Morning All,

Had an issue this morning with the Sport, which I think is battery related - but I would like to check...

When I first picked the car up (Beginning of December 2013), it had a flat battery, so wouldn't start. Once it was jump started it was fine. I drove it home (about an hour) and at one point during the journey It reported a suspension fault which I thought was odd. When I got home, I spent a couple of minutes playing with the sat nav, after which it would not start again - it would hardly even turn over. I jump started it, and it was fine, and using it daily, I have never had any issue with it...

...until this morning. It had sat since Monday evening, but started fine. I left it running for a minute or two, and pulled away up the drive, at which point it reported a transmission fault. Not wanting to have restricted gears, I thought I would turn it off, and restart in attempt to clear the fault, but there was not enough left in the battery to turn the engine over and restart.

Again, I jump started it from our D2, and it ran fine (no faults) all the way to work.

Should I be suspect of the Battery or of the Alternator? Both were replaced in May last year (2013) so are still under warranty.

Opinions appreciated.
Thanks
Mark 2007 TDV8 RR Sport HSE
2003 TD5 Discovery 2 ES
2001 TD5 Defender 110 DCPU
2003 4.4 RR Vogue [Project]

Sounds like the battery is dead. Get a new one fitted ASAP. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Mark, you could start with the simple things. Connect up a decent smart charger and leave until the battery is fully charged. Then use a multimeter to see if there is a parasitic drain. At the same time you can check the alternator output. Do you have the receipts for the battery and alternator? There are some poor quality items on the market and if the car was just being patched up for sale the replacements may not have been the best. Some reconditioned alternators do not last long. 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Given that the battery is still under (Main Dealer) warranty, I have taken it to the dealer for thier assessment.

Cheers
Mark 2007 TDV8 RR Sport HSE
2003 TD5 Discovery 2 ES
2001 TD5 Defender 110 DCPU
2003 4.4 RR Vogue [Project]

Yeah I've got a similar problem with mine.

If left a few days without been run I can get the park brake fault or special programs not active. Turn off and start it again and it's fine, if I don't the fault goes away anyway.

Alternators kicking out 14.5 volts on idle.

@ rrstdv8 any reason for the "get a new one ASAP"? Is that just so it won't let the op down or you thinking it will wear the alternator out quicker as it's having to work harder?

Both of those reasons - being let down by a dying battery is a pain and I wonder if a dying battery puts more strain on the alternator - an item that is seen as being a weak part in the TDV8 (at least TDV8s seem to be the ones that suffer most from alternator failure).

I had a battery that died on me. I'd put up with it being a bit of a pain for a few weeks before it died. A little while after replacement of the battery, the alternator died. True, there's no proof that one led to the other but... 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I am having the same symptoms as this
I hope my L/R warranty will cover this !!

RRSTDV8 wrote:

Both of those reasons - being let down by a dying battery is a pain and I wonder if a dying battery puts more strain on the alternator - an item that is seen as being a weak part in the TDV8 (at least TDV8s seem to be the ones that suffer most from alternator failure).

I had a battery that died on me. I'd put up with it being a bit of a pain for a few weeks before it died. A little while after replacement of the battery, the alternator died. True, there's no proof that one led to the other but...

Well, I have the car back, and the alternator has been given a clean bill of health, but the battery would not charge sufficiently to run their test! It needs to go back tomorrow to complete the quiescent current drain test before it can be replaced though.

Happy to say that site sponsors Guava in godalming seem to be being very helpful thus far

Daz, I have read a couple of posts on here about sports being somewhat picky about batteries, and that they use a size and capacity unique to them, and not readily available from normal (non dealer) sources, whic means I suspect you will have to go and visit a dealer I am afraid...

Mark 2007 TDV8 RR Sport HSE
2003 TD5 Discovery 2 ES
2001 TD5 Defender 110 DCPU
2003 4.4 RR Vogue [Project]

That sounds like a lot of messing about, why don't they just put a battery on and get a first time fix.

It's a good job I've got a mate who works for a main dealer then

To change a battery under guarantee, dealer has to perform various tests including current drain switched off plus charging rates. As we know this particular car ( thickly cough) the new battery fitted in May has probably been flat more than charged so foo barred I suspect. I  2x TDV6. SE and HSE. Both returned to sender with issues👀
TDV8 Sport HSE...... Gone. Loved it but it didn't love me!!
Now rolling in MY10 Fullfat TDV8 Vogue. Slammed it to go round corners🙈
Cruising daily #56 mph in a Volvo V8. 😱
Lots of other toys in the cupboard...😜

Finally got around to doing something about having the car sit in the shed for extended periods without flattening the battery due to all those pesky computers that maintain a low current draw. Put a small solar panel (10w) on the shed roof, mounted an old ammo box on the wall to house the solar controller and the rolled up lead (when not in use). Mounted an LED voltage meter to monitor solar output and battery state, a couple of switches for control and job done. Lead plugs into the Anderson socket on the back of the car and when the second battery is full if it is not already connected to the main, it will do so via the dual battery controller in the car. Total cost about $50. Used old switches and wire from stock in cupboard. Pics included. Yep, could have done it better with a 24v panel, MPPT controller, etc, but this was cheap and it does the job. Just sharing in case anyone else may be considering this. Of course down here on Oz we get this thing called sunshine..........












 Regards, Marty

Now: 2008 RRS TDV8; 1975 Rangie ute

Then: 2010 Defender Puma TdCi 110; 1996 Defender 300Tdi; 1997 Disco V8 on vsi gas; 1976 Rangie 4.4l; 20 yrs of back breaking Tojos

went to start mine yesterday, checked voltage before cranking it over 10.9 volts, dropping to 4.6 when cranking
. Put charger on for a couple of hours, started it no problem, checked voltage 14.9 at idle, so I guess the battery is goosed, need to check my warranty, not convinced it will cover the battery though.