defender battery apparently extinct

In my Defender Td5 I have an Exide Premium 12v EA 1000 1OOAh 900CCA starter battery, which I bought in Germany in April-May-June 2014 (I don’t remember exactly). Since then, through the European winter and through very hot weather, the engine always burst readily to life at first touch. Until tonight.
Instead, I got a clicking sound (and the interior lights, which run off this battery, don’t work). The battery is under the driver’s seat. I had a look and found that the plastic insert, of which the battery condition indicator is part, had completely blown out and on top of the battery was a small amount of acid. After replacing the insert, I get a yellow reading, which for the LR original Delphi YGD 100860, means “do not charge or jump start: battery must be replaced”. On trying to start (again) there was no sound, then, later, I got the same clicking sound as before.

I presume I’m going to have to fit a new battery but I’d like to know why this might have happened and if it might happen again with a new battery. Also, I wonder if some other parts might be damaged, if, in other words, replacing the battery isn’t going to solve the problem.

At present I’m parked at a petrol station 30km from Mendoza, Argentina, and 8km from the nearest town., so am probably lucky as I was about to head into more remote areas.

Any advive or suggestions would be much appreciated.

It would be useful to measure the current voltages, of the current seemingly damaged battery and your rate of charging. I would want to know that the alternator was not overcharging the battery, you've got the internet out there obviously so you can check this but I think an healthy alternator should be giving 14.8v max. Hopefully it is just a random battery failure.

Good luck

ps, not sure of this battery specification but on my sealed for life battery I was instructed to remove 2 plugs at either end of the battery (check that should you have these vents they are clear, if that's what your specification requires)

Hi - As Pricilla says .... i would be looking towards the charging side of things. sounds like its maybe overcharged.

Batteries can fail short of their life span. and sometimes the plates can warp and touch causing shorts.

cheers
dave

what does the battery voltage read when disconnected ?

Thanks, all. Even though the plastic insert of which the "green/black/yellow or white" reading is part, had blown out, the battery was fine. An electrician has checked everything and found that the alternator'regulator is not damaged. The problem arose because a connection between the first and second/third batteries was loose and had caused a peak, leading to overcharging.

You have 3 batteries?

Glad you got it sorted and saved the battery

Have a good trip and please post photos

flat said:

You have 3 batteries?

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Cells I presume.

Yes, three batteries. One starter and then two in parallel for equipment.

popotla said:

Yes, three batteries. One starter and then two in parallel for equipment.

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If you got stranded remote couldn't you just use one of those as starter?