Charge System Fault….Help!

Hello. I’m looking for some advice. I had a Charge System Warning a month ago which drained my battery. I trickle charged it and limped to the garage who swapped out Alternator for a reconditioned one. Been working fine since however, same warning is coming on and off again intermittently at different speeds but not when idle.

Have gone back to garage who have checked voltage of battery when running (14.5) so they’re happy the alternator they’ve fitted is fine. I’m not an expert but I have some questions if you can help:

1. If the warning is going ok and off for different times is the battery still being charged when it goes off?

2. They suggested the battery cell (battery is only 1 year old) could have gone hence warning - would a Charge System fault warning come on if this was the case in the Disco?

3. I’m not an expert but with it coming on and off could it be a lose connection from Alternator to battery? I’ve checked positive connection and all seems ok but can’t get Into the alternator.

Appreciate there could be a multitude of possibilities but any advice would be appreciated. Final option is to buy a new Battery and see what happens but don’t want the unnecessary expenditure.

Thanks in Advance.

Hi

what model / year & engine have u got plse

gstuart said:

Hi

what model / year & engine have u got plse

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2011 Disco 4 with 3.0 TDV6 engine.

Any shop like Halfords should test your battery properly to see if you have a dead cell. Shouldn't cost anything/much.
To eliminate one thing.

Stanleysteamer said:

Any shop like Halfords should test your battery properly to see if you have a dead cell. Shouldn't cost anything/much.
To eliminate one thing.

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Thanks for that I’m planning to test the battery to eliminate that first of all but would the Disco 4 come up with a Charge System Warning if it was the battery cell still or not just the “warning battery low”?

Markdornan1 said:

Thanks for that I’m planning to test the battery to eliminate that first of all but would the Disco 4 come up with a Charge System Warning if it was the battery cell still or not just the “warning battery low”?

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Do get the battery tested properly, a multimeter isn't a very good test.
As for the rest of it you need a Disco 4 expert. @gstuart hopefully will come back on and help.
Best of luck with it.

Stanleysteamer said:

Do get the battery tested properly, a multimeter isn't a very good test.
As for the rest of it you need a Disco 4 expert. @gstuart hopefully will come back on and help.
Best of luck with it.

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Thanks. Update. Battery tested 100% on all fronts so rules that out.

It’s not ideal but if warning coming on and off is it still charging the battery when it’s off?

I’m leaning more towards either faulty replacement alternator or something to do with the wiring from that to battery or instalment of the alternator? The garage did run the test when the fault wasn’t on so worth returning when fault is on to see is reading drops from 14?

Sorry I know this is an issue likely to already have been discussed. It’s a dark art.

Markdornan1 said:

Thanks. Update. Battery tested 100% on all fronts so rules that out.

It’s not ideal but if warning coming on and off is it still charging the battery when it’s off?

I’m leaning more towards either faulty replacement alternator or something to do with the wiring from that to battery or instalment of the alternator? The garage did run the test when the fault wasn’t on so worth returning when fault is on to see is reading drops from 14?

Sorry I know this is an issue likely to already have been discussed. It’s a dark art.

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hi

many thks for the details

indeed it’s very important that the alternator is from Denso , have read many threads where other makes fitted can cause untold problems

a bad alternator can destroy a brand new battery

am wondering if the Bms wire is bad , managed to search through my folders and find it for u , so best to see if the wire is ok


On the positive battery terminal you should have 3 cables. One goes to the starter/alternator, one to the main fuse box next to the battery and a small single cable which connects the BMM. Check the continuity of the single cable as these sometimes break inside the sheathing.

there’s also a big earth cable on the drivers side , think it’s hidden behind the wheel arch liner , also found some ref pics

plus do u have a multimeter plse, if so start the engine , set the multimeter to AC volts and put a test lead onto each battery post , plse let us know what it reads

in the pic it also shows where a wire can break by the alternator , the red one

hope that helps , plse let us know how u get on with the wires and of that earth cable is ok

Hopefully this is bigger showing that broken red wire

Stanleysteamer said:

Do get the battery tested properly, a multimeter isn't a very good test.
As for the rest of it you need a Disco 4 expert. @gstuart hopefully will come back on and help.
Best of luck with it.

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hi mate

many thks for the tag

alas over time have learnt more and more about the D3/4

saw a gorgeous D4 fitted with the jaguar NA 5 x litre petrol V8 , so no turbo or crank issues to worry about , however there over 25k so well out my price range , are jap imports and quite rare , fingers crossed will be able to buy one in the future as they come down in price , ones I’ve seen also have under 70k on the clock , has the cream leather interior with black metallic bodywork

alas some of the petrol FFRR or RRS have the superchargers fitted plus insurance quotes I’ve had are around 1k, funny enough the petrol 5 x litres are ULEZ compliant , go figure

sorry I’m waffling again, lol

hope ur good buddy

What make was the alt they fitted?
Modern cars are very fussy, and some of the cheap ones do not cut the mustard.
I am not sure on the d4, but the d3 alt is controlled by a pwm signal from the engine ecu.

Some questions
1, what was the original fault that prompted the alt change?
2, was this fault there before the new alt was fitted?

lynall said:

What make was the alt they fitted?
Modern cars are very fussy, and some of the cheap ones do not cut the mustard.
I am not sure on the d4, but the d3 alt is controlled by a pwm signal from the engine ecu.

Some questions
1, what was the original fault that prompted the alt change?
2, was this fault there before the new alt was fitted?

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hi mate

also wondering if a wet or AGM battery is in the disco

funny enough asked that with regards if a Denso has been fitted

Indeed as u say with regards to the PWM wire , I’m wondering if a BMS module is fitted on the later stop/ start D4’s

been looking through some of the info I have

Managed to find a picture of the BMS module that’s fitted on the battery earth post

lynall said:

What make was the alt they fitted?
Modern cars are very fussy, and some of the cheap ones do not cut the mustard.
I am not sure on the d4, but the d3 alt is controlled by a pwm signal from the engine ecu.

Some questions
1, what was the original fault that prompted the alt change?
2, was this fault there before the new alt was fitted?

Click to expand...

Hi. Thanks for the reply.

I’m not sure the garage are blaming the battery si I’ll need to take it back up with them now battery seems fine.

So had the alt changed as the Charge system failure warning came in and stayed on about 2 months again. Garage tan diagnostics and suggested alt change. Battery drained flat when this warning came in last time.

Since changing the alt it was ok but now coming on and off temporarily. What I’ve noticed today is when the battery is trickle charged and full it stays off for a while then come on 20-30 miles or so but can go in and off.

Markdornan1 said:

Hi. Thanks for the reply.

I’m not sure the garage are blaming the battery si I’ll need to take it back up with them now battery seems fine.

So had the alt changed as the Charge system failure warning came in and stayed on about 2 months again. Garage tan diagnostics and suggested alt change. Battery drained flat when this warning came in last time.

Since changing the alt it was ok but now coming on and off temporarily. What I’ve noticed today is when the battery is trickle charged and full it stays off for a while then come on 20-30 miles or so but can go in and off.

Click to expand...

It could be the old faulty alt has buggered the battery?

Plus 1 ^^^

gstuart said:

hi mate

many thks for the tag

alas over time have learnt more and more about the D3/4

saw a gorgeous D4 fitted with the jaguar NA 5 x litre petrol V8 , so no turbo or crank issues to worry about , however there over 25k so well out my price range , are jap imports and quite rare , fingers crossed will be able to buy one in the future as they come down in price , ones I’ve seen also have under 70k on the clock , has the cream leather interior with black metallic bodywork

alas some of the petrol FFRR or RRS have the superchargers fitted plus insurance quotes I’ve had are around 1k, funny enough the petrol 5 x litres are ULEZ compliant , go figure

sorry I’m waffling again, lol

hope ur good buddy

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Hi mate.
Nice to hear from you.
Jap imports do sound good as they do so few miles, are usually well maintained and they don't use salt on the roads.
Sadly wifey has broken her ankle and as a result of lifting her to the bog the first night i have done my back in, so things not too clever at the moment.
I don't have to tell you about bad backs!
Still she'll mend and i am seeing a chiro Weds!
All the ebst
Stan

Stanleysteamer said:

Hi mate.
Nice to hear from you.
Jap imports do sound good as they do so few miles, are usually well maintained and they don't use salt on the roads.
Sadly wifey has broken her ankle and as a result of lifting her to the bog the first night i have done my back in, so things not too clever at the moment.
I don't have to tell you about bad backs!
Still she'll mend and i am seeing a chiro Weds!
All the ebst
Stan

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Hi Stan, sorry to hear of 'both' your injuries. Years of my wife, when she was a carer, 'assisting' people with bed & bog issues has done for her back & as you know it's not nice. I wish you both a speedy recovery, all the best.

Andy Warren said:

Hi Stan, sorry to hear of 'both' your injuries. Years of my wife, when she was a carer, 'assisting' people with bed & bog issues has done for her back & as you know it's not nice. I wish you both a speedy recovery, all the best.

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Cheers mate!