Thread: LR Defender Battery Issue

If you're leaving parked up for periods of time, you might want to consider a solar charger to just keep the batteries topped up.

M

Originally Posted by camel_landy

If you're leaving parked up for periods of time, you might want to consider a solar charger to just keep the batteries topped up.

M

Also, if you have the little clock in the dash like mine in the 300tdi, consider taking it out and replacing with say a tacho that fits the same size. That's what I'm doing anyway.

From the other post, this is the one I am putting in. I have a company car so my Deefa sits around a bit too. There were only 2 things we could find that draw current while sitting. The 1st was the analogue clock and the other was the radio to keep the stations programed in. So I am replacing the clock with a tacho and putting a solar charger on.

Thanks. That's good to know. In this case, then, no problem, it seems. I now have the two batteries reinstalled. Both were on slow charge for 30 hours, I was told by the garage that did it. (Cannot do it myself, for various reasons, but took them out and replaced them myself..

My vehicle is Defender Td5. The batteries have a little round "window", which shows green, black or yellow (Yellow = "Don't attempt to charge."). Both were black. Now only the main battery is green, the second one is still black. I don't know why. I'm assuming there's enough charge in the second one for it to be safely charged while driving. Any comment on this appreciated.

Haven't started the engine yet but will try that this morning, and if it starts, go for a drive for an hour to help the charging.

Both my main and aux batteries have the "indicator lights", but even after a decent drive, only my aux indicator light shows green. The main still shows black. Both batteries are less than a year old. Meh... Starts every time still.

Originally Posted by Judo

Both my main and aux batteries have the "indicator lights", but even after a decent drive, only my aux indicator light shows green. The main still shows black. Both batteries are less than a year old. Meh... Starts every time still.

Hi juno and your battery is a Calcium/calcium ( Ca/Ca ) battery and needs a periodical boost charge.

If you haven’t got a battery charger with a Ca/Ca cycle, try hooking up a solar panel without a regulator and run it for a day.

This will recover the battery if it’s in good condition.

Not good news. After replacing both batteries, after 30 hours of slow charge, the engine would not start. At the first attempt, the battery seemed strong (“normal”) but by the third or fourth try, the engine was being turned over only slowly. Someone living in the street showed interest and concern and helped me, using his vehicle and jump cables. But we couldn’t get it started. It seems there are other problems. Has something happened to the engine? Is fuel getting through? What a fool I was to leave it in the street with dead batteries for 4-5 months of European winter. I’m going to have to get it towed for repair and renovation. Am getting help tomorrow morning.

Sorry to hear of your problem. Hope its resolved quickly and cheaply.