...to find my battery in a heap.

Not enough to turn the starter motor, just a machine gun rattle from the solenoid. Jump started the "premium" RRS from the ever-dependable, butt-of-many-jokes Skoda. Ran the engine for a couple of hours which included my normal commute and the battery has been ok today. Dropped in to my usual indie on the way home and they have confirmed what I suspected - the alternator is on its way out. Would produce 14.5V when revved but at idle it was showing 12.2V! Also, the generator demand didn't change from 65% even with both screen heaters, seat heaters, lights and fan all on. It's booked in for a new alternator on Monday. Currently sat on the drive with the Ctek plugged in to the tow socket to try to keep the battery happy 'til Monday. Luckily I don't need it too much before then.

I bought a new battery (Yuasa HB019 100Ah, 900A) from Halfords this morning because I needed to use the car during the day and didn't want to be stranded. I remembered to chuck a handful of sockets and spanners in the boot before I left home, just in case.

As I didn't need the new battery today, I shall fit it on Monday after the alternator has been done. No point keeping the 4 year old battery in the car after it's been totally drained.

During the diagnosis, the chap said "sounds like you have a cylinder down". No good asking me as my ears are although the hearing aid helps. Looked at the balancing offset thingies and number 8 injector is at about 1350 with the others all at about 950. Not sure what these numbers refer to but it was obvious that one was very different. Will be interesting to see if the engine feels any different after its changed.

Looks like Monday is going to be expensive - a new injector is more expensive than an alternator!

I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't actually try to mitigate these things. I check the battery voltage regularly (a week ago it was 12.7V after being sat for 12 hours which shows how quickly these things go when they go) and give it a Ctek now and then. Looks like the alternators that LR use are just made of cheese as this one is only 4 years old!

What is odd is that my BAS FBH controller ran as usual this morning to heat the car; if the battery was that bad I'd have expected the FBH to refuse to start up. Can't believe it would cause a massive battery drain. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

At least you know now that come the first deep frosty morning when you need the seat heater, heated steering wheel and front and rear heated screens on that they will not kill the car now! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

I hope so anyway... 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

RRSTDV8 wrote:

During the diagnosis, the chap said "sounds like you have a cylinder down". No good asking me as my ears are although the hearing aid helps. Looked at the balancing offset thingies and number 8 injector is at about 1350 with the others all at about 950. Not sure what these numbers refer to but it was obvious that one was very different. Will be interesting to see if the engine feels any different after its changed.

Looks like Monday is going to be expensive - a new injector is more expensive than an alternator!

Keep your fingers crossed that you don't need all eight! The one with the high value is not always at fault, hence once replaced, the value can move, even to the extent that they all need changing (and we 6-pot owners though we had it bad!). With the only one reading high, it will hopefully just the one though.

Quote:

What is odd is that my BAS FBH controller ran as usual this morning to heat the car; if the battery was that bad I'd have expected the FBH to refuse to start up. Can't believe it would cause a massive battery drain.

IIRC the standard cut off voltage for the FBH is only 9.5 (or was it 9.7?)! Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

Thanks Lost, I was feeling OK until you threatened me me with £2400 of injectors...  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I know, I know.

Better pre-warned at least, and it's only a possibility. With one bad reading, I don't think it's that likely.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

RRSTDV8 wrote:

Thanks Lost, I was feeling OK until you threatened me me with £2400 of injectors...

Fortunate its not a 5.0L S/C set of 8 with vat. £5375.00 retail

Cheers
Col

Had the battery on the Ctek yesterday. Went out this morning and the battery was showing 12.55V. Tried to start the FBH with the remote and it refused. Checked the battery again and it was now down to 11.8V. Should still be enough. Put the key in and turned it but didn't try to start the engine. Battery now showing 8.4V! Safe to say the battery appears to have a couple of cells that have died. Will be changing the battery to enable me to drive to the garage on Monday after all. Glad I bought the battery already... 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I think Robbie may have just mentioned your exact issue:

Robbie wrote:

A rather common occurrence is a leakage to ground somewhere on the vehicle, with the alternator diode pack an all-too-frequent miscreant. Whilst it may seem a trivial number a ground raised to around +0.27v is enough to prevent the FBH fuel pump from working.

 Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

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What is odd is that the FBH had worked on the morning that the car refused to start. I'm hoping it's all just the alternator; could do without having to chase an electrical issue as well.

Fingers crossed it's all sorted on Monday.

Hi Robbie!  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Yes, I'm thinking it's down to the alternator.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

Changed the battery. What a faff that was! Should be a simple plug and play job. But turns out the bottom of the battery box has a lip that projects over the base of the battery. This is fine in LR batteries but the Yuasa one from Halfords? Nope. Just needed 15mm of one end cutting off the lip in order to pass a slightly thickened section on the battery's base. Not difficult but lifting the battery in and out twice was annoying.

Decided to plug the Ctek in to the tow socket until I start it tomorrow morning. If there is a parasitic drain somewhere from the alternator, hopefully this will stop the battery being flattened overnight. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Where can you get the ctek towing plug adaptor, have a charger but the adaptor would be ideal

Search Ctek in Forum Shop.

Cheers
Col