Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Granada
Posts: 125
How long for a Battery to last ?
How long will a d3 battery last in general.
I have owned mine 2 and a bit years and I have already put one battery on. Number one Questions is should the battery last more than 2 years, I actually thought it had a 3 year guarantee, but I cant find the paperwork and can´t remember where I replaced it, as I had to replace it on a journey.
Obviously at least its second battery, the car is 2005 model. So, two batterys in 5 years ?
But it seems I need a new one. Keeps loosing its charge, and I have to jump it.
I do only drive it once or twice per week but that shouldn´t have any effect, should it ?
Maybe something is draining it over the week ? I only use it at weekends normally.
28th May 2010 2:06 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72787
One on my car lasted 3 3/4 years, SWMBO's just under 3 years. Correct re 3 year warranty, carry mine in the car so can take it to any stealer.
Mind you if your battery has been replaced in the initial 3 year warranty AFAIK the warranty on the battery finishes at 3 years as well.
28th May 2010 2:11 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
When I only drove mine once or twice a week it killed the battery as it never got properly charged up. I replaced it and bought an Optimate-4 charger to keep it in good condition.2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
28th May 2010 2:12 pm
Scott_Fred
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Granada
Posts: 125
I suppose they can check it before they replace it ?
Can I check it myself ? I have a multimeter, but not sure what I should expect to see on the readout, anyone explain ?
J@mes wrote:
When I only drove mine once or twice a week it killed the battery as it never got properly charged up. I replaced it and bought an Optimate-4 charger to keep it in good condition.
28th May 2010 2:16 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
a multimeter will only usually tell you the voltage, which if below 11v isnt great, but when the battery is put under load (trying to start it), it could pull down way lower than this if the battery is in poor condition. Its the batteries ability to supply current as well as voltage that's key for starting the car.
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28th May 2010 2:29 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
we use a drop tester at work, which is basically a short circuit bar with a volt meter on it. The short circuit causes a huge flow of current and the voltmeter tells you how many volts it is supplying even with the short circuit on. Most garages should have one.
failing that, leave the engine off but ignition on then switch EVERY electrical item on - all heated items, blowers, lights, radio etc then try taking a volt reading - should be over 12v still.2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
My D2 had the original battery when I sold it at 9 years old - apparently still 100%.
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28th May 2010 9:18 pm
mzplcg
Member Since: 23 Jun 2009
Location: Gone
Posts: 1087
Mine's original. 05 plate D3 HSE. Still works fine.
28th May 2010 9:57 pm
Trackman
Member Since: 16 Apr 2010
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 430
D3 has so much electronics in it to power, thats why is got a 150Amp alternator.
The battery life is down to what you do with it
If you started the car every day and drove it for, say 20miles to a destination and then back and did nothing else the battery will last a long time but its the short stop start journeys and not running the car every day that kills it.
General rule with Lead-Acid batteries is keep them topped up with water and charged and they will keep going
A drop tester draws about 50Amps of the battery, the old test used to be put the headlights on and measure the voltage after a minute as this took the surface charge off it. Not sure if you can put the headlights on in the Disco without anything else. Putting the key in the ignition on mine draws way over 10A
28th May 2010 11:12 pm
drivesafe
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 867
Hi Scott, if you want to get an idea of what charge state you have in your battery, next time you don’t drive your D3 for a day or two, unlock it and pop the bonnet.
Don’t put your key in the ignition.
Measure the voltage at the battery terminals and see what you get.
As posted above, if your not driving enough, you will shorten the battery’s life span and the cold temps over there just exacerbate the problem.
You start out with a cold battery and it takes more time to charge it.
If you are only doing short drives a few times a week, as suggested above, a battery charge, even a very small one, could give your battery a much longer life span.2008 TDV8 RR Lux + 2009 D4 2.7
31st May 2010 8:50 am
Bornslippy
Member Since: 18 Dec 2007
Location: Southampton
Posts: 68
I also had my battery replaced as well on warranty.
I now cycle to the station so the car only gets used once a week.
In the interests of saving money on replacement batteries after the warranty has run out, and indeed minimising the risk of having an undriveable car at some critical moment - "does the panel think" that it would make sense to put a maplin £8 solar panel in the car ? Would need to modify one of the 12v sockets so that they are permanently conencted otherwise it wouldn't do any good at all
Clearly it would work less well in Winter when it is probably needed the most.
But it might do something to help...Very Black 07 HSE. Sometimes with added mud. Sometimes towing a boat. Always grinning.
31st May 2010 9:36 am
drivesafe
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 867
Hi Bornslippy, if you park outside then a solar panel, around the 10w size would do your battery the would of good and at 10w you would not need a regulator.
Because of the distance you are from the equator, you can position the panel at a steep angle and mount it in the rear window, just make sure you park facing north.
If you park under cover then mount the solar panel on a roof or wall facing south and then run a lead to the D3.
In either case, you are far better off connecting directly to the battery itself and if you run a length of thin twin cable from the battery terminals to a point just inside the grill, where you can reach it.
Fit something like a set of Anderson 30 amp PowerPoles to the twin cable and another set on the cable coming from the solar panel.
This way you don’t have to pop the bonnet to charge the battery.
A little tip, leave enough slack cable coming from the solar panel so you can plug into the grill plugs and then drape the cable over the driver’s side mirror to remind you you have the panel connected.2008 TDV8 RR Lux + 2009 D4 2.7
31st May 2010 10:11 am
Kentuckykid69
Member Since: 15 Mar 2007
Location: Tenby
Posts: 92
Hi Drivesafe
Quote:
In either case, you are far better off connecting directly to the battery itself and if you run a length of thin twin cable from the battery terminals to a point just inside the grill, where you can reach it.
Fit something like a set of Anderson 30 amp PowerPoles to the twin cable and another set on the cable coming from the solar panel.
This way you don’t have to pop the bonnet to charge the battery.
You have got it in one - this is the best soluction of all - I use a Optimate SP3 trickle charger - I have connected leads from the battery and have run then down the inside of the engine bay (armoured cables) which run to the front grill - so I do not have to open the bonnet to charge it. The Optimate 3 charger comes with a connection block that has a water proof cover - so is wade/water proof - I have also put a in -line fuse just in case.
I tend to connect up and charge the whole battery once a week - for 24hrs. The battery is now 5 years old on one of our D3's
So - I hope it will last a long time has never ever missed a beat.
31st May 2010 12:25 pm
drivesafe
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 867
Hi Kentucky, yep it’s an oldie but a goodie.
Over here, lots of cockies do this with their farm gear when it’s left for long periods between seasonal use.2008 TDV8 RR Lux + 2009 D4 2.7
31st May 2010 12:53 pm
Kentuckykid69
Member Since: 15 Mar 2007
Location: Tenby
Posts: 92
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Putting the key in the ignition on mine draws way over 10A
