Wow, L322s are a full-time hobby to keep running aren't they!

Had issues with the battery being flat randomly in the past few months, turns out something is pulling 6 amps even with the car is locked and sleeping. Pulled the fuses and worked out it's 27 and 49 causing it, 3 amps each.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qtdaJP9enXdeQPEE6

Removed the glove box bulb and the sat nav in the boot but it's draining, so not those. Need to investigate the boot lights, windscreen washers, radio and computer system. Heard it could be the FSR needs replacing for fuse 49, but not sure for 27.

I have one, or possibly two leaks I noticed with the non-stop rain recently as the car is full-on damp inside. I replaced the amp in the boot a few months ago because water killed it, covered the electrics with a bin bag to stop it happening again, but the damp is getting ridiculous.

One is the rear driver side sunroof drain. The others are draining out fine when tested, but this one the water just goes inside the car and down the driver side passenger door headliner between the passenger window and boot window. Anyone know how to poke something down it when the hole is covered, do I need to take the sunroof out/off to do it?!

It could be the same leak, but water is getting into the boot on the LHS also. Might be the boot hinge, so will try to seal that up.

Now the question is, could water ingress be causing these battery drains?

Thanks,
James

I guess if water is causing something to remain on, then it would indirectly drain the battery.....

Sunroof drains thread

Good luck fixing the leaks

Nice, thanks for sharing that thread. Will definitely give that a try for the sunroof drain.

Yes a water leak could ultimately cause a battery drain particularly if the water gets onto a printed circuit board in any of the bits in boxes.
I had an initial battery drain caused by water leaking into a Connects 2 telephone module which resulted in a miniature relay corroded into the closed position.
Threw the box away and never had a problem since.

Ok, thanks, will probably try to fix these leaks, dry the car out and then revisit the battery drain.

Cheers,
James

For fuse 49 the two things I would be looking at closely, by taking the cases off, would be the satnav unit and the dsp in the back left compartment. Are you sure the upper tailgate rubber seal is ok?

That was a fun evening.

Checked all the boot and can’t see or feel any leaks from the top or down the sides. Managed to clear the sunroof drain that was blocked by using the method on the thread above. Water started coming out of the exit pipe in the wheel arch, I was so happy. Tried pouring soapy water in the sunroof drain again to test, it came out ok, but then I discover it was still going inside the car too, the same as before.

Will have to pull the headliner inside down and try find the leak in the pipe itself.

Opened the right side of the boot to check the electrics in there and the carpet was SOAKED with the soapy water I just poured in the sunroof drain, so I think that one leak is the cause of the boot issues too.

Think I’ve fixed the leaks!

Pulled down the headliner and the pipe connected to the sunroof drain was pinched.

Sorted it, tried hosing the car for a while to see if it was fixed, dry still, happy days!

Will de-humidify the car until completely dry then tackle the battery issues.

Cheers,
James

I had the dreaded battery drain in my 04 4.4 - eventually traced it to the little fan in the hevac panel that never powered down. Re-wiring it so that the whole thing powered off with ignition off finally sorted it. Current: 2004 Vogue 4.4 V8 - 2004 Discovery 2
Previous: 2000 P38 DHSE - 1995 P38 DT Man - 1990 3.9 SE Classic, 1980 3.5 Classic 2dr

Ah really, thanks for the heads up. How did you track it down exactly, to the fan itself?

As mentioned I've narrowed it down to either the boot lights, windscreen washers, radio or computer system. Seems like it's going to be tough to test individual parts of those things though.

Cheers,
James

Might help you in your quest:

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic47332.html .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Awesome, thanks so much, will have a read.

Cheers,
James

Hi all,

So followed the steps on the link above to properly test and don’t actually have a battery drain problem by the looks of it. When the car is properly asleep only 0.03 amps are being pulled which is normal.

Wonder if the dead batteries have been down to not using the car enough/for long enough distances. Either that or it was the wet inside the car, and now it’s dry it’s sorted.

Let’s hope it stays fixed!

Thanks for the help everyone!
James

You should also start the car, let it run for a little bit to settle down, have most things turned off, e.g. lights/AC, and check the voltage across the battery terminals - (this will tell you what the alternator is kicking out)

If it is not at least 14+ volts - then you may have a problem with your alternator .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Thanks Joe!

Tested this today and it seems to be all ok.

Off: 13v
On idle: 14.3v
On full usage: 13v
3000rpm: 14v

Think there is a slight leak with the boot seal. Tried taking it off, cleaning it and putting it back on. Would it go back on properly, seemed like it had got longer somehow?! It’s pretty corroded and messed up in places so will try buy a new one.

Can anyone recommend the best place to buy cheap but new parts?

Cheers,
James