Portable jump starter

Hi all, I'm just starting out with my new (old) 2008 Freelander 2 and I've quickly learned that a portable jump starter is a good piece of kit to keep in the boot. Can anyone recommend a suitable one that won't cost the earth but will have enough oomph to start her up. There are so many to chose from, I just don't know what's best. Thanks in advance.

Erm, can't help you, but its not "old". Its 1/2 the age of some of our Freelanders that provide good reliable service

In fact, having owned my 20+ year old Freelander for 10+ years one of the few things to go wrong was the starter motor, and that's probably the only time it has not started. Pretty sure if I carried a jump start kit in the car, if I ever needed to use it, it would be flat.

Super cap jump starter - charge it when you need it off the flat battery, ok so will be a 30 minute wait if it is pretty flat but. I don't have one or used one but seen them in a couple of you tubes

The best advice is, like most things, get the best you can afford.

Col

Personally i would rather invest in a good battery and do the extra earth lead to starter motor bolt if not done so already. Is your FL2 a diesel or petrol version.

Just make sure that it's rated for the size and fuel type of your engine. Bigger diesels and take a bit more oomph to start than say a 1.8 petrol.

Boneidle24seven said:

I'm just starting out with my new (old) 2008 Freelander 2

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2008 isn't old. Mine as 2009 and I definitely wouldn't consider it old.

Boneidle24seven said:

I've quickly learned that a portable jump starter is a good piece of kit to keep in the boot.

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If you're in need of a booster pack, then you need a replacement battery. The FL2 is a power hog, and batteries don't last much more than 4 years, before they'll need replacing.

Thanks for the replies, to answer a couple of questions, it's a Diesel td4 and I ran the battery flat when I had the doors open all day while repairing the seat leather. I restarted it with jump leads and it seems OK now but yeah, I guess a new battery might be the best option. I've been told that it's best to keep them on trickle charge when working on them to avoid battery drain but I'm surprised that something simple like leaving the doors open could cause such a drain, unless as someone here said, the battery has had it! Oh, and I won't call it old anymore!

I've just bought a cheap "TopDon" off the bay of fleas. The V1200 model is the one I have and is plenty good enough for the majority of my vehicles. Not tried it on a Diesel yet, but worked perfectly on the petrol cars that I (and a neighbour!) have.

According to the sales bumpf, more than enough amperage for a 2.0 turbo diesel, but if you're worried, there are 1500 or even 2000 models.

Really pleased with mine! Hopefully it will be up to the task of starting my elderly father's Mini Countryman who's battery will be flatter than the Netherlands..

Boneidle24seven said:

ran the battery flat when I had the doors open all day while repairing the seat leather

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That shouldn't happen, as the interior lights time out after 10 minutes.
You need a new battery, not a booster pack.

That's interesting, I contacted the dealer who I bought the car from and he said this; " it will have been down to the battery just dropping below 12.4 Volts - it's a familiar trait across all the land Rovers with the push button start. if you are working on the car, it's always recommended to keep the battery topped up with a charger. If you ever get chance to see inside of the Land Rover main dealer workshops - all the cars from a £100,000 range Rover are always on trickle charge when on the ramps being worked on! And we insist on the valeters doing the same on all our cars here." Is there an element of truth here or is he just fobbing me off so he doesn't have to pay for a new battery?

Boneidle24seven said:

That's interesting, I contacted the dealer who I bought the car from and he said this; " it will have been down to the battery just dropping below 12.4 Volts - it's a familiar trait across all the land Rovers with the push button start. if you are working on the car, it's always recommended to keep the battery topped up with a charger. If you ever get chance to see inside of the Land Rover main dealer workshops - all the cars from a £100,000 range Rover are always on trickle charge when on the ramps being worked on! And we insist on the valeters doing the same on all our cars here." Is there an element of truth here or is he just fobbing me off so he doesn't have to pay for a new battery?

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If the vehicle is being started repeatedly, and or programmed, then yes, and auxillary power supply is needed, the same could be true if the doors are being opened and closed repeatedly, as this will keep the various computer modules alive.
However if the Freelander is being worked on and say the tail gate and driver's door are left open, then after 10 minutes or so, the modules and interior lights power down, so battery drain is minimal.
If the battery won't start the vehicle after this minimal drain, then the battery needs replacing.

Nodge68 said:

If the vehicle is being started repeatedly, and or programmed, then yes, and auxillary power supply is needed, the same could be true if the doors are being opened and closed repeatedly, as this will keep the various computer modules alive.
However if the Freelander is being worked on and say the tail gate and driver's door are left open, then after 10 minutes or so, the modules and interior lights power down, so battery drain is minimal.
If the battery won't start the vehicle after this minimal drain, then the battery needs replacing.

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I agree with Nodge about the above i have worked on my FL2 for ages with the rear tailgate open front drivers door, after the work it always started ok, so get the battery checked out its free at most outlets, then go back to the dealer with your report. or do a test leave tail gate and a couple of doors open for an hour, see if the volts drop on the battery.

Nodge68 said:

2008 isn't old. Mine as 2009 and I definitely wouldn't consider it old.


If you're in need of a booster pack, then you need a replacement battery. The FL2 is a power hog, and batteries don't last much more than 4 years, before they'll need replacing.

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No, 2008 isn't old for a Freelander...but it is for a battery!
Given that the OP says the FL is new to him then he probably has no idea if/when the battery was last changed. New battery and a check on the earth lead. Simples

OK, well thanks for the advice, I think a battery check is probably the best option. It's a Land Rover battery so quite possibly the original one fitted as there is no paperwork to suggest a battery change at any point!

Boneidle24seven said:

I think a battery check is probably the best option. It's a Land Rover battery so quite possibly the original one fitted as there is no paperwork to suggest a battery change at any point!

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There will be a date code on the battery, but yes it's likely the original, in which case its lasted 3 X it's normal life.
Normally a FL2 battery is on borrowed time after 4 years. So it's well overdue replacement.
I'm surprised you don't get a "special programs off" error message when you first start the vehicle. This warning is often the first sign that battery failure is imminent.

Nodge68 said:

There will be a date code on the battery, but yes it's likely the original, in which case its lasted 3 X it's normal life.
Normally a FL2 battery is on borrowed time after 4 years. So it's well overdue replacement.
I'm surprised you don't get a "special programs off" error message when you first start the vehicle. This warning is often the first sign that battery failure is imminent.

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I'm not getting that message, but that's good to know, thanks