Serious Battery drain

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing a significant battery drain issue with my Freelander 2 (2008 TD4 model). I’ve had both the battery and alternator checked by two different mechanics, and they’ve confirmed that both are in good working condition.
However, if I leave the car unused for just a day, the battery becomes so weak that it won’t start without a jump. The vehicle usually responds to the key fob and the dashboard lights up, but today it didn’t respond at all—I had to unlock it manually and jump start it to get it running.
I've also noticed that the alarm occasionally goes off without any apparent reason, and at times, I receive a “bonnet unlocked” warning while driving, even though the bonnet is securely closed.
I’m unsure where to begin diagnosing this issue. If anyone has encountered something similar or could offer some guidance, I’d greatly appreciate your help.
Thank you in advance!

How old is the battery? Is it the correct type? How was it tested? If the battery is more than 3 years old, replace it with the correct type before moving on to more in depth investigations. If the battery is less than 3 years but isn't the correct type, replace it.
These vehicles have a very high battery draw, which will quickly flatten a battery that is below specification.

The bonnet unlocked warning will be the sensor on the latch. Most people simply put a paper clip in the plug to link it out.

Nodge68 said:

How old is the battery? Is it the correct type? How was it tested? If the battery is more than 3 years old, replace it with the correct type before moving on to more in depth investigations. If the battery is less than 3 years but isn't the correct type, replace it.
These vehicles have a very high battery draw, which will quickly flatten a battery that is below specification.

The bonnet unlocked warning will be the sensor on the latch. Most people simply put a paper clip in the plug to link it out.

Click to expand...

Hi Nodge,
Thank you very much for your reply.
I got the Freelander from someone about a month ago, and he mentioned that the battery is approximately a year old. It's a Bosch battery, though I'm not certain about the specific type.
Could you please let me know the correct type of battery for a 2008 Freelander 2 TD4?
And also should I Try and unplug the fuse of the radio to rule out the radio being on after car goes to sleep ?
Thanks in advance !

Sivakumar said:

Hi Nodge,
Thank you very much for your reply.
I got the Freelander from someone about a month ago, and he mentioned that the battery is approximately a year old. It's a Bosch battery, though I'm not certain about the specific type.
Could you please let me know the correct type of battery for a 2008 Freelander 2 TD4?
And also should I Try and unplug the fuse of the radio to rule out the radio being on after car goes to sleep ?
Thanks in advance !

Click to expand...

A lot of places recommend an 096 battery, but that's only relevant if the genuine LR battery is being fitted. The LR 096 was more powerful than the standard 096 size listed by battery manufacturers.
For aftermarket batteries, a 110 is closer to the original LR battery in specification, so that's the one to fit. It's slightly larger than a factory battery, but still fits in the tray, and has the correct energy capacity for this vehicle.

As for power drain, the bluetooth module has been known to cause battery drain, but nothing like flattening a full capacity battery over night.
The rear wiper motor has been known to draw power if it hasn't parked properly, sometimes burning out, and sometimes starting a fire. So make sure the rear wiper is doing a full sweep, and stops with a little bit of upwards movement.

Also when locking the car, press the lock button twice. This applies the dead locks, but also forces the computers to shut down in 12 minutes, rather the 25 minutes of a single lock button press.