Battery Cell dies during warranty for the second time - 2 questions arise?

[coolum]

2 Questions are:
1.) Are Disco 3/4 Battery killers?
2.) Is it worth keeping 2 cranking Batteries up front if not running accessories requiring the deep cycle second battery.

I have a Traxide Dual Battery system with MF88H and Amptech deep cycle in the second bay?

2 Explain further...

Love a brand of Battery with a great warranty period of 36 months, always used them and put in every car I have owned for years. Extremely reliable and always have lasted well past their warranty term.

I have just bought another for the discovery 3 V8 HSE as the warranty term is believed to be out of date (can't find the original receipt, but did have it one time it would seem, otherwise they would not have replaced it under warranty 18 months ago.) as the second battery now died.

Both warranty claims have had the same characteristics - Battery working well and then just drop a cell to allow max 11 volts - not enough to start the beast.

The Battery seller mentioned that its very rare, but suggested that if its going to happen it will on LR Discovery as they have lots of stuff going on.

They also mentioned that that have a bloke that has a 200 series Landcruiser and only gets 24 months out of a battery and it dies - no matter the brand, again seems to have something to do with the specific vehicle (not the Brand of vehicle or Battery)?.

Have others experienced High Battery wear and or cell failure in the D3/4


Second Batter as cranking not deep cycle.

Also I was thinking that it may be a good idea to avoid being left stranded to Get a second 'cranking' battery in the second bay rather than the Deep cycle as I don't run 'accessories' (fridges n stuff) as such, but have a cable through sill to an anderson plug at the back of the vehicle to power trailer Brakes for the Shark Cat trailer.

My thoughts are if I had another 'cell' die in the cranking Battery - I would be able to use a jumper leads from the second battery bay, to temporarily override the dead 11 volt battery (main cranker) and get a 'start' again and on my way.

I did try to jump from the Amptech as an experiment and it didn't have the 'grunt' to start the motor.

The trouble with the autos is they wont start with a roll start if remote and no other vehicles.. so thinking a second smaller cranking Battery (to fit the 2nd bay) would be better for my purposes than the amptech deep cycle and at the same time provide the abilty to jump the car if ever required.

I would assume the Traxide would perform the same as current except may drain the second battery (if used to power a fridge )- I am aware it would damage the second battery if voltage drops too low.

[DiscoJeffster]

Yes, generally speaking Disco’s are battery killers. You are right that with a Traxide and a second battery you can jump it. I believe Traxide has a mode for connecting both batteries together for cranking when the main is dead - but I’m sure Traxide will be along to comment.
My Disco has got three years out of its two batteries so far and is onto its third. They say if you charge it off a charger once a month you can extend this. I’m doing that and am at three years at the moment on the third so we’ll see how much longer I get.

[Eric SDV6SE]

1.) Are Disco 3/4 Battery killers?

[B]Have others experienced High Battery wear and or cell failure .

MY11 D4 SDV6SE - original Bosch battery in it when I bought it in 2014 with 88,000km on the clock. I don't run a DBMS

New battery fitted Nov 2017. Still going strong. I tow, off road, camp and do over 400kms a week in it commuting to and from work.

New alternator last month at 189000km when that died. In 5years of ownership I have never put it on a charger.

Sure there's a lot going in the car, but no more than any other current common rail diesel.

[Aussie Jeepster]

I've got a D3 petrol, and I'm 7 years into the battery in it.
Alan

[drivesafe]

Hi Coolum, i would suggest you fit a BM2 Bluetooth battery monitor and find out exactly what your alternator is doing.

I "SUSPECT" you may have an over voltage issue. NOTE again, this is just a suggestion.

Regardless of what the problem my be, a BM2 might make it apparent.

[letherm]

Bought my D4 HSE new in November 2013. It's used 99% of the time for short 10 to 15 minute trips (and no, I'm not kidding). Have occasionally charged the battery overnight but not consistent with it - probably happens every 4 or 5 months. It's still going strong at the moment but I must say I'm waiting for it to give up the ghost. Only accessory I have is Fyrlyt spots which I tend to use around town when no other cars are around. So, I would consider it being treated harshly given the trips I take and the lack of time to recover but it has lasted 5 years and 7 months so far. When it goes, I'm seriously thinking of buying an OEM one given the result I've had so far. I suppose what I'm getting at is that it's not necessarily the D4 inherently that is causing you grief. It may be some sort of electrical fault or gremlin. I have no idea what that may be though.

Martin

[Turtle60]

Don’t know about battery killer as I’m still on the original battery in my 2014 TDV6 and still ok but load test shows it’s age. Perhaps it’s time for a different brand of battery if the “brand” you stick to has now let you down twice. Mf88h sounds like the supercharge gold or silver and neither are agm type so sounds like sheer lead plate weight may not be coping.
My local indie says agm all the way as plates buckle rather quickly in non AGM. Please don’t shoot the messenger here just repeating his words yesterday in fact.
Has the BMS been set to the correct type( if possible) as traxide states over charging could be a killer as well an consistent undercharging and shopping trolley runs etc?
Still take traxide’s advice and check. I’m replacing mine now at $600 and it’s not pleasant but actually fair enough if I get 5 years. Ac Delco AGM. Bosch do a good one too I believe as probably most AGM type are. But if you pay that much the longest replacement warranty is a strong influence.
Also I always write with a permanent marker on the battery the date the battery goes in and take a photo of the receipt. At least the date on the battery reminds me where to look in my phone!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

just your bank statements will do as proof of purchase,, unless cash?

[coolum]

I have bought a BMS as suggested by Drivesafe and will monitor once connected for a while, then from time to time to see what is going on over the long term ... the batteries have taken 18 months or thereabouts to die so I'm not expecting to see anything drastic on the monitor.

However if anything looks unusual I will post it up here for reference and comment.

Hopefully the latest Battery will do what I expect and last as long as other purchases have done.

Thanks again 2 all