Chaps, hoping that someone on here can help, I have noticed some strange symptoms in the electrical system after starting the car the last few mornings/days.

In the morning I have used the FBH to get the car all warm and toasty and then used the car for a very short journey (5 minutes and 1 mile) to take the kids to school. I noticed that the wipers seem to move very slowly and also that the fans are not blowing at full speed until almost the end of my journey (or unless I turn off the heated screens). This is a typical journey during the week for my car.

I have also noticed the same symptoms when using the car later during the same day and without having used the FBH immediately before.

So far there have been no issues starting the car, no warning lights. The car has a new alternator and still has the original battery I believe (certainly it is a Land Rover branded battery and the dealer did not mention changing this when they did the alternator).

I assume this is the ECU's in the car restricting power supply to certain systems to ensure that the alternator is able to replenish the energy needed to activate the glow plugs and starter motor and start the car, after a few minutes normal service is resumed? Even with all electrical items turned on there is no noticeable drop in voltage once the car has 'warmed up'.

Is this normal (I guess no, but would be pleased to be proven wrong)? Or when my alternator failed has this damaged the capacity of the battery and these are symptoms of the car needing to put more back into the battery/not having sufficient amperage to run the systems at full power immediately due to reduced capacity vs discharge required to start engine?

Last year I didn't notice any of these symptoms with the RRSport I had at that time, so do I need to consider getting a new battery? Not keen on running out of electricity...

Cheers

Simon

With Landrovers I think If you have got 4 years out of a battery you are doing well. I managed to get just about 3 years out of the original before replacing as the older they get the more prone they are to producing electrical glitches etc. In my experience if the battery has been discharged a number of times it never seems to regain full charge and maybe this is systematic of what you are experiencing . Having everything on probably doesnt allow the alternator to get up to a decent charge on the battery given its been depleted before. I'd say buying a new battery would certainly alleviate if not fix the problem entirely.I think with 4 years on a battery you are living on borrowed time and will lead to you "running out of electricity" . Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

Thanks Googsy

I think the complete depletion coupled with the higher load brought on by using the FBH as a pre-heater in combination with short journeys is now stretching my batteries capacity and the slow down is an early symptom of this.

I am decided now to get a new battery, a nice Bosch 110 920 cca unit which my local motor factors have price matched to eurocarparts discounted price

Since my battery was replaced earlier in the week, starting the car alone is much more instant, less cranking involved. I do long journeys though which helps, your typical day is not good for a car or its battery in the long haul, it needs nice long trips also. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Normally cover 200+ miles on a weekend, so hopefully shiny new silver battery with its higher capacity will help out there for the midweek short trips.

I am sure it will even go faster with a new battery

Yes I have that Bosch one also and find it great
Its a bit of a squeeze as its bigger than the OEM Battery just make sure you put car into service mode as you have much easier access. Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

Thanks again Googsy

I put the bonnet into service mode and removed the old battery - time taken 2 minutes, swearwords uttered -1 (when the bonnet dropped onto the back of my hand as I removed one of the struts)

then fitting the new battery - what a b h of a job that was. Seriously considered giving up at one point as even though I knew it would fit and had measured to be sure, it really did not want to fit in. Happily by a good deal of highly technical 'wiggling' I managed to drop the thing in, then to start another battle with getting the positive terminal back on - just about managed to get this on but the battery is very tightly wedged in now.

Time taken - 25 minutes, swearwords uttered - too many

Job now done and my old 90 Amp battery can be used on a little defender project I am considering...

I was just reading this and thinking of someone else on here who has installed another battery in their boot, aka bentley style.

Good work on it, doesn't take long by the sounds of it which is always good to see when it comes to working on an FFRR lol

Talking of multiple battery installs, I was genuinely surprised when I had a merc e class estate that this had a dual battery install as standard. Big battery in the back and a smaller (motorbike sized unit) in the front.

Simon

I was like you wasnt sure if it was going to fit and had same issue with the postive cable. I was gonna give up too. I think you need to turn your wheels full lock in both directions also when changing battery to recalibrate the suspension/ steering .
Out of interest I bet the car runs much smoother  Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE