Coincidence? Fate? A sign? I'm not sure....

On my last FF ('02 4.4 V, I'd had the thing 3 weeks and on a Monday morning the bloody thing had a flat battery which turned out to be the steering wheel reach motor not switching off after shutdown.

3 weeks after buying my S/C, on a Monday morning (today), that also decides to not start. I noticed the central locking on Saturday seemed slow and she churned a little on start-up as I moved her 5 feet forwards, stopped, shutdown, wait 15 minutes, and then back again to enable better access to clean the door hinges.

I've left her on the drive rather than calling Green Flag and drove my 110 to work instead. Failed to jump start her with the 110 (second time jumping a car from the 110 has failed and I reckon my leads must be duff...), so will call GF later.

Ironically, she's going to Stratstone's later today / early tomorrow for some warranty work, so the breakdown couldn't be better timed. Coindidentally, my old '02 was headed into Guava for some warranty work the day after as well... Spooky.

So, I assume a flat battery. The gloveboxes wouldn't even open (electric motors)! I've left her unlocked as well.

Can't say I'm happy, but thankful there's an iniment dealer visit.

So, I assume it's the battery. What annoys me is what may have caused it and I'm sure there are a myriad of potential reasons. Yes, she was cleaned a lot at the weekend. Yes, the doors were open a fair amount of time and over 2 days. No, she wasn't used at all other than a few second shunt for access. Yes, she was unlocked and locked a fair few times. Can it really be that simple?

Yet again I find myself wondering why I've not got myself a new Merc on a lease deal....

If any other S/C owners have experienced the same, please speak up. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

I'd say it really is that simple, get yourself a new battery, and if valeting, and putting a drain on the battery for a long time, then put it on charge.

Don't give the car, or yourself, a hard time over something you can reasonably foresee, it's enough with the challenges which you really can't!

 Range Rover-less at the moment - Pining!

i agree with David that its the battery..if its the original one then you have done well and if its already a replacement then normally 3 years is generally the duration for these...i'd rather it go now than in the winter... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Thanks gents!

I think the battery might be the original as it's a LR one.

It's just so annoying.

Still, for once, I'm thankful it's all covered under warranty. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Manually turn off the lights when valeting....

Good idea. Blindingly obvious, now you mention it.

D'oh!! Why didn't I think of that sooner. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Likely to be a goosed battery. But be prepared for a battle from LR for a new one. My battery was gone in the warranty period and i had to fork out for another myself.

Better to get the bosch ones anyhow. Mucho debate as to the best type as you no doubt know, i went for the 100ah and it seems to work fine and fits easily unlike the 110ah. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

^+1 100ah will be fine.

My battery went again after 2 years, in a warm climate with little "long term" drain. Batteries are not what they used to be in the old days  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

i agree Eugene, mine went after 11 months and that was a 110amphr jobby as well.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Green Flag chap has been and she fired straight up with a jump lead. So that's good.

My wife is going to drive over to my work (9 miles from home) to drop the S/C off so that it gets a run of some sort.

There's definitely an argument here for LED interior bulbs, but I don't like the bright light and much prefer the softer, warmer, yellow glow and ambience of the filament units. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

you can get leds in different colours like blue and [i'm pretty sure] warm white... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Hi,

We were cleaning the SC one day (before it went into the MD for a lot of work/ prev reported upon on the forum). Simply by having the doors open/ listening to radio/ no key in ignition, the battery went flat. Jump started fine, engine left running for 20 minutes thereafter, started fine next morning, then cleaned the car with doors open later that day and battery flat again. This happened 3 days in a row before taking the car to MD.

Asked them to check battery, they had to put a trickle charge on for 1 day and a half but said they could find no fault with battery, attributed it to the car electrics activating whilst car stationary (we've had brand new BMW's do this though so it's not unique to the RR). The car has since had a good run and no recurrence.

The MD has said that whilst finding no fault on the battery, if we become unhappy with it again, they will replace the battery.

Hope this assists...

Thanks Ryan.

Wife and 10 year-old son are very happy as they've had an unplanned trip in my S/C and wife happily reported dispatching a slower Mercedes convertible with consummate ease on a short dual carriageway stretch. Still not as urgent as our E55, but MUCH quicker than my old 4.4 which even Clare complained about on a few occasions.

GF chap said the same thing as you gents with regard the battery and also commented that, in his experience, 'cheap' jump leads don't always work (ours go back to Clare's first and only S-plate - 1978 Mini back in the early 90's) and recommends buying a good, quality set. Can't argue with him really.

I'll alert Stratstone's and see what they do about it.

I also think LED interior bulbs are in order if I can find them in the correct 'warm' glow.

Once again, chaps, a huge thanks!  Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Not supprised you cant jump a ff with a set of leads bought to do a mini.

Need nice big thick ones.

That should do the trick. There seemed to nothing much wrong with my battery to start with but i think that once they have been flattened they never seem to be the same again..... After a couple of "just starting" moments i put a new one in and all has been fine since. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial