Battery problem... Cars dead!

Hi all,

I've got a 2003 l322 se (yes se!!), 4.4 petrol.
I left an interior light on on Thursday and battery died - jumped it and got some charge back in it yesterday by driving 100+ miles;

Then the air sus inactive and hdc inactive messages came on with the brake pad, abs and dsc lights up on the dash!!
No obvious cause and completely out of the blue ( recently had new air sus compressor installed).

Thinking the battery may be the problem I disconnected it yesterday and have had it on charge.

Now I've come to replace it in the car; everything worked as normal, central locking, interior lights etc.

Put key in, dash lights came on, went to start.... Click! and everything went dead lights everything. No power whatsoever.

Disconnected and reconnected battery and same thing happened again! It's as though something's shorting when I try to start it up.

I've now read about battery disconnection on these and realise I haven't followed the recommended procedure... I disconnected earth then live without the 20 mins to discharge the srs system.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem is and how I can solve it? I've come away for the weekend and the car is dead! Due to drive home Monday so really desperate to bring it back to life!

Really appreciate the help

Cheers

Paul

It might help if we know where you are somebody might be local.

Sorry everyone I'm in north wales, just over the border about 20 mins from Chester.

Right, disaster averted on the battery- the negative was kinking over the battery corner and causing a loose connection so presumably not taking the power. That's fixed and the car starts again!

The warning lights are all still there though air sus hdc etc -

They came on whilst reversing almost on full lock and been on since.

Any suggestions for what to check
/quick fixes etc? I'm not going to be in a position to get to a garage for about a week so keen to solve it before hand if I can.

Thanks everyone

Ps checked fuses in glove box they're ok.

Compressor still works because I can occasionally hear it.

When engine comes on the car lowers and when engine off it goes up - like an auto release not like the usual air sus up and down. The air sus switch won't work just shows as being in normal drive height.

On reconnection of battery you have to reset the Steering Angle Sensor.....this will clear the warnings on the dash as these systems rely on info from the sensor....

Start car, turn steering full lock left and hold for 2 seconds then full lock right and hold, then return to centre and this should cancel the warnings...

Turn car off then restart and all should be well.

Najainitro said:

Hi all,

I've got a 2003 l322 se (yes se!!), 4.4 petrol.
I left an interior light on on Thursday and battery died - jumped it and got some charge back in it yesterday by driving 100+ miles;

Then the air sus inactive and hdc inactive messages came on with the brake pad, abs and dsc lights up on the dash!!
No obvious cause and completely out of the blue ( recently had new air sus compressor installed).

Thinking the battery may be the problem I disconnected it yesterday and have had it on charge.

Now I've come to replace it in the car; everything worked as normal, central locking, interior lights etc.

Put key in, dash lights came on, went to start.... Click! and everything went dead lights everything. No power whatsoever.

Disconnected and reconnected battery and same thing happened again! It's as though something's shorting when I try to start it up.

I've now read about battery disconnection on these and realise I haven't followed the recommended procedure... I disconnected earth then live without the 20 mins to discharge the srs system.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem is and how I can solve it? I've come away for the weekend and the car is dead! Due to drive home Monday so really desperate to bring it back to life!

Really appreciate the help

Cheers

Paul

Click to expand...

Sounds very much like the battery is fecked, either that or the ignition switch. Check the battery voltage with a DVM.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Battery is fine now starts every time and is showing full charge.

Did the steering wheel reset ( full lock left and right) but lights are still on dash and suspension is not activating.

It seems like a sensor issue but don't have a clue where to start looking. I have had a bit of a knock on the front suspension recently nothing major just a subtle clunk - could that be the cause?

Put your location down there maybe someone close with diagnostics..

A knock could have dislodged a height sensor

Thank you for telling us where you are but it would help if you put this info in your personal settings. That way when ever you do a post we can see your location in the top right of your post.

Sorry guys think I've updated location now.

Where exactly are the height sensors?

Najainitro said:

Sorry guys think I've updated location now.

Where exactly are the height sensors?

Click to expand...

Have a look on Rave, if you don't have it downloaded then Saint gave the link a few days ago so do a search. Don't know the L322 set up but the H/S's fit between the suspension and the body.

Height Sensors are located on the subframes with links running to the suspension wishbones......