Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 572
Charging System Fault [SOLVED]
Hi everyone,
I now have 14000km's on the clock and just got a 'Charging System Fault' error on my display three time during the last couple of months. It appears out of the sudden with the battery icon and red exclamation mark while traveling and stay there for one minute or so, then dissapear. I have checked the battery and charged it up with my CTEK, but the message appeared again after a few days again.
Any suggestions and advice greatly appreciated!
Last edited by promitheus on 23rd Dec 2014 8:57 am. Edited 1 time in total
23rd Nov 2014 7:43 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Check the alternator output from start for a good ten minutes, checking the voltage with a multimeter as you go. The details below are for a D3, so the alternator output will be different on a D4, but it gives you an idea.
More advanced battery drain testing techniques in the wiki here:
Good battery is around 12.5v and the D3 alternator peaks at around 15.8v (which is higher than most). You should always see over 12.7v when the alternator is running but it seems to settle around 13v+. Alternator goes to full output not long after start (a few seconds) and pushes out almost full power at idle.
Reasonably new battery in rude health:
About 10 seconds after starting:
About 40 seconds after starting:
Apologies for the poor photo but about 60 seconds after starting as shown on a cheap 12v cigar socket voltmeter rather than a Fluke:
The above are pretty typical for a D3 with a good battery and good alternator. Car had not been driven for a day and temp was about 9 deg C, although it was a little colder overnight. The voltage is regulated by the cars engine management system according to load, charging rate and temperature.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 572
Thanks for your help Robbie. I will check the alternator output and post any results.
24th Nov 2014 10:29 am
promitheus
Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 572
OK, after a short ride with my D4, my last measurements are 14.89V for the main battery and 12.65V on the start/stop battery (with engine running). That's after 30 mins of travel. Do these look adequate?
24th Nov 2014 8:44 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Did the voltage vary over time?Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 572
Wow, Robbie, that's what I call a quick response! Thanks.
I didn't have the time to wire my voltmeter on the battery while on the move, but I got 4-5 sample readings and they were pretty constant. The 14.89V reading is achieved pretty quickly after I start the engine. Will try to get a continuous read-out while on the move tomorrow and let you know again. Mind you the 'Charging System Fault' hasn't yet reappeared, it's doesn't come up very often; I'd guess that any fluctuation of the voltage should be followed by the warning message, right? Or could quick and spontaneous fluctuations pass by the system unregistered?
24th Nov 2014 9:07 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
If the voltage stayed fixed I would be wondering what the ECM was doing to regulate the alternator. If the output is variable, not stuck at max and not too low then so far it sounds ok. What I do not have much experience of is dual battery set-ups and these can add an extra dimension.
Anyway, still worth getting up close and personal with the alternator connector just to make sure it is not damaged at all, plus having a look at the ECM itself to check that there is no corrosion on the connector and pins.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: Aalter
Posts: 72
The same thing happened to me. Last week I had the error twice in two days, but it hasn't come back since.
25th Nov 2014 1:09 pm
statetrooper99
Member Since: 13 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 84
I got this message on mine after only 22 miles on way home from dealer. The car went into limp mode for the rest of the journey. After a C-Tek charge I never saw it again. Put it down to a lot of start/stops with an undercharged battery. So much for the Landrover PDI!
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23828
I should have posted this before, but I've been too busy at work.
I had the above warning in October when driving to Bristol airport to catch a flight. Just what I needed! All was well though and it started straight away on my return 4 days later. Then after a week or so I noticed that the Eco Stop/Start wasn't working as normal. So I called LRA, who sent a very knowledgeable and friend LR Technician out to me. He seemed to be a genuine Discovery enthusiast.
After testing the battery and hooking up his laptop thingy, it said it needed a new software download.
The problem is that the smart charging system calls for power to charge the battery when it's required. The parameters on the module weren't configured properly. So there have now been a couple of TSB's to rectify this. I had the second version downloaded and it's been fine ever since.
The TSB is LTB00667 v2.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
26th Nov 2014 11:25 pm
promitheus
Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 572
That's very interesting LT! Thanks!
And since mine must have been one of the first MY14's, I guess the TSB must concern me as well. Will let the dealer know at my first service (12 months that is) in two weeks time.
27th Nov 2014 8:24 am
promitheus
Member Since: 04 Jul 2009
Location: Afidnes, Greece
Posts: 572
Just an update, in case this may help others.
Dealer applied technical bulletin LTB00667v2 and everything seems normal, never had the system charging fault since then.
VINs affectd are MY14's 698741-726591.
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