Member Since: 24 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1239
Is my battery dying ?
Hi folks,
Hopefully a quick bit of advice before I fork out on a new battery. Basically, is my battery sick or should I look at something else before changing it?
The battery is a LR AGM one at least 3 years old.
The car had it's service and MOT last week and I wasn't aware of any problems before that but since it's come back I see the low battery warning and interior lights don't come on after that car has been standing for an hour or more (it seems ok if it's stopped for shorter times).
A 90 minute each way motorway trip hasn't charged the battery enough to stop this. The next morning I saw the message again and put the IID tool on after starting the engine and it claimed a 3% state of charge and 70A current to the battery voltage was 14.8V with the engine running. After a couple of short drives, the SOC was up to 34%.
I put the battery on charge with the CTEK for 24 hours and the charger showed that it had fully charged. About an hour later I went out and got the battery warning message again. SOC was now 51%.
The car has never failed to start or showed any slow cranking etc.
I've tried to monitor the current draw on the battery when the car is sleeping with the IID tool and it shows 2A which seems high, but is that an effect of having the IID tool plugged in or is it real?
Is it sensible to conclude that I need a new battery?MY2022 D5 HSE D300 - with extra nice bits added
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24th Apr 2016 4:57 pm
Narpy
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
You should stick a multi meter across the battery when the engine is running to see what your alternator is up to.
Should be up around 15v at initial start up dropping to around 14v once warm.
Forget that, I just re-read your post, you've already done that. Mods:
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24th Apr 2016 5:07 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Doubly forget that as the D4 charging system does not work that way (!).
Did you charge the battery via the electrics (eg tow electrics or via a body ground) or did you connect direct to the battery terminals?
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 24 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1239
Thanks for the input guys.
The 24 hours charge was via the tow socket. I've just put it on for another overnight shot.
Since my original post, I've been out with the multimeter to check the current drain when the car is sleeping. The actual figures are 10mA (occasionally rising to 19mA) with the after-market security device disconnected and 42mA with it connected. So it doesn't look like current drain is an issue.
The voltage at the battery terminals with the car fully asleep was 12.8V.MY2022 D5 HSE D300 - with extra nice bits added
MY2019 D5 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - sold to a dealer for a crazy price! - So good I bought another!
MY2012 D4 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - retired to a new home
24th Apr 2016 5:59 pm
chopcat
Member Since: 08 Apr 2013
Location: Pembrokeshire
Posts: 478
mine's a hypochondriac battery as well. New AGM 3 yrs ago never can cope without a ctek for more than 3 or 4 days if you want to use the FBH or not get a start me NOW warning when you open the doors.
Starts fine and does everything else fine. Just thinks is lower than is is.
CCmay the odds be ever in your favor
24th Apr 2016 6:32 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Perhaps your vehicle would benefit from a BMS reset to relearn the battery state. At the moment I am not convinced the battery is at fault.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 24 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1239
I can give it a go...
Presumably I can do this with the IID?
Are there any specific precautions or procedure to follow (e.g. should the battery be fully charged first)?
Are there any potential side effects?MY2022 D5 HSE D300 - with extra nice bits added
MY2019 D5 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - sold to a dealer for a crazy price! - So good I bought another!
MY2012 D4 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - retired to a new home
24th Apr 2016 6:56 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Yes, fully charge the battery first before hitting the reset. No special precautions but expect it to do weird things with the alternator voltage for a while as it deliberately discharges and recharges the battery to learn the battery's characteristics.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 24 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1239
The BMS reset has got rid of the battery warning and everything seems to be working normally
Looking at voltages, current and SOC with the IID it looks like the BMS is still doing strange things and learning the battery's characteristics. Any idea how long this should take before I start to worry about the readings?MY2022 D5 HSE D300 - with extra nice bits added
MY2019 D5 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - sold to a dealer for a crazy price! - So good I bought another!
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26th Apr 2016 5:07 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
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No defined time but over days rather than hours.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 08 Apr 2013
Location: Pembrokeshire
Posts: 478
I will see if i can give it a go as well
Last time i touched the IID i caused more trouble than I had at the start so I will read up on what to do well first
Ccmay the odds be ever in your favor
1st May 2016 7:25 am
JonM
Member Since: 24 May 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1239
Give it a go, it's really easy. Mine is still behaving itself even with the timed climate running each morning. MY2022 D5 HSE D300 - with extra nice bits added
MY2019 D5 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - sold to a dealer for a crazy price! - So good I bought another!
MY2012 D4 HSE 3.0 SDV6 - retired to a new home
1st May 2016 9:25 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Sounds like you have saved some precious pennies.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
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Robbie wrote:
Yes, fully charge the battery first before hitting the reset. No special precautions but expect it to do weird things with the alternator voltage for a while as it deliberately discharges and recharges the battery to learn the battery's characteristics.
Bit of a thread resurrection but does that mean if you leave the car for a few weeks then put it on charge overnight (via battery terminals) you'd need to reset the BMS?
8th Sep 2016 12:52 pm
LandPhil
Member Since: 25 Apr 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 197
DSL, you should not charge the D4 battery via the battery terminals. Connecting directly to the +terminal is fine but the - should be connected to a body or engine earth. If you connect directly to the - terminal you can cause problems with the BMS.
Generally speaking you would need to reset the BMS after fitting a new (different) battery, but if you replace an AGM (recommended for the D4) with a new AGM then you shouldn't need to do a reset.FFRR Westminster TDV8
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and 70A current to the battery voltage was 14.8V with the engine running. After a couple of short drives, the SOC was up to 34%.
