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Trollman
Member Since: 09 May 2017
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Posts: 149
  
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| Loads of lights on dash car not start only when wife wants t |
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So once again when the wife wants to drive the truck it misbehaves.
This morning she went to go do the school run and lots of lights on dash, hazzards on, transmission errors, suspension lowered etc and it refuses to turn over. It did this the other day when she was driving it and managed to get it home as it was only 100m or so away.
We had the exact same issue a few weeks ago which was down to the battery being low on volts.
So yesterday I drove it twice and all was well, I had previously charged the battery up for 2 days last weekend as its not been used much. However yesterday it went it for MOT and I'm sure the MOT guy had all the lights on with no engine running, so battery could be low again.
Tonight I get home, battery was 12.4v, put key in ignition and it starts, had transmission error and F on dash. Turn it off and on again and its all ok.
Plugged it in and quickly read some codes as I was shirt on time, lots of loss of communication errors, which is what we had when battery was low.
So could this be JUST the battery or could it be brake switch related or something else, or even the truck doesn't like the wife !!! 
I have a new brake switch to go on when time permits.
TIA,
Mark *D3 V8 SE Blue 2004 on LPG with Rock sliders, roof rack/Ladder, snorkel, 275/65x18 STT Muds, engine/G/box ally protection.
*D2 TD5 Epson Green 2002 Off roader (weekend toy)
*D3 V8 HSE silver 2004 on LPG (Wife's) SOLD
*Maserati Gran Turismo, the Gentlemans cruiser with a V8 soundtrack.
Youtube/trollmanRS
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 6th Jul 2017 8:27 pm |
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IroningMan
Member Since: 25 Mar 2013
Location: Somerset
Posts: 135
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Sounds like you need a new battery - they don't always recover from being flattened and they don't last indefinitely.
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| 7th Jul 2017 9:00 am |
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Narpy
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
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The brake switch isn't the all singing all dancing answer to every problem that some people would have you believe. 
I think you have to ask yourself why did your battery get so low, what caused that to happen?
You just might come to the conclusion, as distasteful as it is, that your alternator may very well be suspect.
I'd have it checked with a multimeter to see what it's pushing out before I started to second guess what might be causing the problems. Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here.
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| 7th Jul 2017 9:07 am |
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Trollman
Member Since: 09 May 2017
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Posts: 149
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The battery was new in March, however the guy we bought the car from wasn't using it much and I know he had to charge it up a few times. Also when I bought it I made the mistake of cleaning the truck with doors open and thus it went below 12.3v nd thus it didn't start the following day.
The battery is a cheap unbranded one, so once I test alternator output and confirm thats all good I will replace said battery.
Got a new brake light switch so will replace it anyhow. Need to get it reliable before mrs falls out of love with it. *D3 V8 SE Blue 2004 on LPG with Rock sliders, roof rack/Ladder, snorkel, 275/65x18 STT Muds, engine/G/box ally protection.
*D2 TD5 Epson Green 2002 Off roader (weekend toy)
*D3 V8 HSE silver 2004 on LPG (Wife's) SOLD
*Maserati Gran Turismo, the Gentlemans cruiser with a V8 soundtrack.
Youtube/trollmanRS
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| 7th Jul 2017 9:30 am |
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Hardware
Member Since: 28 Jun 2016
Location: Hiding under the M60
Posts: 13018
 
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| Re: Loads of lights on dash car not start only when wife wants t |
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Trollman wrote:So once again when the wife wants to drive the truck it misbehaves ... It did this the other day when she was driving it and managed to get it home as it was only 100m or so away.
i'd suggest that short journeys won't help battery life. is it a regular thing ? .
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer  ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
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| 7th Jul 2017 9:43 am |
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Trollman
Member Since: 09 May 2017
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Posts: 149
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Yes it prob will be although she not had chance to drive it much yet.. Although I can take it to work every now and again to stretch it legs on the M4. *D3 V8 SE Blue 2004 on LPG with Rock sliders, roof rack/Ladder, snorkel, 275/65x18 STT Muds, engine/G/box ally protection.
*D2 TD5 Epson Green 2002 Off roader (weekend toy)
*D3 V8 HSE silver 2004 on LPG (Wife's) SOLD
*Maserati Gran Turismo, the Gentlemans cruiser with a V8 soundtrack.
Youtube/trollmanRS
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| 7th Jul 2017 10:24 am |
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Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1664
 
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What about using a CTEK battery conditioner/charger? Given your driving routine -short/infrequent it might be worth it. Plenty of info regarding the recommended model etc on here (make sure you get the right one) Gary
-------------------------------------------
Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
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| 7th Jul 2017 10:51 am |
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Trollman
Member Since: 09 May 2017
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Posts: 149
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Measured alternator with engine running and no load, i'm only getting 13.95v, compressor on and it goes down to 13.87. That's starting it up from coldish.
Mine is a V8 but any alternator should be pushing out over 14.2v I should think.. *D3 V8 SE Blue 2004 on LPG with Rock sliders, roof rack/Ladder, snorkel, 275/65x18 STT Muds, engine/G/box ally protection.
*D2 TD5 Epson Green 2002 Off roader (weekend toy)
*D3 V8 HSE silver 2004 on LPG (Wife's) SOLD
*Maserati Gran Turismo, the Gentlemans cruiser with a V8 soundtrack.
Youtube/trollmanRS
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| 7th Jul 2017 1:30 pm |
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Narpy
Member Since: 18 Jul 2011
Location: Stockport
Posts: 7830
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The voltage output on a diesel Discovery varies. It depends on battery condition and temperature amongst other things, I presume the V8 is similar.
13.95v doesn't sound too bad tbh but I'm definitely no expert. Mods:
Front Fogs + Halos
FBH Remote Control
The 1st Ever RRS Modded Grill
Garmin Nuvi + D4 Surround + Reversing Camera.
D4 Steering Wheel.
Rear Boot Spoiler.
Twin Brake Lights.
Wing Mirror Indicator Repeaters.
Long Roof Rails
Make your own Narpy grill thread
I'm not scared, I'm outta here.
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| 7th Jul 2017 2:01 pm |
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Trollman
Member Since: 09 May 2017
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Posts: 149
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Yes your right Narpy, its not so bad. I just spoke to a place in Reading which recon alternators and he said thats not too bad. He suggested trying it with a load on and if its down to 12.3v then there maybe a problem.
Doing a bit of googling the NAS guy's seem to have the red battery light come on too when the alternator is dying. I think the battery is just toast due to it going flat quite a few times and its a un heard of make !!
Going to order a Exide EA1000 I think.
Mark *D3 V8 SE Blue 2004 on LPG with Rock sliders, roof rack/Ladder, snorkel, 275/65x18 STT Muds, engine/G/box ally protection.
*D2 TD5 Epson Green 2002 Off roader (weekend toy)
*D3 V8 HSE silver 2004 on LPG (Wife's) SOLD
*Maserati Gran Turismo, the Gentlemans cruiser with a V8 soundtrack.
Youtube/trollmanRS
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| 7th Jul 2017 2:41 pm |
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lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
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My D3 pretty much only does short runs since I changed jobs and am now only 5 miles from work, alt is charging at pretty much 15 volts all the time (ie full chat) in the winter with lights and heater etc on, summer mid 14 volts.
Also gets a battery charger on it once a month or so to keep on top of it.
I cant recommend one of these highly enough, quick glance to check all is well, I realise its not a precision instrument but thats not what we need to get a rough idea of whats what.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Display-Ciga...SwstJZXKD0
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| 7th Jul 2017 8:40 pm |
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Trollman
Member Since: 09 May 2017
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Posts: 149
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Quick update, truck has not been used since I posted the above, today went out measured battery and it was 12.1V eek, tried to start it and got the same load of lights etc as above. When ignition was turned on it went down to 11.7V.
Tried again a few moments later and woo it started... Measured alternator voltage and it was around 13.95. I then got the wife to turn things on inside, i.e lights, radio, A/C & fan, and heated screens. The voltage dropped on idel but as soon as the loud pedal was pressed a bit boom back up to 13.95V.
Happy the alternator is ok, suspect the battery is not.
Going to order an Exide EA1000 in the morning. Hopefully that will be the end of all these random lights, and we can start enjoying/modifying it now.
Also looking into getting a ctek thanks to the recommendations on this forum. 
Mark *D3 V8 SE Blue 2004 on LPG with Rock sliders, roof rack/Ladder, snorkel, 275/65x18 STT Muds, engine/G/box ally protection.
*D2 TD5 Epson Green 2002 Off roader (weekend toy)
*D3 V8 HSE silver 2004 on LPG (Wife's) SOLD
*Maserati Gran Turismo, the Gentlemans cruiser with a V8 soundtrack.
Youtube/trollmanRS
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| 10th Jul 2017 9:50 pm |
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Trollman
Member Since: 09 May 2017
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
Posts: 149
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Bought a new battery for it and installed it on thursday. Took the truck a for a nice drive Friday of about 80 miles all good
Yesterday I was machine polishing the truck most of the day, it was unlocked but no keys in ignition, maybe I didn't shut rear door correctly but anyway went to start it and got the usual flashing hazzards and dash full of lights. Battery was 12.35v.
Charged it up anyway so its nice and full. Truck starts this morning move it around the drive.
Just went to go out in it at lunchtime, it starts but then hazzards come on and dash full of lights. Turn it off and it won't start now !!
arrrgghhh its getting frustrating now. Battery is 12.75v so all good.
Tried plugging in IID tool yesterday and it wouldn't even see it.
Any more ideas. Mine is a V8 btw.
Oh forgot to say replaced brake light switch yesterday too just because I had a new one. *D3 V8 SE Blue 2004 on LPG with Rock sliders, roof rack/Ladder, snorkel, 275/65x18 STT Muds, engine/G/box ally protection.
*D2 TD5 Epson Green 2002 Off roader (weekend toy)
*D3 V8 HSE silver 2004 on LPG (Wife's) SOLD
*Maserati Gran Turismo, the Gentlemans cruiser with a V8 soundtrack.
Youtube/trollmanRS
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| 17th Jul 2017 12:33 pm |
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NoDo$h
Member Since: 02 May 2006
Location: Finding new and exciting ways to milk badgers.
Posts: 19689
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Hi Mark
You say IID isn't seeing it. You're getting power across pins 16 and 4 on the OBD port I take it?
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| 17th Jul 2017 1:46 pm |
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