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Thread: Low battery - 6.5 - 8.5V

  1. #1
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    Low battery - 6.5 - 8.5V

    Hi all,

    This morning the D3 wouldn't start - it at first gave a low voltage warning then would just switch off when you turned the ignition on. I plugged in the IID Tool and it showed an at rest voltage of 8.5V and when you had the ignition on a voltage of 6.5V

    The battery is just under two years old (I can't find the bloody receipt! ) and shows no signs of damage. The car was last driven last Sunday, so it has sat still for less than 5 whole days. I have a Traxide SC80 installed, and when I last checked it on Sunday it was flashing to show it was over 85% charged.

    I have never seen it drop this low, and I was of the understanding that the SC80 isolated the batteries when voltage dropped below a certain level, giving me some security against this happening. I have seen people isolating the SC80 when storing the car for a while - Can someone please explain why?

    Also, can someone recommend a good battery charger - I have thought about getting one for a while now as Finn's battery will need to be topped up every now and then. I have anderson plugs at the back of the D3 which is my preferred charging method.

    Cheers

    Dan
    FINN - '72 88" S3 - 2.286 petrol - yet to go on it's first adventure
    SOLD - '08 D3 4.0 V6 - 265/65/R17 on X5 rims
    GONE '96 D1 300Tdi - 2" lift, 32" tyres, HD rear axles, lockers :(

  2. #2
    DiscoMick Guest
    Cold weather can affect batteries.
    If you put it on a multi-stage charger for several days the regular excitement caused by the charger should help to prevent sulphur build-up and keep it healthy. They like periods of excitement followed by rest periods.
    I have two Projecta chargers, which are fine, but any of the well-known multi-stage ones should do a good job.

  3. #3
    DiscoMick Guest
    BTW I have never done anything to isolate my SC80, but I have an 80 watt solar panel on the roof rack to keep the starting battery charged, so my experience may not be typical.

  4. #4
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    If you have an sc80 I’m sure Tim from traxide would be happy to discuss with you direct. Perhaps your battery has just had a catastrophic collapse. And drained that low it will probably dodgy going forward and new one needed. Just replacing mine now so feel your pain.

  5. #5
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    Switching it off is to stop it drawing power. Turning off the SC80 or using storage mode discussed in these threads:

    Battery failure #2 grrr

    Traxide isolator earth wire on/off switch

    David
    Everything is easy when someone else is doing it
    MY14 SDV6 SE Corris Grey
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  6. #6
    josh.huber Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Disco-tastic View Post
    Hi all,

    This morning the D3 wouldn't start - it at first gave a low voltage warning then would just switch off when you turned the ignition on. I plugged in the IID Tool and it showed an at rest voltage of 8.5V and when you had the ignition on a voltage of 6.5V

    The battery is just under two years old (I can't find the bloody receipt! ) and shows no signs of damage. The car was last driven last Sunday, so it has sat still for less than 5 whole days. I have a Traxide SC80 installed, and when I last checked it on Sunday it was flashing to show it was over 85% charged.

    I have never seen it drop this low, and I was of the understanding that the SC80 isolated the batteries when voltage dropped below a certain level, giving me some security against this happening. I have seen people isolating the SC80 when storing the car for a while - Can someone please explain why?

    Also, can someone recommend a good battery charger - I have thought about getting one for a while now as Finn's battery will need to be topped up every now and then. I have anderson plugs at the back of the D3 which is my preferred charging method.

    Cheers

    Dan
    What brand is the battery, is it stamped on the terminals at all, is there a number or letter burnt into the top casing? If it is, you don't need a receipt, that's the date code, they will replace generally.

  7. #7
    LRD414's Avatar
    LRD414 is offline Super Moderator Subscriber
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    Quote Originally Posted by Disco-tastic View Post
    .... I was of the understanding that the SC80 isolated the batteries when voltage dropped below a certain level, giving me some security against this happening. I have seen people isolating the SC80 when storing the car for a while - Can someone please explain why?
    Dan, the isolator will separate the batteries but that won't stop a battery from dying.
    The isolator can only protect your cranking battery from external problems, like excessive drains from accessories or failure of the aux battery.
    As David mentioned, the disconnection of the isolator simply stops it from being an unnesscessary drain during times of inactivity.

    I'd say your battery is cactus at those very low voltages.

    Cheers,
    Scott
    D4 TDV6 MY14 with Llams, Tuffant Wheels, Traxide DBS, APT sliders & protection plates, Prospeed Winch Mount w/ Carbon 12K, Mitch Hitch & Drifta Drawers
    Link to my D4 Build Thread
    D3 2005 V8 Petrol
    Ex '77 RRC 2 door. Long gone but not forgotten.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by josh.huber View Post
    What brand is the battery, is it stamped on the terminals at all, is there a number or letter burnt into the top casing? If it is, you don't need a receipt, that's the date code, they will replace generally.


    Is that the sort of thing you mean?
    FINN - '72 88" S3 - 2.286 petrol - yet to go on it's first adventure
    SOLD - '08 D3 4.0 V6 - 265/65/R17 on X5 rims
    GONE '96 D1 300Tdi - 2" lift, 32" tyres, HD rear axles, lockers :(

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by LRD414 View Post
    Dan, the isolator will separate the batteries but that won't stop a battery from dying.
    The isolator can only protect your cranking battery from external problems, like excessive drains from accessories or failure of the aux battery.
    As David mentioned, the disconnection of the isolator simply stops it from being an unnesscessary drain during times of inactivity.

    I'd say your battery is cactus at those very low voltages.

    Cheers,
    Scott
    Yeah i fear its way past cactus. I just put a multimeter across it and measured 5.65V. The last battery i had died and it measured 10.5V so i have no idea what happened here.

    I will take it back to where i bought it from and see how i go with warranty. Its a century battery so I expected longer service from it!
    FINN - '72 88" S3 - 2.286 petrol - yet to go on it's first adventure
    SOLD - '08 D3 4.0 V6 - 265/65/R17 on X5 rims
    GONE '96 D1 300Tdi - 2" lift, 32" tyres, HD rear axles, lockers :(

  10. #10
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    Hi Dan have measured the voltage on your auxiliary battery?

    If your cranking battery is still in your Disco, and loosing voltage like that, I suggest you check out your alternator.

    If the alternator has cooked a diode, while it will still work while the motor is running, it can flatten a cranking battery in a similar way to how yours is discharging, while the motor is off.

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