After a fairly "should it stay or should it go" type of year I've come to the conclusion it's better the devil you know.

My 3.6 TDV8 has covered 73k now and after a faultless tow into France and home it's in need of some minor TLC in areas.

I do have a couple of things that if I keep it I'd like to sort and so help is requested to answer these;

- where in the north west is there a decent leather repairer as the driver seat needs new bead and trim
- how do I once and for all sort the "every year winter battery failure"...I am now on my 3rd Bosch S5 and still think there's an electrical fault, though an auto-elec tells me it's a "common issue on the L322"
- I have a 2010 sat nav disc, is there a newer option - half the new roads in France were missing!

Not major issues.....but if I'm to keep her longer term I'd like them resolved

Cheers Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

There are often replacement seat covers on eBay - always worth a look

For the battery - unless you want to go down the dual battery route, the best I can suggest is buy one from Euro Car Parts - at least they will replace for free for 5 years - see here

And buy a decent jump pack just in case

Battery is from ECP so you're bang on they just keep saying the same, bring it in and we'll swap it !!
I have toyed with dual battery, but a decent jump pack is on the cards...research to be done as they seem to vary in price a lot Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

Google is your friend !!

http://www.leathercaredirect.com/car_renovation.php

Google is a friend, your right....but a recommendation is a much better friend !  Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

Ref jump pack
Got mine from John Craddocks it was around the 50 squid Mark, only used it once to start my lads RRS and it worked a treat. Also got bits in to charge phones and iPad.
Well worth it for peace of the old grey cells

Some good jump pack recommendations here

I bought a Floureon which seems very good, but I've not had to use it seriously yet.

n1cktdv8 wrote:

Google is a friend, your right....but a recommendation is a much better friend !

Nick, ditch the Bosch S5 pal... They are pish!!!

Everyone of my customers who had one fitted has had at least one replacement on warranty which has also failed!!! They simply DONT work...

Next your going to ask “what would you fit Craig” and id always fit genuine JLR if i could afford it...

I have a Floureon. Used it in earnest once in May when setting off for the ferry from Newhaven. Faultless. Son-in- Law couldn't believe it.  John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

The S5 was a bloody recommendation of chaps on here

As autumn approaches I pretty much know it's going back to ECP, this time it's a money back though IF it fails.

If a JLR genuine one will solve it then I'll bite the bullet, however last time I checked they were £220 + VAT. I'm keen to understand the power packs more too, its the single only real thing that I can say consistently p s me off ! Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

I also had an S5 on recommendation from here - yes its the biggest battery you can fit but I too was in the queue at ECP for a replacement under warranty - no quibble as i said elsewhere on here you can't fault ECP but it seems the Bosch battery is not all its cracked up to be.
Obviously JLR don't manufacture batteries (at least i don't think they do) but whose do they stick their stickers on?

Anyway now I've got a petrol,l they take much less juice to start, I no longer have a pre heater which also flattened the battery. I still, out of habit and because I've got one,connect my cTec every now and again especially if I've got the doors and the 'gate open when cleaning.

I used to leave it connected overnight via the towing sockets when I had a diesel, car can then still be locked, ran the FBH for 30mins, disconnected and car always started, when I went off to WORK - seems a long time ago now.

Never once did I forget to disconnect, not bad for me  Geoff

TBH Geoff it does seem Craig has a good point. Then original LR battery worked fine for a long time. When it finally gave up the car was 7 years old and had 65k on the clock. Since then I am sorry to say that the S5 doesn't seem all it's cracked up to be, at all. I'm on my third and with autumn/winter on the horizon I fear another winter of keeping it on charge....even my neighbour chuckles "I didn't know it was a hybrid plugged in all the time"....

Frustrating tbh... Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

I've just replaced my S5 after 5 years of use with no bother at all, methinks there is more to this than duff batteries.

Agree with NDFI - something going on somewhere when car is "asleep" - or perhaps the alternator?

In eight years on my 2nd Varta Silver - from tayna (with the first being used as a second battery in the boot)

I do tend to give the whole system a boost with the Ctek when I remember (@ every 8 weeks) .
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

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