ; virtually empty (after standing 12 hours) 11.9/12.0

[@golemtheory2218]

so called luxury car shouldn't have to EVEN THINK ABOUT THIS LEVEL. shame on you Daimler Benz, same shit as you pulled since 1993 on w203 model benz. cant trust no one these days

[@talk2stop]

Jaguar? Would not be in my wish list. Good riddance for Jaguar. Happy with it.

[@mikevanin1]

Oh well, as long as you watch the videos ... ;)