Member Since: 07 Aug 2017
Location: Lindfield
Posts: 128
Suspension warning light
Hi all,
Looking for some advice please.
My car has been sat for a few weeks, (time flies when every day is groundgog day) and as a result the battery dropped to 6v.
As it would not respond to a jump I removed it and sat it on a charger for a day to revive it.
Put it back in the car yesterday and whilst it starts, after about 5 seconds the engine light comes on with the amber warning triangle and I get a suspension warning fault message.
Annoyingly I had no choice but to move the car as they are currently resurfacing the road outside!!!
Have tried the old off and on again trick.
Have tried sitting in the car for a few minutes to see if it is just he reservoir needing to fill again but either I didn't leave enough time or it wasn't the issue.
I'm not very mechanically or electronically experienced but am very practical and can follow instructions so does anyone have any ideas that I could try to diagnose / rectify the fault before I have to further destroy my rainy day fund?
Car is an MY12 disco 4 SDV6. No previous suspension issues prior to battery re-fitment.
27th Mar 2021 11:41 am
Weyboat
Member Since: 13 Apr 2018
Location: Weymouth
Posts: 274
Sounds like the battery has gone bad, just holding a surface charge which will get used up by starting the engine.
If the battery is older than 3 years, replace it would be my advice.Gone 2016 Landmark D4
Current 2015 HSE D4 - AKA - 'Gandalf the Grey'
27th Mar 2021 12:54 pm
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2083
Dropping to 6v will basically kill modern batteries as they are not designed for deep discharge . I suggest you replace and keep it charged. I have been going round my vehicles with my charger every so often to keep them all charged during the shut down .
27th Mar 2021 1:32 pm
thepurser
Member Since: 07 Aug 2017
Location: Lindfield
Posts: 128
Well good news is the engine warning light has gone out. Suspension warning comes on after about 20 seconds now.
Ironically I was about to reinstall my solar trickle charger as the car was sitting unused.
Sadly it lives on the street, I have no excuse to drive at the moment, (due to lockdown) and new laws make it an offence to sit in a parked car with the engine running.
Any way of testing if it's the battery without buying a new one? Starts the car fine and seems to be holding a full charge.
Anyone permanently fitted a solar panel, (under 10w) to trickle charge the crank battery?
(can't afford and don't need a split charge but a permanent trickle is useful in my line of work, I tend to do a long drive then not need the car for a week. In winter this is normally a long drive in the dark so not much chance to top up the battery)
In theory there should be no issue but doeas it need an extra fuse / isolation / switch or something?
Plan was to sit a slightly higher rated panel, (to compensate for the tinted glass) in the boot sunroof and have it help combat the battery drain. Might even get the dash cam fitted then.
As for the battery. It was new on the 21/01/2019.
27th Mar 2021 2:22 pm
Kilovolt
Member Since: 29 Jun 2015
Location: South Derbyshire
Posts: 1079
We have seen this issue before with someone wanting to know if a battery was good (or bad)!
Even a new battery can be readily trashed if it is allowed to discharge too deep.
Remove it from the vehicle and take it to a Halfords store (or similar motoring outlet). They will have a test instrument that will show if the battery is goosed.
You could try an overnight charge and it could show good voltage in the morning, but once you place a high load on it (starting current) the voltage will likely collapse.
At that point the only option is a new battery
Good luck "Track day running - Don't put your foot back on the accelerator until your absolutely sure you don't have to take it off again"
Current Ride: D4 XS Commercial Baltic Blue SDV6 fully loaded with heated everything
Track Days: BMW E36 M3 Evolution MY 1996 (3.2 Litre 377 BHP sat in 1,250 Kgs of car, with a pro safety cage and some serious braking power)
27th Mar 2021 3:51 pm
thepurser
Member Since: 07 Aug 2017
Location: Lindfield
Posts: 128
Thanks for the reply.
Sadly have a history of needing new batteries.
Must have replaced at least 4 in the last 10 years. (Only had the Disco for two and a half years).
Will see if there is a local place to check it out.
Fingers crossed that is the issue.
Kilovolt, was it you had the thread on solar panels a few years ago?
Nearly posted on there but decided against reviving a decade old thread.
Any advice on the solar trickle connect?
27th Mar 2021 4:25 pm
thepurser
Member Since: 07 Aug 2017
Location: Lindfield
Posts: 128
So, the new battery arrived this afternoon and is fitted.
Starts fine.......
Runs for about 10 seconds then..........
Suspension error!!!
So whilst not entirely a waste of money, (the battery almost certainly was not in prime condition) it sadly hasn't solved the issue.
Any further tests I can do myself to try and find the cause before I have to have my local specialist collect it?
Could really do without a hefty bill after a year of no work and most likely nothing on the cards until November.
1st Apr 2021 5:07 pm
Pedros
Member Since: 25 Jun 2011
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 454
Have you driven it yet? Does it seem as though the suspension is doing as it should when you do? Does the car lift and lower okay on the buttons? Hard to know if the warning is actually the suspension being at fault, or the problem is that it's wrongly reporting a fault.
2nd Apr 2021 12:43 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1684
That is a pain.
I wonder whether there is anyone nearby who can plug an analyser in for you (IID tool or similar). Quite a few people on the forum have them. Might be worth putting the word out to ask.
My understanding is that reading errors can be done on any car with an IID, so believe it doesn’t need to be registered to the car for that.
Presume you have tried searching on suspension fault lights for the most common issues? There seems to be a few self service type of jobs that can be undertaken using the info and help on this forum, allowing you to fix yourself perhaps.
Good luck.Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
2nd Apr 2021 4:41 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14180
Hi thepurser
I’ve got a gap iid if ur not to far away from me as more than happy to plug it in to get the codes
just need to try and find out if my gap iid that’s linked to my D3 will also work on ur D4 to simply get the codes
In the mean time do u have 2 x batteries fitted to ur model plse and if so has that been checked , plus others will know if u need a code reader to tell the system it’s been replaced
Plse feel free to send me a pm, am in swanley kent
Edit / have just emailed gap iid to see if mine will work, failing that am wondering if an Autel AP200 will work as there only around £50.00 , is just a very basic code reader but at least then can get the codes and be useful for the future
Last edited by gstuart on 2nd Apr 2021 6:18 am. Edited 8 times in total
2nd Apr 2021 5:31 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14180
Gary_P wrote:
That is a pain.
I wonder whether there is anyone nearby who can plug an analyser in for you (IID tool or similar). Quite a few people on the forum have them. Might be worth putting the word out to ask.
My understanding is that reading errors can be done on any car with an IID, so believe it doesn’t need to be registered to the car for that.
Presume you have tried searching on suspension fault lights for the most common issues? There seems to be a few self service type of jobs that can be undertaken using the info and help on this forum, allowing you to fix yourself perhaps.
Good luck.
Hi
Have a gap iid and just wondering if mine thats linked to my D3 will work on a D4 and indeed don’t think the OP is too far from me and happy to see if it would work to get the codes
Alas understand can be so frustrating when hunting down errors , took me ages pinning it down with mine as suspension had been seriously neglected , took me longer sorting out all the bodges , including removing silicone that had been used trying to fix things
New front air struts , rear wishbones , 3 x valves blocks , compressor , 6mm air lines , air tank and finally all new brass push fit connectors to replace old voss connectors it was all sorted and the difference was like night and day , was amazed how well the ride comfort was
Fingers crossed the gap iid will work as indeed more than happy to help out a forum member
2nd Apr 2021 5:40 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1684
I did think of offering the use of my IID, but OP is in West Sussex unfortunately and I’m in East Kent.Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
2nd Apr 2021 5:47 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 14180
Hi gary p
Ah i see, indeed wondered how far away he was , I’m near sevenoaks so maybe abit closer to the OP
Just looked ref the Autel , see there still around £45.00
Wondering if that may be a solution for the OP so doesn’t have to drive anywhere
Indeed another reason I really like this forum where we always group together to help out fellow forum members
Must admit think having a code reader and a multimeter with these discos is a must these days considering there complexity
Also wondering ,when changing the battery in a D4 does the system need to be told it’s been replaced plse and if there’s 2 x batteries in that model, ie could the other one also be at fault
Many thks
2nd Apr 2021 5:59 am
thepurser
Member Since: 07 Aug 2017
Location: Lindfield
Posts: 128
Thanks for the offers all very much appreciated! Sevenoaks is a bit far at the moment, I'm in Lindfield, (Haywards Heath) right in the middle of Sussex but I will keep the offer in mind if I can't work anything out.
Keep meaning to get an iid but put off by the cost. I know there are very good arguments for the investment but it's just a bit too steep at the moment.
Think I still have an obd scanner in the house from a few years back. may just try that if people think it will still read the codes.
Will have a look at the Autel too.
Car has only the one battery. it was an Exide EA1000 that went bad and has been replaced with the same model as it worked brilliantly previous to the pandemic response leaving the car sat unused for eternity.
Just thinking out loud but could it be a sensor that has stuck? The car is on its bump stops as I always lower it to access height when its parked. (Helps the older folks get in and out when needed).
2nd Apr 2021 11:43 am
Trailered Movements
Member Since: 16 Jan 2020
Location: East/West Sussex Coast Borders
Posts: 1200
Hiya 'thepurser', pm me your number and we'll sort out me and my IID coming over to you, I'm not too far away in Steyning.
Dave2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
2010 RRS TDV8 (Gone)
1980 OBLIC 4.0ltr Range Rover (went a long time ago)
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