Member Since: 23 Oct 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 636
2009 D4 low battery warning
Went to start up on Sunday and a message on the screen said low battery start within 3 minutes or it will shut down. It would not start and seamed to die as I tried to start it. Ended up with jump leads form my other vehicle which got it started. For a couple of journeys on Sunday the engine malfunction light stayed on, which only appeared after the battery issue. It then disappeared and has not returned since.
However later Sunday the 3 minute warning came on the screen when I next went to use it, but it did turn over. Then used it again done about 10 trips, and yesterday drove 50 miles to work was ok, drive home 50 miles and stopped of at a local tesco. Locked car came back to car after 5 minutes and the warning was there again. It did turn over so home ok.
Any suggestions, faulty battery? Never noticed it before, but I don't normally look at the screen that much, now I am more aware, I have noticed since the issue above (2 days) that when I turn the vehicle over, a message at the top of the screen says 'ignition on'. This is in the first 5-10 seconds of turning over. I can't recall it before.
Off to the Pyrenees Saturday so going to try booking it in today.
I do also have a split charging system and second battery.CLUB DEFNER
17th Sep 2013 6:06 am
Tony686
Member Since: 23 Oct 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 636
Don't know if it relevant but I think it may have said low power rather than low battery.CLUB DEFNER
17th Sep 2013 6:11 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
You have not mentioned it but did you put the battery on charge after the first event?Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 23 Oct 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 636
No, I took it for a run of about 20 miles to the woods straight after jumping it of my other car, when i went to lock the car at the woods the warning appeared again. Quickly turned it over and it started. Ran it for about 2 minutes and then turned it off. No error message. Walked dog for 2 hrs, came back expecting flat battery but no error and it started fine. The engine malfunction light was on during all of this. Drove home 20 miles. No error. Went back out again in the afternoon, no error, drove 15 miles to shop, parked, drove back (at some point the engine malfunction light went off). No warnings. Then 50 miles yesterday, parked for 10 hours, then drove 50 miles to tesco and warning light on when I came back to car. Not used the car this morning, but tested it and it turned over as it should. No warning lights.CLUB DEFNER
17th Sep 2013 6:40 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Ok, you need to charge your battery to full state of charge as your battery is still almost flat. The alternator is only designed to top-up your battery and LR quote that it would take over 8 hours of continuous driving with no additional electrical loads to charge a battery.
We can work out what, if anything, drained the battery the first time around once you get you battery to a proper state. Repeated cranking on a low battery can kill it completely, so charge it asap. To aid further diagnostic I would disconnect the 2nd battery, charge it and leave it disconnected for now.
If you don't have a charger then buy a 5, 7 or 10 amp Ctek. Not all battery chargers can cope with the D3/D4.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 23 Oct 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 636
Robbie. Thanks for the advice.
I was 1st thing Sunday morning working in the boot fitting my fridge slide for my trip. The tail gate was open about 2hrs. I have booked it in with LR twm (£130 for diagnostic check if its not a warranty issue!!)
Will get the battery charged, but thinking I can't afford to have the issue in the Pyrenees CLUB DEFNER
17th Sep 2013 7:22 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
So you just flattened the battery during the fridge install and have not properly charged the battery since.
I'd cancel the worry as well as the diagnostic session.
Simples.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 604
I have had the doors open all day with no issues as long as interior light are turned off. I know of plenty of people with plenty of battery problems at your age of vehicle. Those batteries are not good enough, jost make it out of the warranty period...just! But not all.I have just bought a Bosch s6AGM for my March 2010(which is the LR spec for replacemet) for £148 delivered. Am happy man looking forward to winter. I would save the £130 and buy a new battery. Just me....d4 HSE
17th Sep 2013 8:13 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
If the guy has had no problems previously and has just accidentally flattened the battery then why on earth would you want to give away £130 rather than just charging it?
Got 7 years out of my first battery and only changed it ahead of a winter. Conditioning your battery with a Ctek or similar is good value!Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
OP has "split charging system and second battery".
I would have thought that as already suggested above, the solution would be to fully charge both batteries, using a good intelligent charger like a CTEK:-
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17th Sep 2013 8:41 am
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 604
Yep, each to their own. I have always got at least 7 years from all my other cars, as you did on your d3, but I have heard too many stories of 59 plate d4's last winter going crook and needing callout. If you stay close to home, then don't worry about it, but if like OP you go to Pyrenees, or like me you go to Alps 3 times each winter, then you have to decide whether to run the risk. The new spec battery is AGM which is a differnet animal to what they shipped with originally.d4 HSE
17th Sep 2013 12:45 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Stick, I hear you but if the OP had not accidentally flattened his battery whilst installing his fridge would he have been worrying about it not surviving his trip?Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 23 Oct 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 636
Well, it did go to the dealers.
They have put the battery on charge overnight and informed me it would not hold the right charge and therefore needs a new battery....
Reading on here, the battery does seam to have a life expectancy of 4 or so years, I can only assume and have to trust them this is the issue. Quoted £234 for the battery fitted and settings reset. I know I can get the battery cheaper and can fit piece of , however as they have it and time is running out (i.e. working my off at work before I go away and got to pack etc) I see no option but to fork out the £234!
I see it is also not covered under the warranty, but pain in the as I have only owned it for 10 months
thanks for the advice above.
Oh I also put the battery on charge the night before I gave the vehicle to LR. No error showed, but I could not afford a breakdown and the hassle while away CLUB DEFNER
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, however as they have it and time is running out (i.e. working my 
