Ok, so I know there’s a few posts on this, but they’re all a bit old, not that that’s an issue as the theory and the underlying cause has likely not changed, however I thought as a baptism of fire both to the forum and the L322 I’ve just bought I’d document my struggles, as I can’t see a forum post which comprehensively works through the old battery drain issues front to back.

When I first picked up the car, I drove back from Birmingham to London. Parked it up, left it overnight, next morning all started fine, no issues.
Drove it about half an hour to a place where it was getting a polish and ceramic coat, detailer calls me three days later and tells me the battery was flat and that it’s got a parasitic drain.
Sure enough after driving it home from the detailer and leaving it overnight, battery is flat and it won’t start.
Jumped it with a Noco jump pack and quickly got going - drove to Derby and back and the battery is fully charged on return but showing a “health” on my battery tester of only 57%.
Just tested the battery again after sitting overnight and got a 12.11V charge left in it and ‘health’ now showing as 37% with only a 486CCA capacity.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Well the car just started first time after the Derby trip yesterday and being left overnight.

I’m hoping this is just a case of a knackered battery.
But just in case I reckon I’ve got all the (gear and no idea) kit I could now need to track and issues down otherwise.
Had to stop myself buying Fluke everything and was fortunately limited by what was in stock at the local outlets at 15:30 on a Sunday…

Hope the big grey boxy thing solves my problems and I can keep the other bits for just in case.

Click image to enlarge

All fatties are very susceptible to low volts.

Personally I have thrown away the old battery in every fatty I've owned, and fitted new (two in the 405..!)

Halfords, and other sites will tell you which one you need if you put your reg number in....

Then take it from there....  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
-Click here for Thread-
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click here for Project Fatty off roader-

Dick_ wrote:

Hope the big grey boxy thing solves my problems and I can keep the other bits for just in case.

Firstly change the battery, it's probably due a new one, type 019, go agm they last longer ime, you can squeeze a type 020 in but again imo better for an agm type 019.

Could be parasitic drain, but try a new battery first before you go down that rabbit hole.

Welcome to the pain (sorry bad joke) of a sc

Contrary to what some say, they really don't need a massive amount of outlay, but mine is starting to sound like triggers broom

Essentially if you can wield a spanner ok there's not much you can't do yourself

Good luck 👍

Thanks all
Reassured me I’m along the right lines.
I’ve rebuild defenders and discoverys quite extensively so relatively capable with a spanner.

I have a brand new 019 battery that I’ll try and switch out tomorrow and keep an eye on.

Fingers crossed it’s as easy as that as the one thing I loathe is electrical issues! Give me the agony inducing hard labour of technical mechanical fixes all day long - electricity is a dark art.

Just one further question right now:

Is an AGM battery going to provide me with any better performance over the 019 Yuasa I have ready to go in?

I’ve read a few comments that the L322 won’t charge the AGM battery properly, thus it’s a false economy - is this correct?
Has anyone else used a AGM battery successfully and noticed a positive improvement in battery health / life / performance etc?

Thanks

If it was me I'd use the one recommended, which is the one you have IIRC... [/img] Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
-Click here for Thread-
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click here for Project Fatty off roader-