Disco 3 starting issues

[Nodge68]

With the engine not cranking would the car throw up the errors anyway?

No, the ECM doesn't know the engine isn't cranking, the starter is independent of the ECM, which is just waiting for rotation feedback from the crank and cam sensors, so it can instigate injection.

The HDC fault comes up when battery voltage is low, and if it's getting low only spinning the starter, then it's well past it's best. As a rule, if the battery is over 4 years old in these, then it's time it was weighed in for scrap.

 

[Jay8135]

So it could well be the battery also. With being in and out of hospital not had time to get to the bottom of this. Think I have a lifetime guarantee on the battery

 

[Jay8135]

Going to pick up a multimeter tomorrow and check the battery myself what volts should it read. Many thanks for all the advice really appreciate it.

 

[gstuart]

Going to pick up a multimeter tomorrow and check the battery myself what volts should it read. Many thanks for all the advice really appreciate it.

hi

Sorry to hear you’ve been in and out hospital, hope ur on the mend

if I remember correctly with the engine off u want minimum around 12.5- 12.6 Vdc ,also with the multimeter still on the battery get someone to crank the engine over and watch what the volts reading is before it starts , with the engine running u should see around 14.5 Vdc

plus to test ur earths

turn the ignition on
Multimeter set to Vdc
One test probe on the ground battery post
Other test probe on ur earth grounding point
should read on ur multimeter less than 0.2Vdc

Hope that helps and plse let us know how u get on

 

[Jay8135]

hi

Sorry to hear you’ve been in and out hospital, hope ur on the mend

if I remember correctly with the engine off u want minimum around 12.5- 12.6 Vdc ,also with the multimeter still on the battery get someone to crank the engine over and watch what the volts reading is before it starts , with the engine running u should see around 14.5 Vdc

plus to test ur earths

turn the ignition on
Multimeter set to Vdc
One test probe on the ground battery post
Other test probe on ur earth grounding point
should read on ur multimeter less than 0.2Vdc

Hope that helps and plse let us know how u get on

Thank you

 

[lynall]

A garage that can hear missing teeth off the fly wheel ask them for next week's lotto numbers next time your there, don't worry they will have them ready cos they can see you comming in the crystal ball

They probably meant the grinding/knashing noise ie teeth worn/missing off the flywheel, we get it all the time at work on all sorts of different engines, 9 times out fo 10 it is the bendix, but that odd one time means a bit more work is involved.

 

[Jay8135]

Forgive my lack of knowledge but is this multimeter ok from halfords it's cheap so unsure. Take it I set it to the 20 on the left side?

 

[Jay8135]

So tested the battery today. 12.2 when off. Eventually got it to start and jumped to 15.4 (dropped to 10 when starting) noticed when starting if I try and do it quickly after it fails it will start with no hdc/special programmes error but if I continuously try and slow start it that's when I get the errors but when it starts the errors clear straight away and everything works as it should.

 

[gstuart]

So tested the battery today. 12.2 when off. Eventually got it to start and jumped to 15.4 (dropped to 10 when starting) noticed when starting if I try and do it quickly after it fails it will start with no hdc/special programmes error but if I continuously try and slow start it that's when I get the errors but when it starts the errors clear straight away and everything works as it should.

hiya

that voltage is far to low , need to see around 12.6 Vdc with the engine off, either needs to be charged overnight , then after turning the charger off, leave for a few hours and re check to see what the Vdc is, if it drops below 12.6 Vdc again need a new battery

plus can u read what the CCA and AH is on the battery please , might be to small , thks

 

[Jay8135]

I think it's 800 CCA and 90 AH I'll double check later. Going to the garage tomorrow and have them listen to the mechanical whir I get and for them to see the battery readings feel like I'm going round in circles. Was going to order a starter tomorrow but don't want to throw a part at it if it's the battery or would it be both?

 

[Jay8135]

Also just read that if a battery is showing 12.2 or less it's only 50% charged and anything less than 12 is classed as discharged is this correct?

 

[Jay8135]

Also is there a procedure to follow when charging a battery? Can it be done whilst the battery is still connected? Will I have issues if I take the battery out of the car over night to charge?

 

[gstuart]

Also is there a procedure to follow when charging a battery? Can it be done whilst the battery is still connected? Will I have issues if I take the battery out of the car over night to charge?

hiya

what charger have u got plse, personally I have a CTEK which are brilliant and fine with leaving the battery connected , however I’m not sure on other battery chargers , I always like to buy a charger that’s well known along with the facility on leaving the battery connected

plus it’s a real heavy old lump to lift out , for me I bought this https://www.halfords.com/motoring/b...-12v-car-battery-5-year-guarantee-161078.html

Prefer to go to a shop when buying a battery , as if anything goes wrong u don’t have the nightmare trying to send it back

if after you’ve charged it it doesn’t hold a min of 12.5-6 Vdc change the battery , really need to ensure it’s 100% before looking at anyth8nt else , if the current battery has kept dropping its voltage I would replace it , plus when u buy a new battery charge it overnight before fitting

the D3 is extremely fussy regarding batteries , can cause all sorts of issues, so get that battery sorted out first, Plse don’t buy a starter motor until u know for sure the battery is sound

as a side note I charge mine usinf my towing 12s socket , with my disco on the drive I simply plug it in and I put a connection point on the front of my house , drilled through the wall and have my CTEK charger in the hallway

i also have a battery Bluetooth monitor on my batteries as I have a split charge system,m but very easy to fit, there called BM2 and can use ur iPhone or iPad , range is only around 20 feet but ideal as mine is outside my front room window , I’ll find the link for u

if u have a halfords near u, they can so a free battery check, if it’s bad get them to fit a new one , ie the one above on the link works really well and pleased with the same battery

hope that helps and plse let us know how u get on

 

[gstuart]

Just remember @Jay8135 that Bluetooth monitor will also do a crank test so if ur get one will be very handy to do it ur iPhone or iPad

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393810898553?epid=11037746683&hash=item5bb0f56e79:g:FWcAAOSwL2hhwUA1

hope it helps

 

[Jay8135]

I have a lifetime guarantee on platinum plus with kwik fit on the battery. As the car won't start always I'm worried to take it out. Im going to ask my local garage who I get along with if i can take the car into them tomorrow evening and ask them to charge the battery over night as I have no means to do so. I think they will then I can see from any voltage drops if I need to go to kwik fit backed up with info from my local garage.

 

[gstuart]

This is what I’ve done ref a way charging the batteries via my 12s towing socket

 

[gstuart]

I have a lifetime guarantee on platinum plus with kwik fit on the battery. As the car won't start always I'm worried to take it out. Im going to ask my local garage who I get along with if i can take the car into them tomorrow evening and ask them to charge the battery over night as I have no means to do so. I think they will then I can see from any voltage drops if I need to go to kwik fit backed up with info from my local garage.

personally I wouldn't trust Kwik fit to change a bike tyre let alone my disco, had terrible service from them but that’s my own personal experience

If u trust the other garage indeed get them to charge it overnight and see what it’s like after it’s been charged

personally if u don’t regularly use ur disco getting a battery charger is ideal, that way u can keep it topped up as there very battery hungry when locked

Hope the advice has been helpful to u

 

[Jay8135]

personally I wouldn't trust Kwik fit to change a bike tyre let alone my disco, had terrible service from them but that’s my own personal experience

If u trust the other garage indeed get them to charge it overnight and see what it’s like after it’s been charged

personally if u don’t regularly use ur disco getting a battery charger is ideal, that way u can keep it topped up as there very battery hungry when locked

Hope the advice has been helpful to u

Thank you for your time and explanations. Will start with the battery hopefully tomorrow. My local garage are very good always taken my cars to them when needed so hopefully they can help me out. They usually inspect my car without charge as long as I give them any work. Will invest in a charger. Do you know one that can be done with battery still connected and also be able to close the bonet as I don't have a drive or garage so it wouldn't be secure. I'll hold off on a starter until I know the battery is right. Thanks again

 

[gstuart]

Thank you for your time and explanations. Will start with the battery hopefully tomorrow. My local garage are very good always taken my cars to them when needed so hopefully they can help me out. They usually inspect my car without charge as long as I give them any work. Will invest in a charger. Do you know one that can be done with battery still connected and also be able to close the bonet as I don't have a drive or garage so it wouldn't be secure. I'll hold off on a starter until I know the battery is right. Thanks again

ur so welcome and always happy to help

the CTEK battery chargers have the facility where u can leave the battery connected , if u have a 12s towing socket up can charge it via that , can buy adaptors that go from the 12s socket to a CTEK lead , personally I made my own 12 x foot lead up,

how near can u get ur disco to an electric socket plse

here’s one that also allows u to leave it connected for days on end, keeping ur battery topped up so when u come to use the disco ur battery will be fully charged, just have to remember to turn it off and disconnect the charger before starting the engine or driving away , lol

if u run a lead and connect directly to the battery simply remove ur passenger side headlight m then run ur lead through the hole onto ur battery , can close ur bonnet then, but if u would be so kind to look at ur towing sockets , to see if there’s 1 or 2 sockets as may be able to simply plug a lead in, if u let me know how far away I’ll think of a way u can charge it

plus having a code reader with these are a must, can buy a cheap one called an Autel AP200 , put the link below , handy to keep in the glove box ,

that’s great if the garage will look at the battery for u and indeed wouldn’t go to the expense of a new starter motor , fingers crossed all the hassle could be a bad battery

https://www.tayna.co.uk/battery-chargers/ctek/mxs5-0/

code reader

https://www.auteldiag.co.uk/products/autel-maxiap-ap200

as always thank u for the appreciation as it’s really nice when people say plse and thk u ,

plse let us know how u get on or any further questions plse feel free to ask

gary

 

[Jay8135]

Sorry another question. As my battery read 12.2 could I take the car out for a run say 30 mins then test the battery on return and then leave over night and test again. Just looking at options I have or would this be pointless?