Member Since: 08 Jan 2014
Location: Latina
Posts: 102
Hi treeiup,
I had the same issues on my car, I changed two batteries, one in genuary and then again in september, the alternator ( I bought the improved version at Advanced Factors) as well in september without really solving the problem since I got stuck in my tiny box underground. I was unable to take my beloved out of it!
My friend mechanic came to my help: with the bonnet open in the dark underground box while trying to start it he saw a spark from below the battery holder...
The battery wire (black one) that connects it to the chassis just below the battery holder was loose, so the connection was uncertain while riding the bumps of the road or similar. That induced an irregular operation of the alternator and of many other electrical components of the vehicle:
Voltage was rough, ranging from 11 volts to 15,5 volts only in some occasion (IID tool),
Tha radio was skipping off saltuary on the occasion of high voltage spikes (like a protection feature),
The battery did drain to minimum on certain trips and was good in others.
It was a mess, really...
My friend did tighten that bolt and like a miracle everything now is working fine ( two months already).
This was something I never heard about before, so I hope it could be of help check it!
Now I have two good Batteries and two good alternators...
Cheers and Happy New Year
Gianni
31st Dec 2016 5:40 pm
treeiup
Member Since: 26 May 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 74
Thanks for this reply Gianni and I'm glad you got your car going again!
I will be (attempting to) tracing the wires tomorrow, I poked the battery earth with a pencil today as it just fit down the gap and it seems secure so I'm wondering if I didn't tighten the nut on the battery connection for the alternator when I put it on... we shall hopefully see my06 D3
1st Jan 2017 9:25 pm
Hocks172
Member Since: 29 Mar 2014
Location: Brighton
Posts: 556
Gianni330 wrote:
Hi treeiup,
I had the same issues on my car, I changed two batteries, one in genuary and then again in september, the alternator ( I bought the improved version at Advanced Factors) as well in september without really solving the problem since I got stuck in my tiny box underground. I was unable to take my beloved out of it!
My friend mechanic came to my help: with the bonnet open in the dark underground box while trying to start it he saw a spark from below the battery holder...
The battery wire (black one) that connects it to the chassis just below the battery holder was loose, so the connection was uncertain while riding the bumps of the road or similar. That induced an irregular operation of the alternator and of many other electrical components of the vehicle:
Voltage was rough, ranging from 11 volts to 15,5 volts only in some occasion (IID tool),
Tha radio was skipping off saltuary on the occasion of high voltage spikes (like a protection feature),
The battery did drain to minimum on certain trips and was good in others.
It was a mess, really...
My friend did tighten that bolt and like a miracle everything now is working fine ( two months already).
This was something I never heard about before, so I hope it could be of help check it!
Now I have two good Batteries and two good alternators...
Cheers and Happy New Year
Gianni
I had this exact problem!! I did show it on here with a picture of the earth cable, it was very burnt!! There's a picture in my gallery I think.
previous LR D3 HSE, RRS HST, RR Evoque Dynamic Lux.
Current D5 HSE Lux
1st Jan 2017 10:01 pm
Gianni330
Member Since: 08 Jan 2014
Location: Latina
Posts: 102
Hi and Happy New Year
I hope you will find the problem and solve it easily.
The black battery wire is connected to the body of our beloved with a big bolt that seemed correctly fixed to me at first instance, but it wasn't really tighten and a thorough clean up from corrosion has been necessary before fixing it again with the right tight.
A little gap can lead to corrosion and a loose bolt can leave space for sparks.
Batteries when in operation do generate hidrogen that could build up around the area if not correctly driven away by that little hose connected to the battery and the outside of the engine bay.
Hidrogen, oxygen and sparks do play critical games together
I think it should be checked every now and then during maintenance ops
Cheers, Gianni
1st Jan 2017 10:06 pm
treeiup
Member Since: 26 May 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 74
Thanks guys, just had the battery out and checked the battery earth behind the fuse box and there is no corrosion. There was a pool of water below the ecu's and surrounding the block of wires going down to the fuse box in the cab. I've checked the connection on the alternator and it's tight so any ideas would be appreciated, I'm going to disconnect the connectors into the ecu's and give them a blast with some electrical contact spray just incase there has been any ingress into the connectors..... maybe it's time for a auto electrical garage my06 D3
2nd Jan 2017 12:35 pm
Hocks172
Member Since: 29 Mar 2014
Location: Brighton
Posts: 556
Have you replaced the alternator with a Denso one yet? As a lot of people have had issues due to not using the genuine one.
previous LR D3 HSE, RRS HST, RR Evoque Dynamic Lux.
Current D5 HSE Lux
2nd Jan 2017 1:45 pm
treeiup
Member Since: 26 May 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 74
It's on order, should be here wednesday. I had hoped that it was going to be that battery connection and I wouldn't have wasted £100 on a duff alternator but having checked all the connections that are easily accessible, fingers crossed that's what the problem will be my06 D3
2nd Jan 2017 4:05 pm
treeiup
Member Since: 26 May 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 74
Always buy the denso alternator peeps! my06 D3
6th Jan 2017 12:02 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4400
Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
6th Jan 2017 12:21 am
Oswiperus D3 Decade
Member Since: 02 Apr 2010
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Posts: 1590
Glad you're all sorted
6th Jan 2017 12:43 am
treeiup
Member Since: 26 May 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 74
Thanks for everyone's input. Love this place! my06 D3
6th Jan 2017 9:26 am
treeiup
Member Since: 26 May 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 74
I think I now have a battery drain problem (or the battery is on it's way out), my battery last night after a motorway run was at 12.4v and this morning it was at 12.1v, is this normal?
I've just done a continuity test shutting every thing down for 15mins etc, got 0.9mA I think I haven't done a continuity test before but I used Robbies guide http://www.disco4.com/forum/post1366423.html#1366423
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we shall hopefully see 
I haven't done a continuity test before but I used Robbies guide 
