Member Since: 02 Nov 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1027
Battery Advice
My battery seems to be in decline as I get a brief "Special Programs Off" warning after the first cold start of the day. Also I think, on a few occasions, the voltage is too low to remotely activate my FBH. Luckily the vehicle starts instantly on turning the key so I think this helps the weedy battery.
Question is, do I resort to a weekly charge using the CTEK or should I bite the bullet and fit a new Battery? This wasn't an issue last year and given that the worst of the winter is probably yet to come how long should I prolong the battery by charging it regularly?Just 'cause you got the power... that don't mean you got the right.
5th Jan 2019 5:20 pm
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9402
1st step is to get it fully charged with the ctek, I only use my Disco a couple of times a week and yesterday at -2 It struggled a bit, so I've now hooked it up to the ctek, and no issues at all this morning.
Then keep an eye on things, this time of year, with all the electrics, the Disco will struggle to fully charge the battery itself Iggy/Ieuan
Current LR =
2015 RR Sport Autobiography
&
1992 Land Rover Defender Camper
- Gone but not forgotten:
MY10 D4 GS
MY05 Disco 3 'S'
MY14 FL2 HSE manual in Blue
MY15 Disco 4 HSE Lux in Santorini Black
MY08 Disco 3 SE manual in Buck Blue
1960 Series 2 88" (No idea why I sold it!)
5th Jan 2019 5:29 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6266
my battery was kinda OK before we got home for Christmas
main died in -7 deg and although I have recharged it to full it was clear it is dead since it was only holding 12.3 volts
replaced with new one 95AH 850cc and even SS started working again just to trash secondary battery completely which has not been able to keep charge at all
200 quid later and 2000 miles still prefect starts whith no coughing or dimming lights and fecking SS works perfect as well ughhhh and life without it was sooo sweet
BCM reset takes around 20 sec with IID Tool as well so all good.
G
Last edited by grzesiul on 5th Jan 2019 5:37 pm. Edited 2 times in total
5th Jan 2019 5:34 pm
ClassikFan
Member Since: 02 Nov 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1027
It had a full charge just before xmas, I suppose I'm living on borrowed time with this battery. Don't want it failing on me at 5.00am on a snowy monday.Just 'cause you got the power... that don't mean you got the right.
5th Jan 2019 5:34 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10365
even with a new battery I like a weekly charge if its not used 7 days a week.
So you may as well start the habbit with the old battery and see
5th Jan 2019 5:42 pm
XDAndy
Member Since: 16 Jan 2018
Location: Gibraltar
Posts: 597
I’ve literally just completed this cycle.
When I bought my disco last year the battery was already failing in that when starting the car I’d get ‘special programs off’ and all the electrics shutdown and then reboot as the car starts.
The battery was a lead acid Hankook MF60038, 100Ah, CCA850A and only a year old when I got the car. Got in touch with the distributor in the UK and no recognisable warranty!
Went the route of getting a CTEK MXS7.0 and put the battery through a reconditioning charge, then regular charges in the vehicle.
Slightly hampered by not having a garage, and ‘driveway’ is a forecourt fronting the street, so not comfortable leaving a cable trailing to the car overnight.
Post charge, would work without dropping the electrics for a day or so but then gradually start to have electrical shutdowns on starting.
Finally, this winter, started getting to the point of having to make sure everything turned off, lights, fan, radio, before attempting to start.
Now switched to a VARTA AGM battery, and wow! Difference is remarkable. Been in for 11 days so far and not had a single electrical shutdown.
I don’t regret getting the CTEK and would absolutely advocate getting one, though if I were to do it again would probably get the MXS25.
If I had a garage, I’d probably have plugged it in every night - made an adapter that plugged into the tow socket- and would probably be still be running the Hankook, but I can’t fault the AGM so far, and as Pete said, I will still need to charge the new battery periodically.
My advice : get a new battery AND a CTEK
5th Jan 2019 10:25 pm
ClassikFan
Member Since: 02 Nov 2016
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1027
New battery ordered. As I said the car has never failed to start but I can see how the battery is not in as good shape as last winter and the one before that. I will keep the new one topped up with my CTEK as I did before.
I am getting an EA1000 Exide Premium 017TE from Tayna.Just 'cause you got the power... that don't mean you got the right.
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