1999 Jag XK8 will not start. Cannot locate battery or terminals. Can you jump start with cables in order to get serviced without towing ?

There may come a time when you try to start your vehicle...and nothing happens. In those situations, a dead or discharged battery is often the culprit.
There are a couple of ways to check: If the starter clicks or makes no sound, and the headlights are dim or don't turn on at all, chances are it's the battery.
Thankfully, jump-starting a vehicle is easy. All it takes is a set of jumper cables and another running vehicle, and you'll be on your way.
Before you start
There are a few things you should do before starting step 1:

• Read the safety, jump-starting, and roadside emergency information in your owner's manual
• Have your roadside assistance number handy

Locate a pair of color-coded jumper cables and a wire brush for removing battery terminal corrosion

Find each vehicle's battery: They can be under the hood or in the trunk

Remove any metal jewelry like rings or bracelets to avoid accidental shocks while working near the battery

Don't disconnect the disabled battery-it could damage the vehicle's electrical system

1. Move the boosting vehicle close to, but not touching, the vehicle with the dead battery so the jumper cables can connect without being taut. Put both vehicles in Park or Neutral, turn off their ignitions, and set their parking brakes. Turn off or unplug all power-draining items: lights, electronic accessories, and portable devices plugged into auxiliary outlets.
2. Open the hood or trunk and remove any battery terminal covers. If you see chalky corrosion on the terminals, remove it with a wire brush terminal cleaner.
3. Clamp the red positive (+) cable onto the disabled vehicle's red positive (+) battery terminal.
4. Next, connect the other end of the red positive (+) cable to the booster vehicle's red positive (+) battery terminal.
5. Now connect the black negative (-) clamp to the booster vehicle's black negative (-) battery terminal.
6. Connect the other end of the black negative (-) cable to a large, unpainted metal surface in the disabled vehicle's engine bay, away from the battery and the engine itself. Make sure the cables are clear of any moving parts.
7. After a final check, start the booster vehicle. Then try to start the disabled vehicle: Usually it will start right up, but it may need to charge for a few minutes before starting. Once it starts, allow both vehicles to run connected for about three minutes.
8. Without turning off the jump-started vehicle's engine, disconnect the cables in the reverse order that they were attached, and close the hoods/trunks.
9. Allow the jump-started vehicle's engine to run for several minutes. Depending on how discharged it is, the battery may not be able to start again under its own power, so keep it running until you reach your destination.
10. Visit your local Ford Dealership as soon as possible to get the jump-started battery tested or replaced.

Your jumper cables are most likely red and black. Locate the positive and negative terminals on your battery, they are marked ( + ) or pos.,that's the red one, and ( - ) or neg. that's the black one. Conect one end of your cables to your battery (doesn't matter which one you do first) make sure you are connecting the other end to the same terminal on the dead battery (that is to say positive to possitive) now do the same with the other cable. There may be a little bit of a spark that's normal when you make the final connection. The danger is in taking them off, do it in the same order that you put them on, if you take both cables off at the dead battery and they touch you are going to be having a bad hair day. the thing that most people don't get is you have to have a good clean convention. If you don't try wiggling the clamp on both batteries to make them dig into the terminals. Also there is a huge difference between someone who left the lights on in parking lot and someone with a dead battery on the side of the interstate. The guy in the parking lot has a dead battery, the guy on the side of the road has a dead battery and a dead alternator, he needs a tow truck, not a jump.

Aftermarket parts houses have replacement battery cables for some cars. For other cars, there are replacement battery cable terminal ends available. You cut the existing terminal off of the battery cable and the replacement terminal will clamp on to the end of the cable with bolts.

NOTE: Nothing on your car works without the battery. I have had many vehicles towed into my shop because of improper cable end replacements. Make sure the connections are clean and tight and free of corrosion.

Yes batterys can come apart inside. The plate breakdown and drop into bottom not allowing charge anymore. Low charge can do alot of weird things to you jag. Replace the battery and when you do have them check alternator charging ability while your there. Almost all auto store will do this for free.

It takes a deal of time and patience to charge via the cigarette lighter socket though there should soon have been enough power to open the boot.

It should be possible to access the end of the main battery lead in the engine compartment in order to jump start the engine, provide power to open the boot or to charge the battery, if the battery is healthy enough to accept a charge. Some cars with a remote battery provide terminals for the purpose though I don't know whether the Jag does. If it doesn't the main battery cable terminates at the starter motor.

I'm sure you mean Volts not amps. That ALT. has an internal voltage regulator when they get hot they are known to fail to be sure have the carging system at a garage it runs about $50.00 but better than buying an alternator that may not be broken.

Get a set of jumper cables. Positive side of the battery goes to the + side or red. and negative goes to - or black. Do the same on the other car. let it charge for awhile before attempting to start

Hi

Sounds like usual gremlins kicked in to your computer, with the flat battery.

Disconnect both terminals of the battery, switch on the ignition to start position 6 times, to clear the computer memory.

Reconnect Positive terminal + then Negative --- and start engine, and check it out.

I am pretty sure it will not come back on.

Also I suggest you get the battery tested soon as possible.

( Is it the original battery ?) If so, its shot !

Good Luck !

Please give me a FixYa rating please !

Let me know how you get on .

John.

do you have any power? lights horn anything. this may sound ignorant but i have had cars towed in cuz people replaced battery without taking off the plastic covers on terminals. check for that