| Would you change the battery before setting out |
| Yes |
94%
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94% |
[16] |
| No |
5%
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5% |
[1] |
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| Total Votes: 17 |
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mrszymon
Member Since: 17 Apr 2012
Location: London
Posts: 425
 
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| Would you change this battery? |
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We're off to the Alps this Friday. I've been going around the car doing all the little things that need doing and generally preparing. One thing I've noticed is that the battery seems quite low. It was 12.0v when I first checked, and a good long time on my Optimate (at 3.6A) has brought it up to 12.2v when the float has gone. It shows 13.8-14.2v when running (IID tool reading in real time), so I'm pretty happy that the alternator is fine. The car starts just fine, but I'm concerned that if we get it up to the Alps and the temperatures are really low it might not hack it.
The car is 3.5 years old. I'd usually expect a fully charged car battery to be somewhere between 12.6-12.8v. That seems to coincide with other posts here and elsewhere. However, if it's starting OK at 12.2v, would you change it?
-simon
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 17th Dec 2012 1:26 pm |
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Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2741
  
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Simon hi.
Bearing in mind the info you've given, where you are going, and the likely temperatures, I'd change it.
Nasher. Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:28 pm |
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BLFarrar
Member Since: 02 Aug 2006
Location: Deepest, Dankest, Darkest, Dingiest......Le Halifax, West Yorkshire...with strong links to Ireland
Posts: 6222
 
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....on anything other than a new battery....if its the same age as the D3 - its done.
or at least have some jump leads with you....
I had a near calamity with my D3 some years or two batteries ago...
had the 14 day skiing holiday (Morzine + Avoriaz) came to dig the Disco out & get it started & nothing battery completely flat hours before the run back to the Chunnel.
The only car that was near & available was an Alfa Romeo....getting the jump leads onto the impossibly located donor battery was only achieved with some Vice-Grips.
I recently fitted a VARTA stop start battery that takes a charge faster...cost me £146..00 in Leeds BREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
Save the Dipstick Flagbearer-keep it simple, less likely to fail campaign-agenda items:Starting Handles, Acetylene Lamps.
Founder: Dipsticks-R-Us Inc
D3 HSE-perfectly formed, passenger friendly...has real DIPSTICK
Jag XK-but sadly no DIPSTICK...HUGE design fault
FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
VW Golf wondermobile (?)..has real DIPSTICK
Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:43 pm |
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kp
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
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Change it before you go or install a new one as a secondary battery 
ECP are doing 25% batteries still with the MBCLUB25 code so well worth it and they bring it to you as well
2 batteries is better than one maybe wrap it as well if its going to get buried in some snow to help keep the chill off it and the heat from the engine bay a little FFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
D4 XS 11MY
SSRR Destroyer *2
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:47 pm |
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DSL
Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72910
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Isn't 14.2V a bit low fore the alternator output under load? ISTR 15.4V is the expected number. Battery could be low as the alternator isn't up to full power.
Just a thought. 
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:49 pm |
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pinhead
Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: yorkshire
Posts: 877
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When temps get low it really puts strain on a battery and any weakness will be shown
For what it would cost I would put a new one on (exide premium from eurocar parts) and also carry a jumper box and jump leads its no fun when you are in very cold temps and your car won't start Club original turbo
161k and counting
general AT's, oval timer, blanked egr's, silicone intercooler hose's
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:53 pm |
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mrszymon
Member Since: 17 Apr 2012
Location: London
Posts: 425
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Hrm, seems pretty definitive!
Which battery from ECP is best? Listed for Land Rover Discovery 2.7 (2009):
Lion Battery (Battery 017 3 Year Guarantee)
Part No.: 444770171
£79.14
Lion Battery
Part No.: 444779001
£119.94
Exide Battery (Excell Battery 017 3 Year Guarantee)
Part No.: 444770170
£87.54
Bosch Battery (S3 Battery 017 3 Year Guarantee)
Part No.: 444770175
£91.14
Exide Battery (Premium Battery 017 4 Year Guarantee)
Part No.: 444770176
£103.14
Exide Battery
Part No.: 444779000
£133.14
Bosch Battery (S5 Battery 020 5 Year Guarantee)
Part No.: 444779008
£133.14
All prices are -25% for mbclub.co.uk code (as it happens I knew that code already, I used to have a Merc and I've been on that forum for years!).
Also, is the swap-over straightforward or do I need to do anything special like resetting automatic windows or something after pulling the battery?
-simon
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:53 pm |
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DSL
Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72910
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Straight swap, you just loose trip comp stuff (resets) but a bit tight to get it fitted.
ISTR.
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:57 pm |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18506
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NOT the 020 - listed incorrectly for the D3. 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:57 pm |
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pinhead
Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: yorkshire
Posts: 877
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The exide premium at £103
It's a straight swap just need to let d3 go to sleep first only clock to re set when new battery fitted
Don't be tempted by the Bosch it's bigger and heard a few reports it won't fit Club original turbo
161k and counting
general AT's, oval timer, blanked egr's, silicone intercooler hose's
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:57 pm |
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mrszymon
Member Since: 17 Apr 2012
Location: London
Posts: 425
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Ok, great.
One last question -- if I order the battery from ECP will it come properly charged? I know that the initial charge for a car battery is very important. What kind of battery is the Exide Premium? SLA? Should I charge it up before using? (Could take a long time on my optimate, it's only 3.8A).
-simon
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| 17th Dec 2012 1:59 pm |
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kp
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Sticking the Ex back in the skanks bin
Posts: 2824
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Will the 020 not fit as it comes to under £100 delivered with the code and will have a lot of spare capacity? FFRR Owner, very nearly became a D3 owner
Test piloted a new D4 XS SDV6.. Gone and being forgotten i hope!!
D4 HSE 10MY
D4 XS 11MY
SSRR Destroyer *2
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| 17th Dec 2012 2:17 pm |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18506
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Martin wrote:NOT the 020 - listed incorrectly for the D3.
An 020 is 40mm too long. 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
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| 17th Dec 2012 2:26 pm |
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mrszymon
Member Since: 17 Apr 2012
Location: London
Posts: 425
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Update: Ordered the Exide Premium from ECP, will collect later today. They called me (30 seconds after placing the order!) to confirm that it's ready for me, and the guy on the phone said that they are pre-charged from the factory and ready to go.
So I don't think I need to do anything to it... if it's showing a good 12.8v when I pick it up, I'm just going to plug it in and go
Cheers,
-simon
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| 17th Dec 2012 3:55 pm |
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