Car was last driven only 4-5 days ago and has been fine previously - been sat on drive inactive with the current cold snap, but I'm on Essex/Herts borders so nothing below -3C I'd guess but have had a bit of snow last couple of days.

Just tried to start it and totally dead, no attempt to turn engine over at all - popped a jumper battery pack onto the batter terminals and fired up first time, drove for 20m to a shop where I left for no more than 15mins and it started fine again (so holding some charge clearly) whilst still nice and warm.

It doesn't feel totally normal though for a relatively short period of inactivity and cold temps at this level to kill the battery, its only a couple of years old.

Can I wave it away as nothing or is something likely frazzled in a battery cell or something like that and I need a new one ?

Thanks for any advice

battery sounds like the suspect..get a drop charge test on it to find out if one or more cells are going.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

thanks Stan, would be disappointing if going as only a couple of years old and not really used the car anywhere near as much in last year

are any of the £40-50 battery testers sold on Amazon worth bothering with for a home checkup, this type of thing ?

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ANCEL-Automotiv...mp;sr=8-26

it looks like it will do the job but why pay that when a visit to halfords or a tyre/battery seller and they will test yours for free. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

good shout, heading to my local Halfords who do the tests apparently

i brought a charger from Ring that you can carry out loads of tests on a battery. it also reconditions a battery as well.
I had a few minor issues on my TDV8 4.4 with starting and after leaving it on the conditioning cycle for 24hrs all seems well and has been for a couple of months.
my car is a 2012 and still has the original battery. My plan is to replace it in the spring with a new one then put the old one in the boot as a second battery  2012 Vogue 4.4 TDV8 - Current
2014 Navara V6 - Gone
2004 Vogue TD6 - Gone
Grand Cherokee - Gone
Discovery V8 (LPG) - Gone
Discovery TD5 - Gone

What make of battery did you fit? If it's not that old, it's probably still under warranty.

12 months of lockdowns, short trips and a general lack of use could easily kill a battery. They last much longer when they're used regularly and kept topped up.

Our 4.4 sits with a C-Tek constantly connected to it's towing socket for that reason. It's still on it's original battery despite only having covered 22k miles.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

thanks both, do you have links to the products you bought please, did a quick google and there seems a myriad of option

the connection via the tow socket, does this mean you leave the car effectively plugged in the whole time almost like an EV to keep the battery conditioned ?

I just connect mine up every 2 weeks (if not being used) via the towing socket adaptor for my ctek 7.0.
I don't leave it permanently connected.
The battery will thank you for it  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------

I view batteries as a service item and change them as soon as I buy a car then every 2 years. £100 a year is a drop in the ocean of Rangerover running costs and is a small price to pay for some peace of mind on a car with a big engine and no means of bump starting it.

This is the adapter we use:

https://fnltd.co.uk/shop/tow-electrics-cha...c-p45.html

This is the charger we use:

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-...80326.html

They are smart chargers that don't try and charge the batteries all the time. They will monitor the battery and top it up as and when required. Ours sits connected all the time and only comes off it when we use the car. I can't imagine there's many FF's still on the original battery and not having issues so it must be working.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

thanks very much for the info and links on the CTEK stuff, will take a look at them

Halfords machine showed the battery was fine but needed charging - so gave it a good run just now, my concern is why it wasn't charged and how it dropped to appearing dead in just 5 days but will have to see what happens now over next few days, can rule out the battery at least.

Starter motors are always suspect on 2012’s, but you would hear a “click” “thud” noise as it tried to engage.
Mike. G reg 2.5VM Vogue Portofino red 1991- 1999
V reg 2.5td P38 Rioja red 1999- 2006
53 reg td6 Vogue Oslo blue 2006- 2015
11 reg 4.4 TdV8 Vogue SE. Baltic blue 2015- date.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56162...tty+affair

Baltic Blue is right.

At 22,800 miles, our 2012 AB is on it's 3rd starter motor due to it just clicking when you try and start the car.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

interesting, hope its not the starter motor as that was replaced just over a year ago with a different problem, this was the car not starting when warmed up after a longer run (there was resistance in the main fuse and cleaning it up sorted that out, took main dealers ages to find and went down starter motor replacement first of all).

interestingly I did have the handbrake light flashing this morning, assumed I'd forgot to put in on and turned off car in gear last time I used - did a search for flashing handbrake light and found a post here from Stan saying its most likely a low voltage battery on a cold day !?!?!?!?