An interesting battery failure

**RobA** · 31st October 2018, 05:13 PM

OK thought I would share our recent "fail to proceed" moment.

Immediately after refuelling last Friday the Diva failed to proceed. Not the best place to stop, a busy petrol station forecourt but we coned it off and started the diagnosis.

At ignition the following fascinating things happened. The clock rapidly moved clockwise and counter clockwise several times, all instruments started a shaking movement, lots of clicking and clacking from behind the dash, flat battery start engine showed up along with all the dash lights. As well the start button was rendered useless so could not control all of the above until around a minute or more after switching back on.

OK so with dash lights out but dash still clicking and clacking we got a couple of extinguishers out, lifted the bonnet and started to look around. Of course I had no test kit in the car so this was done by look, feel and smell.

Battery posts were very hot to touch, not burn skin level but very hot. That immediately told me we not only had a battery failure but a major internal short as well. That explained what was happening on the dash.

RAA called and confirmed my view and we put a battery in with enough grunt to start the car to move it out of the forecourt to a safe spot where we could work on it safely.

Resulted in 3.7V at ignition but with the battery out it showed 12.77. Fascinating. Put it back in and connect the cables and within 10 seconds we get hot posts. So remove all cables including second battery and think about it.

Ended up jump starting it to get home then tilt tray to local dealer who had installed that battery one year and 14 days ago.

Got it back today. Yes major internal failure of two cells with one leaning up against the other. That explains the stray voltage experiences.

All electrickery checked and found to be safe and sane. Tells me the internal protection of the controls is bloody good IMHO.

Battery replaced with no consideration of warranty or good will. A disappointment to say the least. But we're back on the road and all is right with the world.

This is really for information only so if anyone experiences such an event that will at least be more aware of what the heck is happening as it really was like something from a haunting movie. As well as to give confidence to owners that despite what looks like a major failure things electrical have a habit, at times, of coming good quickly. I was pretty confident we would be OK as we had to jump start the car three times and it was fine every time.

But glad it happened where it did as a few hours earlier I was towing our Q+ back from RedArc along the expressway and through the CBD neither of which would have been easy spots to deal with this event

Rob

**BradC** · 31st October 2018, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by RobA

Yes major internal failure of two cells with one leaning up against the other.

That is a highly unusual fault. Would you care to name the manufacturer of the battery that makes a unit even capable of shorting between cells *and* only as a 12 month warranty? It wasn't the Dodgy Brothers by any chance?

And yes, the hardware in these rolling computers seems to be pretty well protected against electrical abuse.

**RobA** · 31st October 2018, 06:32 PM

It was a genuine LR AGM battery

Rob

**Rick1970** · 31st October 2018, 06:35 PM

We had a battery fail on a job we done at work. 24v DC hydraulic power pack to operate ramps on an equipment trailer. 2 days after it went to work, it failed to operate. On of the 2 batteries fitted next to the power unit on the trailer failed, 0 volts across its terminals, 0 volts across both, other battery was fine.

Supplier replaced faulty battery without issue.

**RobA** · 31st October 2018, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Rick1970

We had a battery fail on a job we done at work. 24v DC hydraulic power pack to operate ramps on an equipment trailer. 2 days after it went to work, it failed to operate. On of the 2 batteries fitted next to the power unit on the trailer failed, 0 volts across its terminals, 0 volts across both, other battery was fine.

Supplier replaced faulty battery without issue.

Yep get that. Looks like the batteries had only been in service for 2 days? If that was the case then there is a legal obligation for warranty. As I said in my original post mine was installed one year and 14 days prior to it failing. I was hoping for some consideration of that but clearly a regular customer over the last 4 years carries no kudos at all.

Rob

**DiscoJeffster** · 31st October 2018, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by RobA

Yep get that. Looks like the batteries had only been in service for 2 days? If that was the case then there is a legal obligation for warranty. As I said in my original post mine was installed one year and 14 days prior to it failing. I was hoping for some consideration of that but clearly a regular customer over the last 4 years carries no kudos at all.

Rob

Rob. Remind them of consumer law in Australia. There is no standard warranty period and it’s all based on expected life. They haven’t a leg to stand on. I’ll find you the article. A battery is expected to last more than a year and especially given the price LR charge for them

**Rick1970** · 31st October 2018, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by RobA

I was hoping for some consideration of that but clearly a regular customer over the last 4 years carries no kudos at all.

Rob

You would like to think that would be the case....

**drivesafe** · 31st October 2018, 08:26 PM

Hi Rob and a few years back there was a problem with LR batteries in D4s, where they would be dead when you went to start your motor.

Some would come good, some would not, and here is the strange one, some would come good if you gave it a solid wack???????????

Don’t know if this relates to your failure, but as DiscoJeffster suggested, check your consumer rights!

**PeterOZ** · 2nd November 2018, 07:56 AM

Implied warranty . . ..

stand your ground and as per previous posts there is already precedent set.

**RobA** · 2nd November 2018, 03:45 PM

Guys thanks for your support sadly this is how LRA see it. Land Rover(R) Car Parts & Vehicle Warranty - Land Rover(R) Australia which is 12 months only.

Still that doesn't stop them using discretion to keep a long standing customer who has paid for the full extended warranty, which doesn't cover batteries, and has been using them for all services for the last nearly 4 years now including several arduous condition services

I am waiting patiently for their customer service questionnaire to fill in now

Rob

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