I have searched on this topic and not found anyone who has experienced quite what my RR is doing.

At the beginning of December last (2024) one cold morning (-2deg) started the car up and before it had even fired into life, the CHARGING SYSTEM FAULT message appeared for the first time, together with the red warning triangle and red battery light. I first assumed this was the battery as I have the receipt from the previous owner and it was about two years old at that point.

Drove it about seven miles with everything non-essential switched off to an exhausts/tyres/batteries place I have used before to get it tested. They used a normal multi meter on the battery and an old meter on the alternator, It was charging at between 13.2 and 13.5 with the engine running. They said it should be 14-14.5 and that it was the alternator. I also have the receipt for that from the previous owner and that, too, was changed at about the same time (eg 2 years ago).

I'd noticed nothing to suggest the battery was draining. The above place told me to watch out for heavy power steering (somewhere else has also told me the same since) as that would be the first sign the battery is low.

I made all the usual enquiries about cost of replacing the alternator, but then something odd happened a few days later. The weather had improved and the temperature was back up to about 13 deg. On braking at a roundabout, I looked down and the warning symbols had disappeared. I continued driving down a slight slope for another mile or so, and they reappeared. Over the next week this continued. Since then, however, where the temperature has not been above 10 degrees since, the warning lights have been constant.

I have since had two autosparks look at it and neither can find anything wrong – no loose connections etc. The alternator otherwise appears fine. It has been run through a remapper's diagnostics and they were unable to find a fault code.

Since this first appeared, I have now driven over 1600 miles (in two months) since the original place suggested it was the alternator with NO perceptible sign of anything wrong – everything works, it starts first time, every time. My Autel diagnostics module can’t pick anything up.

The MoT is now due and I’m obviously concerned that this is an automatic fail (point 1, and I know engine management light on IS a fail. BTW the EML is NOT on) but it is now getting to be annoying and I just want to get it sorted.

Does anyone on the forum have any suggestions what this could be? Can I just state that the vehicle has not gone into restricted performance at any time, which I understand l322’s do if the alternator goes whilst the vehicle is being driven. Also, I don't know if this is relevant, but I had the serpentine belts and the pulleys/tensioners (about 5 or 6 in the kit) replaced a couple of months before this all started.

Last edited by phoenixman61 on 3rd Feb 2025 3:20pm. Edited 1 time in total

Hi,
If it's running fine now I wouldn't worry about it too much.
It could just have been a little belt slip on first start which quickly sorted itself out.
I get a slight squeak from mine on cold mornings but only briefly.
Not sure why a low battery would affect the power steering as it is hydraulic on a L322 and running from the same belt as the alternator.
Hope this helps but let us know how you get on. 2012 TDV8 4.4 Westminster Santorini black
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2002 Defender TD5