WightinNL
Member
- Posts
- 22
- Location
- UK & Netherlands
Hi All, its that unfortunate time when I need to doth my grubby cap to those whose infinitely superior electrical and Range Rover knowledge will hopefully point me in the right direction.
I have recently been experiencing an intermittent battery light while driving. It follows a very precise pattern. Start as normal, light goes out, drive for 4 miles - all normal, then battery light will come on, and flicker about 50/50 on off for another 4 miles, then the light is out and all is good for rest of day. If I stop and re-start within the 4 mile section that the battery light is intermittent it doesn't come back. I've been monitoring the battery voltage on screen by using the self diagnosis function in the hidden menu. With ignition on it reads 12.5v, drops a little during start, and with engine running its always 13.5-14V, whether driving or at idle. While driving with battery light is on voltage is still 14v, with battery light on and parked at idle, I once saw voltage drop to 12.5 during about a weeks worth of monitoring. I've swapped with my spare battery fully charged and exactly the same results.
Of course at this time of year all journeys are with lights and heating on - I've experimented without and no difference. All journeys were mostly twisty slow village roads at 30-40 with short bursts of unrestricted road. No nearby motorway to give it a good blast at present.
In the run up to Christmas (and in Netherlands where I worked) the beast had some tlc with a new head gasket, timing chains and belts etc. A new tensioner was fitted - but I cant tell from my paperwork if this was a belt or chain tensioner. The drive back from Netherlands was without fault - its the shorter trips now that is showing issues. I'm at about 145,000 miles on the clock.
Are my gremlins a sign that the alternator (or diode/rectifier/regulator) on their way out, or a belt slipping, or other possible loose connection or bad earth? Belt tensions look good, no loose battery or other wiring connections that I can see. Looking forward to being able to take her on a longer trip again!
Thanks in advance
I have recently been experiencing an intermittent battery light while driving. It follows a very precise pattern. Start as normal, light goes out, drive for 4 miles - all normal, then battery light will come on, and flicker about 50/50 on off for another 4 miles, then the light is out and all is good for rest of day. If I stop and re-start within the 4 mile section that the battery light is intermittent it doesn't come back. I've been monitoring the battery voltage on screen by using the self diagnosis function in the hidden menu. With ignition on it reads 12.5v, drops a little during start, and with engine running its always 13.5-14V, whether driving or at idle. While driving with battery light is on voltage is still 14v, with battery light on and parked at idle, I once saw voltage drop to 12.5 during about a weeks worth of monitoring. I've swapped with my spare battery fully charged and exactly the same results.
Of course at this time of year all journeys are with lights and heating on - I've experimented without and no difference. All journeys were mostly twisty slow village roads at 30-40 with short bursts of unrestricted road. No nearby motorway to give it a good blast at present.
In the run up to Christmas (and in Netherlands where I worked) the beast had some tlc with a new head gasket, timing chains and belts etc. A new tensioner was fitted - but I cant tell from my paperwork if this was a belt or chain tensioner. The drive back from Netherlands was without fault - its the shorter trips now that is showing issues. I'm at about 145,000 miles on the clock.
Are my gremlins a sign that the alternator (or diode/rectifier/regulator) on their way out, or a belt slipping, or other possible loose connection or bad earth? Belt tensions look good, no loose battery or other wiring connections that I can see. Looking forward to being able to take her on a longer trip again!
Thanks in advance
