Thread: BeCM waking up - dead battery

Originally Posted by Rupert Prior

small batteries will work but they are working flat out and have no reserve power when they start to fail, a bigger battery has more capacity to soak up the highs and lows but still give a stable voltage.
the battery problem have been arround for ages and just keeps being made worse, with more and more demands for power. rover say that the problem on LM range rovers is so bad they have to be put on charge when they are in for any service. this is because a voltage below 12.6 will start causing systems to shut down (this is a 12V system remember).
other cars need stable voltages of around 12V to function properly which is possible with smaller batteries but everything must be in top condition and the battery fully charged, otherwise the starter will drag the voltage down to 10 and below (which rattles relays and gives Becms a headache).
the charging system is also being pushed over its limit and so does not keep the battery fully charged, the temperature of the battery is too high (you cannot fully charge a hot battery), the charge time from the alternator is often too short and the voltage is too low (especially for calcium type). this is all i can remember of a long lecture i got on a course at rover. there are some more articles about this online if you are interested.

Awesome explanation, thanks Rupert. I am hereby convinced to go get myself a stonker.

This is the one that centruy battery website recommends.
I would have thought that this one would be fine?

Any recent experience or thoughts?

I went and grabbed the recommended 950CCA battery and installed. I feel better already

I report here, that phoning around is worth it. Supercheap didnt have it but could get it in for $439. Autobarn didnt have stock but would get them for me for $319, ended up picking one up off the shelf in Battery World for $279. Not bad I reckon for such a big unit.

Key fob still doesnt work... But that is another thread topic.

This thread made me check my battery... was pleased to find the current Hard Rangie (aka "Blue Thunder" - you'll know why if you've heard it running ) has a 900CCA battery, and the new Hard Rangie (Black Label Edition until I think of something better) has a 950CCA battery.

One less thing to be concerned about

Cheers, Paul.

Decided to check my battery today. Only 730 CCA but so far working great

Gary

Originally Posted by PaulP38a

Does it only happen in your garage? If you park it outside does it still wake up after a few minutes? What about at work or some other distant location?
Paul.

I have now confirmed that it does fall alseep (and not wake) at work, and out the front on the road at my house. It only seems to be an insomniac in my garage.

I have disconnected all wireless things in the house that I can think of. The car is parked close to the house powerbox and two fridges in the garage, I am not sure if they are involved.

Is a P38a Battery "PYHSICALLY" the same size as a D2 battery????(330mm wide x 220mm high x 170mm deep)
If so Caterpillar do a 1000CCA battery for around $190.Part no 175-4390. This battery has 10mm bolt terminals which I converted my D2 too,it is available with conventional lugs.
See Westrac or your state CAT parts seller.
Andrew

Originally Posted by glenhendry

I have now confirmed that it does fall alseep (and not wake) at work, and out the front on the road at my house. It only seems to be an insomniac in my garage.

I have disconnected all wireless things in the house that I can think of. The car is parked close to the house powerbox and two fridges in the garage, I am not sure if they are involved.

Well our fridge thermostat switching on will cause a distinct "pock" noise in our loungeroom FM radio so you could be on to something. Just like a mobile phone will cause noises in a landline phone or car radio.

Unless those 2 fridges are both for beer and mixed spirirts they have no place in the garage

I recommend you empty the contents of one beer fridge, a can/bottle at a time... I'm sure you'll find some willing volunteers here to assist with the scientific experiment. Switch it off for a couple of days and see if the car sleeps.

If that doesn't work, empty the contents of the second beer fridge using scientific method described previously with same or different assistants.

This scientific study should be performed regardless of the potential BeCM replacement discussed in your other thread.

If I could get the time to come up to Bris, I'd be a willing assistant

Cheers, Paul.