Question 1

What is the most affordable way to handle all-keys-lost on a 2004 Jaguar XK?

Accepted Answer

Call a mobile locksmith with actual JLR programming capability before you call the dealer. All-keys-lost on this generation of XK is a job that requires both cutting a blade to the vehicle and enrolling the transponder to the immobilizer from scratch. Dealers do this, but the quotes for Jaguar key work tend to run high, and they'll often want the car towed in on top of that.

A qualified mobile locksmith can do the same job at your location. The price you get on the phone should be the price you pay. No towing fee, no surprise module charges. When you call, ask directly whether they have JLR-specific tooling. Not just a generic key programmer. If they hesitate on that question, keep looking.

Question 2

Can you erase lost or stolen keys from a 2004 Jaguar XK so they can't start the car?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When the immobilizer goes through a key replacement procedure, the existing enrolled keys are cleared from the system. Only keys that are physically present during that session get written in. Anything that's missing, whether lost, stolen, or from a previous owner, is wiped and will not start the vehicle afterward.

Same result whether it's done at a dealer or by a locksmith with the right JLR tools. If you bought the car used and want a clean slate on the key history, this is the procedure that handles it.

Question 3

My 2004 Jaguar XK key turns but the car won't start. Is the transponder the problem?

Accepted Answer

That's the classic symptom when the transponder is not being read. The engine cranks, or tries to, and then nothing. Sometimes the dash shows a key-not-detected warning, sometimes it doesn't. On this generation, the immobilizer reads the chip in the key head during startup. If that communication fails, the car won't run even if the blade is cut correctly.

A few things can cause this. The chip in the key head can fail on its own. If someone had a replacement key made at a hardware store or by a locksmith without proper equipment, it may have been cut right but never programmed, so the blade works mechanically but the immobilizer never accepted it. There's also the antenna ring around the ignition barrel to consider. If that's damaged or has a wiring issue, it won't read even a correctly enrolled key.

The way to sort it out is to check the key's programming status with a diagnostic tool. That tells you immediately whether the key is enrolled, the chip is present, or the fault is on the car's side.

Question 4

The ignition barrel on my 2004 XK feels stiff and the key is getting hard to turn. Is that a key problem or a barrel problem?

Accepted Answer

Usually the barrel. This is a known wear point on this generation. The center-console ignition location on the XK means the barrel takes a fair amount of torque at an angle, and over time the wafers inside wear or the cylinder gets dry. A worn key can accelerate that wear, and a worn barrel can start chewing up keys in return.

If you're feeling resistance, don't force it. A snapped key in that barrel is a more involved job than a stiff turn. Have the key inspected first. If the cuts are rounded or the key is visibly worn, a fresh key cut to code can sometimes reduce the effort noticeably. If the barrel itself is the problem, that's a separate repair, but you don't want to find out the hard way with a broken key stuck inside.

Question 5

I got a replacement key cut at a locksmith but the car still won't start. Can you fix someone else's incomplete job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and this comes up more than it should. A blade cut without transponder programming is a partial job. The key enters the ignition, turns, and the car does nothing because the immobilizer never accepted the chip. Whoever cut it either didn't have the equipment to program it or didn't tell you that programming was a separate step.

I can come to you in Faria Beach or anywhere in Ventura, verify the key's status with diagnostics, and complete the programming. You don't need a brand-new key in most cases. If the chip in the existing key head is intact, it can be enrolled on site.

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