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kgeddes



Member Since: 11 Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Causeway Grey
Alternator or battery?

I had a new battery fitted 8 weeks ago (due to diagnosis of a dead cell in Varta battery)
On Tuesday morning not enough power to start.
Jump start then taken to garage. 14.2 charging showing. Possible issue with battery identified. Asked by garage to use car for a couple of days and return for a further check.
No further issues with starting for two days.
Check today - meter indicating suspected dead cell in battery BUT charging rate fluctuating erratically between 11.2 and 14.8 when under load.
Does this indicate the alternator is on the way out?

No warning lights on dashboard.

Thanks for any help..... Thumbs Up

Post #578894 7th Jan 2021 5:44pm
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Sam



Member Since: 02 Jun 2017
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 89

England 

Could well be our old friend the engine to chassis earth strap. These are notorious for failing and giving false/erratic readings as they start to break down. Get that checked first, if only to make sure yours is ok as sooner or later it WILL cause a problem.

Post #578898 7th Jan 2021 6:04pm
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kgeddes



Member Since: 11 Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Causeway Grey

Thank you Sam. Can you tell me where the earth strap is located please?

Post #578909 7th Jan 2021 6:55pm
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chris_read



Member Since: 26 Feb 2012
Location: Louth, Lincolnshire
Posts: 465

England 2009 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 Stornoway Grey

Having just replaced my alternator and as I have the scars on my hands and arms to prove it, I hope you don’t have the same issue as me. Mine had developed the classic noise / whine of an alternator which was ready to shuffle off this mortal coil. Can you hear anything similar? 2017 Jaguar F Pace 25t Portfolio - still part of the JLR family 😀
2009 3.6 V8 (MY2010) - my first ever diesel! - now also gone Sad
2004 4.4 V8 Petrol Vogue - now gone

Post #578915 7th Jan 2021 7:08pm
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kgeddes



Member Since: 11 Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Causeway Grey

Hi chris_read, no whining from alternator......

Post #578924 7th Jan 2021 8:12pm
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Alistair



Member Since: 11 Feb 2011
Location: Peterborough / Bordeaux / Andorra
Posts: 7724

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Vogue SE SDV8 Santorini Black

Battery connections very much worth checking , but sounds like an alternator to me.

The 2007's were notorious for having a chocolate alternator - maybe yours was part of the same batch

Post #578925 7th Jan 2021 8:14pm
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Sam



Member Since: 02 Jun 2017
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 89

England 

KG, earth strap is mounted low down on the o/s of the engine, toward the front adjacent to the alternator itself. Could well be the alternator, but as you have to get in there anyway do make sure the strap is sound and tight.
When the battery is fully charged, how well does the engine turn over on the starter? With a fully charged battery with a decent earth the engine should spin over very quickly, so if it’s at all sluggish.....

Post #578937 7th Jan 2021 9:28pm
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kgeddes



Member Since: 11 Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Causeway Grey

Thanks again Sam, engine spins over quickly and starts immediately (it was -4 degrees here this morning and it started with ease).....I’ll get the earth strap checked....

Post #578939 7th Jan 2021 9:35pm
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Sam



Member Since: 02 Jun 2017
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 89

England 

Ok in that case the earth is probably good. Worth checking though if you end up having to replace the alternator.

Post #578953 8th Jan 2021 8:41am
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kgeddes



Member Since: 11 Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Causeway Grey

Had battery checked again by different garage. Battery showing as being ok but in need of charging. Alternator output showed as 12.75 under load. This morning when I started it (without any problems) I got ENGINE SYSTEM FAULT for a few seconds. Engine running fine with no loss of power. Restarted a few times after a short run with no message appearing. Parked it outside for 7 hours (-2 degrees here) same message on start up, switched off then back on, same message....drove for a few miles and restarted a few times with no message appearing....I’m assuming this is related to the low battery....is that a reasonable assumption?

Post #578990 8th Jan 2021 5:41pm
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Bloke



Member Since: 13 May 2019
Location: On the road to Oban
Posts: 120

Scotland 2009 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 Buckingham Blue

It has been bitterly cold and batteries don't like the cold. Went to mine yesterday to find it was below 12v, no load. Recharged to 14+ using this nifty wee charger/maintainer https://www.ringautomotive.com/en/product/RSC806

I think I may upgrade to fullfat AGM in the near future? This is about the best value I could find. https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/exide/ek950/

Good luck and keep us posted. Thumbs Up

Post #578997 8th Jan 2021 6:39pm
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Billie



Member Since: 12 Oct 2020
Location: south-west
Posts: 49

England 2006 Range Rover Vogue 4.2 SC V8 Buckingham Blue

After reading quite a few posts on here about flat batteries I bought a NOCO jump starter from Halfords. Yet to test it.
b

Post #579050 9th Jan 2021 11:15am
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kgeddes



Member Since: 11 Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Causeway Grey

Thanks for all comments. It’s started without issue, with the exception of Tuesday morning. I’m going to get an auto electrician to check everything over. Don’t want to replace components when not necessary! Didn’t get the ENGINE SYSTEM FAULT message at any point today. I’ll report back...... Thumbs Up

Post #579108 9th Jan 2021 7:43pm
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NJPovey



Member Since: 29 Dec 2020
Location: Sussex
Posts: 10

United Kingdom 

I've just put a new alternator in my 2006 TD6 with 140,000 miles. I had several weeks of spurious warnings and occasional reluctant starts, then got the faintest flicker of the red light which I thought coincided with driving through puddles so dismissed it initially. No grinding noise, but then the red light came on and stayed on - and every warning imaginable came up as the power drained - just got home as it died! The brushes had completely worn down and the commutator had deep (4mm+) grooves! Hope you get a diagnosis - good luck.

Post #579254 10th Jan 2021 10:31pm
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kgeddes



Member Since: 11 Jan 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 289

United Kingdom 2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Causeway Grey

Garage charged battery fully today then tested it again...it failed the test! Replacement (under warranty) battery being fitted on Wednesday morning.....hopefully this will resolve the issue!

Post #579346 11th Jan 2021 5:54pm
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