Hi,

Land Rover Assistance been called out twice to look at our TD6 in the last month - reason, flat battery and unable to start after it's sat overnight. Excellent service by them btw. After the second incident last week the diagnosis was the battery was charging at 'idle' but not 'under load'. It's booked in to Lookers in Bishop Stortford but I wanted to ask if anyone else has had this issue? There was mention of a possible issue with one of the side lights (connection...)....

I'm thinking alternator...any other suggestions

cheers Gavin

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Last edited by Superspoons on 19th Dec 2011 7:07am. Edited 1 time in total

Well, if it is definitely diagnosed as not charging at higher revs (under load) then one does need to look at what the alternator is up to.

Otherwise:

Age of battery?

Given its gone flat a couple of times its not going to have the oomph of a well conditioned one. May be time for a change, but get the alternator performance checked first.

Not sure how "one of the sidelights" ties into the former diagnosis.....? .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
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Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

If you have a serious current drain on the car sufficient to drain the battery overnight its either current leakage back down thro the alternator due to failing alternator diodes, an item of high load equipment not shutting off or a failing battery.
Failing alternator diodes would tend to result in the "charge light" on the display glowing more progressively red as time went on.
As well as getting the alternator tested correctly it would be worth having the battery checked.
Given the time of year and the cold weather I would check the battery first.
If you have a voltmeter, have you checked the voltage at the cigarette socket with the engine off and also running at about 2000rpm.
You should get 12.6V and 14-14.4V respectively.

Could be a failed regulator on the alternator or worn brushes. As others have stated you need to get the alternator and battery tested 56 TDV8 Vogue SE
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I was speaking to an auto-electrician who specialises in alternators and he says the TD6 alternators are not known for faults

On both occassions that LR Assist came out they checked the battery and said it was fine. It went through their conditioning checks with no issues.

I've had the odd message come up on the display regarding the drivers side light being dead. A quick look and twist had it reseated...perhaps there is a issue there.

Sure I find out when it goes in next week.. Gavin

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Quote:

I was speaking to an auto-electrician who specialises in alternators and he says the TD6 alternators are not known for faults

Famous last words  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

The chap from LR Assistance who came out used to work at a BMW dealer for 6 years.... he said the alternators on the TD6 were not it's strongest point and strongly suspected it was the issue...

I guess it's who you ask and what day of the week it is...

 Gavin

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Ex BMW worker, bound to be bias and tell lies about FFRRs

The battery on my TDV8 was discharged a couple of times over the last few months and each time the technician said it was charging ok and was in good order.

However, only a few weeks later it failed again and wouldn't even jump start easily, it was so depleted.

A new battery is such a cheap fix and can have so many affects on systems in the car, so many warning messages and lights that might otherwise scare the bejeezus out of you.

For the sake of about £140, it's worth swapping, especially if you have a FBH and like to use it. Discovery 4 HSE
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Ihad the same problem with my TD6 2005 vOGUE, i had it suddenly dischargeD during a day and LR Assist came out started it , tested it and said all was ok, took it into the dealer who could not find anything wrong and no baTtery drain. This happend a few times so about six months ago had dealer fit a brand new battery. However i have noticed recently that the HDC Inactive light comes on first thing in the morning but goes off once started a few seconds. AlSO i notIced that the touchscreen comes on then goes of when the engine is turned over thus taking afew seconds to come back. Everyone is telling me I need a new battery but I can not accept this after six months. Dealer says there is no drain, but the AA says that somethiung is drawing power.

One thing i noticed last week whe we had a hard frost was that at the bottom of the windscreen there where about four small areas that the frost had not really got to as if the fans had stopped the frost from forming ? Could this be the Final stage resistor problme that seemed to be a problem a while ago? LR still say that there is nothing drawing power but something is and i am not sure where to start? Any help appreciated

Well I had the battery checked by a mate who's an auto electrician. His suggestion was to get a new battery first off and recommended this one -

http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/product/C31-1000/

So, ordered it and waiting for delivery. I have no idea how long the current battery has been in the RR so for the sake of £99 I'm prepared to swap it out and see if the battery drain happens again... I don't fancy a trip to the dealer and subsequent bill for time if they don't find anything... I'm sure they quote £163 per hour on the phone

cheers Gavin

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1998 Defender 50th Anniversary - GB168 - preparing for sale

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Ok - Battery changed and clamp installed (£3.49) from Halfords to secure it in place. No problems since (looked under the removed battery... stamped 10/05 so it was the original one.

Hopefully the new battery was all that was needed .... Gavin

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I know it's a bit after the fact, but I had this problem on our 4.4 6 weeks ago. AA said the alternator was not charging under load. Guy salmon found that the battery terminal was loose.... Problem solved, and no charge from guy salmon ('scuse the pun!)

Well, it's stood for 6 days and started on the button today. I reckon that's sorted. Gavin

2005 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.2 Supercharged V8
1998 Defender 50th Anniversary - GB168 - preparing for sale

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