Disco 1 Battery woes

take it to halfords and ask them to test it

+1 on Halfords check. Also do you have a voltmeter? Halfords sell them!
With the engine running, check the voltage across the battery terminals, it should be around 14V if its around 12 and falling rapidly it means (usually) your battery is not being charged.
I forgot to do the charging volt test the other week and shelled out £110 on a new battery only to find the charging lead from the alternator had come off!
Mark

Don't think it's the battery now. Just been out to check on it and charger was saying battery was fully charged. So, went to start it and.....nothing Radio, interior lights, headlights etc. come on but nothing engine wise. Could it still be the battery or something like spark plug or starter motor?

Also when I do try to start the engine and it fails the hazard lights flash for about 30 secs before going off and a light on the dash board flashes(car with a key symbol)

Am I missing something simple? I make sure the gear stick is in neutral, diff lock unengaged and it's in Hi not Low!??

Also going to put the charger back on in a few more hours to see if it has lost any charge. Was working fine yesterday

Will it jump start from another car?

Voltage tester is better than relying on the charger info.
We have "smart" chargers at work, if we relied on what they told us about battery condition we would have junked a lot of batteries!
If it jump starts then its probably battery/charging, if its still dead, it sounds like an electrical gremlin, possibly alarm related.
A lot of faults are connector related so, check for anything loose, also do the basics on the battery terminals, clean the posts and clamps, check for tightness.
Cold/damp often brings out bugs that could have been around for a while.
Mark

If your battery was flat you will hear a couple of relays chattering when u try to crank, which it won't, but as you have the car-key symbol showing on the dash you engine is immobilised therefore unable to crank.
Hazards flashing is a sign of an alarm activation, you should also have the sounder sounding, so u could have a problem with your security system.

A mate had this last week, went for a drive and parked up, on his return it wouldn't start, it turned out be be a lead had popped off the starter motor?

Thanks for all the great replies again guys. My mechanic mate is popping over after work to take a look so hopefully will find the problem! And hope it's a simple one.

markomate2 said:

Voltage tester is better than relying on the charger info.
We have "smart" chargers at work, if we relied on what they told us about battery condition we would have junked a lot of batteries!
If it jump starts then its probably battery/charging, if its still dead, it sounds like an electrical gremlin, possibly alarm related.
A lot of faults are connector related so, check for anything loose, also do the basics on the battery terminals, clean the posts and clamps, check for tightness.
Cold/damp often brings out bugs that could have been around for a while.
Mark

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Agreed. sounds a bit gremlin like to me, from a distance. though, check the earth straps too.

Alarm fob battery ok?

Disco1BFG said:

Agreed. sounds a bit gremlin like to me, from a distance. though, check the earth straps too.

Alarm fob battery ok?

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Think you may be right guys. Had her on charge for another couple of hours and she's started fine! However when I flash high beams the radio goes off then back on a few seconds later!

The key fob has also stopped working which has been fine every time I've used it.

Donkeys years ago I had a GF with a Fiesta (!) - she bought it new, and about a month later all (electrical) hell broke loose - every switch in the thing developed a "new" function..

On opening the bonnet it was rather obvious the engine earth strap had fallen off!! putting that back made it work properly again!!

new battery for me but get a big one 100ah plus plenty of cca

My mechanic mate has had a look and reckons I need a new alternator. Any idea on prices?

Did he check that it wasnt charging?
The quick check is to run the engine at idle then turn on the headlights and blip the throttle, the lights should brighten up slightly.
Also worth checking the wiring from the alternator, the big cable is the power output to the battery, the nut that holds it on can come loose.
Alternator is going to be anywhere from £80 for an RTX one to £180 for a Lucas one.
EDIT just saw you are a V8, Decent Alt is cheaper, £153 for a Denso one

Yeah he checked everything and brought two machines up to check battery and the alternator. Should hopefully be sorted by today or tomorrow then just have to worry about petrol

Cool sounds like he sussed it ok then! Yes, I guess low gas prices help you but I drove an old 80,s Range Rover for a while, I think I looked at the fuel gauge more often than the speedo!
Mark

Well she's fixed! Turns out it wasn't the alternator but just a dodgy earth wire. Got a new one put on and been great so far
First proper drive will be tomorrow or Saturday then look for some off road opportunities with her

Love Land Rovers!!!