Thread: Alternator failure without warning - can it be anything else?

Thanks all for this thread, it has been interesting reading.

I have tried to abbreiviate my story to the essentials, it is still long- sorry.

I have a 2.7TDV6 D4, 09/11 build and 33k on the clock; and last Friday the car failed to start. No warning lights on the dash until after failure to start - then the coil and a red flashing light.

It had been driven to Brisbane the previous weekend - a 850km round trip - with my very rudimentary knowledge I would have said that should be a fully charged battery.

The Landrover Assistance roadside help, jump started the car. This has happened twice since (we did do 100km on the highway in between to charge it). Wife stranded at work last night - not all that impressed with my choice of vehicle for our family. LRA replaced the battery last night.

In hindsight, the last month or so, there had been a growing delay between pushing the start button and actual starting, I thought it was just because it was colder. Perhaps an early sign of the battery going...?

Hopefully,the new battery fixes the problem. I have spoken to our local dealer who does not want to look at it because, 'if the warning light isn't flashing, then it can't be alternator it was just the battery.' From reading this thread - it may not be quite as simple as that, so

1) any other's with D4's had similar issues?
2) is under 2 yrs and only 30k a suspiciously short lifespan for a battery?

Thanks for any thoughts, sorry again for the long story.

Pat

Pat
Reading through some of the other threads on this same issue and using those symptoms as a guide, I would suggest the alternator is on the way out.
I cannot help you now as I will not be home until Saturday, else I would have put a meter over it for you.
Push our local dealer to do something similar as the car is still in warranty ??
If out of warranty, and you can source an alternator, I will do the change over for you next week.
Graeme

Thanks Graeme,

It is still well and truly in warranty period, given their reluctance I might just have to wait until ther is another problem before I push for more.

Thanks for the offer to have a look for me. I will be in touch when you are back on the coast - hopefully it will still be starting.

Wait and see I guess.

Pat

Lots of D4 batteries have been replaced, including mine. I fitted the latest Varta AGM which I understand is what LR is now fitting. 30K kms in nearly 2 years suggests that your battery doesn't get much of a chance of being fully charged all the time so that would hasten its demise.

Have recently fitted new Varta to D3, having got nearly 5 years and 200K out of previous Varta/Land Rover battery. Would recommend staying with Varta as many other brands are made in SE Asia and often a bit short in claimed specifications and content....hence failures are high.

I have been charging my car batteries with a quality battery charger, and have not had to replace a battery. My last car battery was 7 years old a still going strong.

My Touareg battery is 5 years old and still in good shape, verified by a recent load test. My VW takes about 2-3 hours on a 5 amp charger to get back to full...the D4 more than 5 hours, probably due to the "smart" alternator which is not designed to look after batteries.

Only 2 deep cycle batteries that have failed for me, were from over charging due to too many amps going into the battery with my Piranha Isolator, once I switched away from this, no more problems.

An hour a month setting up my charger on ride on, buggy, quad, camper, and both cars is cheap....Not all subscribe to using this method but works for me.

Brett....

Originally Posted by Graeme

Lots of D4 batteries have been replaced, including mine. I fitted the latest Varta AGM which I understand is what LR is now fitting. 30K kms in nearly 2 years suggests that your battery doesn't get much of a chance of being fully charged all the time so that would hasten its demise.

Graeme,

I suspect that you are quite correct, and a fully charged battery will last significantly longer than a partially charged one.

I guess I just find it a little disappointing/suspicious when my previous vehicles have been subject to the same usage pattern and have had batteries which have lasted at least 5 years with no special TLC.

I am aware of the fact that having stereo on without engine is a no-no, and that opening and shutting doors makes the car think it is going somewhere ,so I am careful when packing for trips etc.

Pat