RRUK
Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 681
  
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| Have you played "Low Battery Bingo"? |
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So it seems I have a semi-goosed battery which it tells me every time I unlock or after I switch off- the usual "Battery Low Please Start Engine" message.
I've checked the voltage, had it on a charger for a couple of days but it's not getting above 12.2V and the car obviously thinks this is too low. It charges fine at 14.7V according to the IID.
So the question is, how long have you played Battery Low Bingo for? 
The car starts ok, its just an annoying message and no doubt come winter it will fail on a cold start, but for the time being I'm thinking I can string this one out a bit and ignore the spurious error logged on the IID.
If I do replace it will be the Exide one 1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
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 16th Apr 2024 4:25 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10736
  
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as you say, replace before winter. A month before winter to get a good deal?
I wouldn't go for exide.
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| 16th Apr 2024 6:06 pm |
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itsaguything
Member Since: 20 Dec 2023
Location: Manotick, On
Posts: 262
  
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I’m afraid, you are mistaken. The 14+v you read is the generator supplying a charging voltage. The true capacity of the battery can be read after many hours rest from charging.
If it reads 12.2 consistently, you have less than 40% of the battery capacity available to you.
Saying it out loud… you need a new battery. There is no debating this. There is no alternative. 2015 LR4 HSE Lux Aintree Green
2013 LR2 HSE Radiance Red
2007 XKR Jaguar Racing Green
2005 XJR Jaguar Racing Green
2002 S-Type R British Racing Green
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| 16th Apr 2024 6:39 pm |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244
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I am surprised it starts the engine at 12.2v! - technically it’s flat and may well drop to 9v when cranking th3 engine. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 16th Apr 2024 6:53 pm |
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Gazza5555
Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: kings lynn
Posts: 36
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I had exactly the same situation, let It go for 3 months but It was driving me mad, so I went to Halfords and got a new battery AGM Stop Start £246 put It on and It was heaven no more warnings and everything just feels better. I got a 5 year warranty as well Discovery 4 2015 HSE Lux Gauseway Grey
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| 17th Apr 2024 6:40 am |
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RRUK
Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 681
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I have a Halfords battery in my series 3 but £100 more for the D4 seems quite a hike over branded batteries just for an extra year of warranty (if they even honour the warranty) 1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
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| 17th Apr 2024 7:24 am |
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RRUK
Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 681
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itsaguything wrote:
If it reads 12.2 consistently, you have less than 40% of the battery capacity available to you..
I don’t doubt I need a new battery.
As I’m always looking to learn please can you explain how 12.2v cold voltage on a 12v battery means I only have 40% of battery capacity? 1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
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| 17th Apr 2024 7:26 am |
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RRUK
Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 681
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Pete K wrote:as you say, replace before winter. A month before winter to get a good deal?
I wouldn't go for exide.
Can I ask why you’d avoid Exide? I’ve had one on my D3 and it was fine. No issues. I’ve read up a fair bit on this forum and even people like Disco Mikey hail the Exide brand. 1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
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| 17th Apr 2024 8:10 am |
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Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1682
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Does your stop/start work? When the battery is on the way out/needs charging , that is also a telltale sign. Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
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| 17th Apr 2024 8:38 am |
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Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1682
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Someone referred to this website some years back which quotes charge % against volts. I would also say, see what it falls to when you start the car.
https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/b...HZ5xi.dpuf Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
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| 17th Apr 2024 8:42 am |
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RRUK
Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 681
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Gary_P wrote:Does your stop/start work? When the battery is on the way out/needs charging , that is also a telltale sign.
Stop Start was working before the Low battery message. The battery got drained over a number of days from me washing the car, changing wheels, had an MOT, Service and a guy came to fix a chip on the windscreen. It got doors open and woken up lots but no driving. This is the first time it has shown an issue.
I'll take a look at that link. Thanks. 1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
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| 17th Apr 2024 8:56 am |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244
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RRUK wrote:itsaguything wrote:
If it reads 12.2 consistently, you have less than 40% of the battery capacity available to you..
I don’t doubt I need a new battery.
As I’m always looking to learn please can you explain how 12.2v cold voltage on a 12v battery means I only have 40% of battery capacity?
A fully charged wet cell battery should read 13.6 bolts, it’s not volts you need to crank the engine it’s amps, at least 80 of them for a D4.
For example a 12volt torch battery will not crank a D4. :lol:but if your SS was working recently there’s nothing wrong with your battery that 12 hours on a 5 amp Ctec battery charger won’t cure, you will never fully charge it from the alternator so instead of buying a new battery buy a decent charger is my advice. If you can’t afford a Ctec look in Lidl they sometimes have some very good smart chargers for £15,  It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 17th Apr 2024 9:44 am |
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itsaguything
Member Since: 20 Dec 2023
Location: Manotick, On
Posts: 262
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In addition to @Gary_P ‘s provided link (I quite like the state of charge table) There is also this reference: https://www.batteryskills.com/car-battery-voltage-chart/
I think that on further research you may find that a fully charged agm battery rests between 12.8 and 13.0 v, dependent on quality of battery.
Or work out the capacity: https://techiescience.com/car-battery-capacity-in-mah/
You don’t get anything for free…. many mask the fact thier battery capacity is diminished by keeping the battery on a maintainer. It takes many hours of resting for the battery to normalize to its true capacity after the charging period. If your vehicle is at home every night, then the maintainer will mask the fact the battery has deteriorated. (this is an expected outcome due to many factors, rate of charging, number of charge cycles, ambient temperature, max temperature reached during charging…)
I for one don’t want to be stranded due to something stupid like I didn’t replace the battery, when it needed replacing. Others like to gamble.
Cheers. 2015 LR4 HSE Lux Aintree Green
2013 LR2 HSE Radiance Red
2007 XKR Jaguar Racing Green
2005 XJR Jaguar Racing Green
2002 S-Type R British Racing Green
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| 17th Apr 2024 10:12 am |
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RRUK
Site Supporter
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 681
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Thanks for that, that link was very useful too.
To answer a previous post I do have a charger (aldi or Lidl can't recall) and it was on charge for a couple of days but the message persists.
I WILL get a new battery, just wondering how long I can sustain as it is. 1998 Defender 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
2016 Discovery 4 HSE
1982 Series 3 2.25 Petrol Hard top- Oscar, as featured in Classic Land Rover Magazine for 7 months
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| 17th Apr 2024 10:56 am |
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Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1682
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If this issue occured after a period of stationary use ( sounds quite extensive), then agree worth putting on a smart charger first.
When I tried to rescue my small auxiliary battery dome years ago by charging with my CTEK it could not complete its charge and indicated tothe battery was no good, so a smart charger can also help indicate whether battery is capable of taking full charge or not. Gary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
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| 17th Apr 2024 10:59 am |
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