In the few years I've had my Jaguar XF, these are the five top "odd" things I've come to realize about this car. Music by XcapeMuzik - xcapemuzik.bandcamp.com
Hi Hilton I had overlooked the bit about 3 cup holders. I think the answer relates to the tradition of providing 'cigar lighters and ashtrays'. My two XFs have had a power outlet configured for a cigar lighter (they wouldn't be a cigarette lighter on a Jaguar) and the popup cubbyhole is where it sits. I believe the 'cup holder' there is for an ashtray!
I can explain almost all of them except those 3 cup holders 🤣 1)Fuel filler cap is connected with the central locking. 2)Latch is on the left for safety reasons when you stop on the motorway. 3)Double hood mounts hold it tighter 4)Keys can be locked in the trunk if you repeat what you did with a flat battery. Almost happened to me few days ago
I don't see the need for a fuel filler release on the inside. It's an unnecessary complexity. However, I love that you can't lock the keys in the car by accident!
I agree, I don't remember any car I've had having the function and it's not really necessary. Even the boot release isn't really, in fact it's the first car I've had that has one and I keep forgetting it's there. Just a warning about the keys in the trunk trick - I tried this on my 2009 model and it didn't work. I had to get my spare key to unlock the car to retrieve the key in the boot. Love the tips and tricks though, keep them coming!
The hood release being on the left is also in my Renault Clio Rs 200 The fuel cap doesn’t have a release button because it remains “unlocked” when your car is unlocked and it locks when your car is locked, just like the doors. - also like my Renault Clio
Thanks Hilton - re: Never lock your keys in the trunk. True until I got a new "golf club bag". With my traditional bag, having the keys in one of the bag pockets caused the trunk to re-open automagically the way it shows here. The new bag had a rotator where the club holder can move inside the casing. There are metallic inserts in it that mask the key fob detector. After my wife came out to the club with the spare keys (!), the dealer double checked and the basic detection was OK, but inside my golf club bag it was not detected. Apparently they found a bulletin that said the same!
Hey Rick - thanks for sharing. That's quite an interesting story. This actually gives credence to the fact that if you hold you fob to your temple the electricity in your brain amplifies the signal - conversely, also true if encasing the fob in metal blocking the signal. Very interesting indeed. I've never locked my keys in my trunk in all the years I've been driving, but there's always that one day... I'll be sure not to place my key in anything metal :-)
The hood/bonnet release is on the left for a reason. This is to discourage you from standing next to the car with the door open wide in the face of traffic approaching from the rear. Not a safe thing to do on a motorway, dual carriageway etc let alone on a country road with bends that make you invisible to traffic behind you. At least on the left you are moderately safe and there is also less chance of damaging the paintwork by bumping the door against a fuel pump at the filling station. Keep 'em shiny side up!
An interesting idea but, if it were correct, the release lever would be on the RHS for a LHD car and they aren't :( www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2009_Jaguar_XF_Luxury_4.2L_V8/hood/open_the_hood
I enjoy your videos. Just recently acquired a 2011 jag xf 5. L v8. I think 2 hood latches is a good idea for hi speed.... As the front corners above head lights begin to shake with only one. The gas cap cover has not been an issue for me... I did notice once acted weired with the spare fob... Does it work with proximity? I did not know there was airbags under hood... I do remember in the UK making fuss about low angled cars and were about to make new laws!
Hey Phillip - thanks for watching. Those gas cap motors have been known to give trouble because its finicky about where you push to open it. I've noticed the Jaguar S-Type (XF's predecessor) had a remote gas cap release, but then Jaguar decided that Jag owners are too fat and lazy and could darn well get out and open the cap and get their 2 seconds worth of daily exercise LoL :-D
Hey Hilton have you changed the Battery in the trunk on your XF ? Mine needs replacing and i wondered if it was an easy fix or would i need Jaguar to reset anything at the dealers ?
Hey Keith, the battery replacement took care of that annoying message, but Jaguar had to reset the battery control module. The battery wasn't cheap at $400 but I've been happy with it ever since ;)
Deborah Saddler Hey Debbs, the Jaguar won't let you leave the key in it. In will beep the horn if you try to press the door lock with the key inside. If you forget the key in the trunk and close it, the trunk will pop back open. There is a wet key you can use to lock the fob in the car and then lock the door manually situated inside the keyfob itself.
Hi Hilton, I know you have sold your XF, but I wanted to buy some door and drink holder mats. It says on the advert that they fit a 2011 onwards. Is this the same set that you bought for your 2009, mine is a 2010. Thanks
Hey Jeff. They are slightly different especially where the cupholders are. On ours we had three cupholders in the centre console but on the facelift, they replaced the front cupholder with a 12v charging socket and it has a strange cutout. That's really the only difference. If you don't mind not having a little mat in that front cupholder, the rest will all fit. I'm very close to buying a new XF 😉. Watch this space!
Thank you Hilton I will get a set then. I am so pleased you are thinking of getting another one. I bought mine about a month ago and it is the beautiful car I have ever had. Please get one again, so you can do some more of your wonderful videos.
Thanks for all the nice videos and effort to make them. I have an xf jag 2009, the button lights at night are not strong - i v bought this car second hand. Do you know why the lights are not strong or how to adjust them to become strong … thanks in advance
Depending on if your car is left hand drive or right hand drive, you will find under top part of the dash, there's a dial on the driver's door side. Turn it up and down and the interior lights will dim or go bright.
Hey Jackie, welcome! Always nice to hear from someone more in the know than myself. Perhaps you can assist me. I'm currently looking into fitting ghost lights underneath my door pads - these are jaguar logo lights, so when you open the door, these light up the ground as the door opens.I'm not sure where to wire these lights up to though since I don't find a switch anywhere. What would in your opinion be the best place to wire these up so that they come on when the door is opened? I can wire the front ones to the puddle lights under the mirror, but I have a dilemma with the rear doors...
Unfortunately you can't raise it manually. The selector electronics are buggered. Check out my fifth installment on how to release the park brake for towing the XF and do this to have it towed to a mechanic. If it were me though, I'd buy an entire mechanism with the control panel on eBay and replace it myself and your car will work again. Mine never gave issues, but apparently some would fail and my friend, you're one of the unlucky ones 😔
I have one more question, i have forgotten Valet PIN number. I know i can deactivate the valet with the car key but how can i reset and make a new pin? Thank you in advance … Sam
What's weird about having two hood release catches? Plenty of cars have the same solution to Increase the security and stiffness of the hood on higher speeds.
If you've never owned a car with two hood catches, it's weird to find that your car does. It might not be uncommon, but it's not that common either to find cars with two hood catches. My Cadillac CTS had one and that was a big car. The video is basically there for everyone and most people who don't own a Jaguar won't know that it has two - so it's one of those oddities being pointed out.
I bought them at AliExpress - punch these words in the search box "non-slip interior pad cup mat jaguar" and it will show results for the one's I bought. Thanks for watching ;)
Hey Debbs - How did you find out about the hidden menu? :) I'll tell you how to get to it, but don't press any buttons in the hidden menu if you're unsure what it does - you could ruin your car. - Start your car - Once your center screen has loaded, press the top center of the screen (there is nothing there) and hold it for more than three seconds - Enter the PIN numbers for what you want to do - 660 diagnostics screen (will tell you any fault codes stored on your car) - 661 Does a system check - 662 just gives you GPS info - Press OK after entering the PIN and it will display the option you chose from you PIN number There are other options in these menus and I would not recommend messing with them, especially "software update" as this will erase the firmware on your headunit and you would need to get a dealer to re-install the firmware for you.
Oh, forgot to ask you. Is there away to reset the tire pressure system fault message I am getting on my screen? Not sure what caused this, don't know if it is when they changed the tires or what? The tire pressure is correct, could it be a tire sensor? Help !!!! Thanks as always Hilton, you are always helpful and a wealth of knowledge.
Deborah Saddler Has it been really cold where you live? Like snowy cold? This can cause the TPMS to light up for Christmas 😁. Here is how to make it stop. "Turn ignition off and deflate tires at least by 25% (around 17lbs) Turn ignition on and inflate tires to correct pressure (I think it's 35lbs if not mistaken) Let it settle for a couple of days, and it should all go good.
Quite irritatingly, you have to push on the fuel filler flap at a specific point otherwise nothing happens. It's a pain to open and I always have to get out the car to open it for the petrol attendants at the gas stations. I now know where the sweet spot is - its probably one of the worst omissions by Jaguar on a car that cost as much.
Yeah there's a "sweet spot" and takes a little time to work it out. When I opened it the first few times.....I kept thinking.....is this the time, it won't open?
Maybe not knowing there was a sweet spot was a bonus. Have never had any problems opening the filler cap, or maybe it's just being a brit that makes it work for me? It would be nice if I didn't have to open it so often but I do enjoy driving my Jag the way it is supposed to be driven. Give it the Italian tune up every now and again too!
Aawww G, that's a good spot to find with or without luck. I did say maybe, but it took me three fills to figure out how to hang the screw in cap on that little raised ledge of a hitching post. Cute though and like all things Jaguar, a reason for it AND it works. I confess I've only had the car for a year but I do love to drive it. It is the only Cat my dog approves. Cheers Michael.
Mine was reliable. It depends who you buy it from. If the previous owner didn't do services or see to maintenance that needed to be done and took short cuts, then you will have problems - this is true for any brand of car. But generally, things just didn't go wrong with the car. It never let me down on the road. Having just bought a 2011 XFR I drove it 180 miles back to my home from where I bought it and it didn't skip a beat. And mine hadn't had all its services even. They are good cars - designed during the Ford era so under the skin Ford engineering from America based on the Ford Crown Victoria chassis meant the car is tough as nails. The police used those Crown Vics so they had to be durable ;)
Or if you're a real idiot like me, you get irritated the boot won't lock, then you realise why??? Or you put Valet mode on, forget to disable afterwards and wonder why you can't unlock the boot! Nice videos, I had mine two years before watching your videos about what you didn't know about your Jag!
