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Foggy



Member Since: 14 Jan 2023
Location: Oban
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 PU Coniston Green
TD5 Charging/Battery Problems
After lending my Defender to someone (first mistake!), it came back with what appears to be a charging problem. The battery had died and after jumping it no luck, so fully charged the battery and things worked fine initially. After about 20 mins of run time, radio cuts out, headlights dim and eventually after plenty of other weird and wonderful faults (speedo all over the place, fuel gauge not working) eventually the ECU starts to cause misfire and stalls the engine.

Initial Voltage at the Battery is 12.7V, starts fine (numerous times without fail), then testing at terminals voltage is 14.4 (alternator working?). All electrics on, still getting around 14.2 V at battery terminals. Leave it to run with electric things on and eventually start to here a change in engine tone, down to 13v, and so on until 10v after a period of time.

I had initially assumed battery or alternator, but the fact it starts numerous times fine seems to rule out the battery, and the fact it is charging the battery for the first 5 mins seems to rule out alternator.
I'm a bit of an electrical biff but can do the basics with a voltmeter, any tips on where to start testing to find the fault.
Cheers folks!
Post #977992 14th Jan 2023 1:38pm
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ibexman



Member Since: 13 Dec 2008
Location: Essex
Posts: 2945

United Kingdom 
Td5 are very voltage sensitive first port of call would be a new battery 🤔
Post #977997 14th Jan 2023 2:22pm
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4RF RDS



Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 930

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Epsom Green
Suggest you condition your battery first and if it does not hold a charge after 24 hours of conditioning you’ll need a new battery.

Good luck. 2010 Range Rover MkIII Autobiography Super Charged (Idris)
2003 Range Rover Mk III (Desmond FitzWilliam)
2000 Defender 110 CSW TD5 (CTX)
1992 Range Rover Classic (Lizzy)
1972 Series III 300 Tdi (Stanwood)
1967 MGB GT

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Post #978017 14th Jan 2023 4:04pm
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Foggy



Member Since: 14 Jan 2023
Location: Oban
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 PU Coniston Green
ibexman wrote:
Td5 are very voltage sensitive first port of call would be a new battery 🤔



Cheers folks, new 019 Battery ordered so hopefully that sorts it. Will update hopefully with good news!
Post #978277 16th Jan 2023 9:01am
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Yup agree with what the others have said Thumbs Up Aging batteries often show their weakness when they get cold. What is it in Oban? got to be pretty close to freezing, maybe minus overnight?

If you get longish periods of cold temperatures like this it is worth plugging the battery in to a conditioner/charger overnight. It keeps the battery topped up and the charging activity keeps the battery warm. I use a CTEK MXS 5 on my TD5 and Freelander 2 TD4 during periods below 2 degC here in deepest darkest Wales. They definitely start better in the morning when they have been plugged in. Worth a thought.
Post #978291 16th Jan 2023 10:20am
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2225

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
I had a similar issue ages ago with my TD5. It is worth checking the main feed terminal on the alternator is tight and not corroded.

I am reluctant to believe it is a battery issue as once started the 120A alternator should be able to maintain more than enough keep everything running on the vehicle without any contribution from the battery.

Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
Post #978294 16th Jan 2023 10:43am
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Foggy



Member Since: 14 Jan 2023
Location: Oban
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 PU Coniston Green
Cold today, but symptoms were showing when it was warm and Censored wet haha!

Anyways borrowed a mates healthy battery; this time alternator not charging battery at all and battery light on. So I have ordered an alternator now; in the meantime going to try and test the earths to see if that’s an issue!
Post #978419 16th Jan 2023 8:48pm
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Whilst you are under there... Rolling with laughter

It is worth finding all the earth points, cleaning them and refitting with some contact grease (vaseline would do) Thumbs Up
Post #978420 16th Jan 2023 8:50pm
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Foggy



Member Since: 14 Jan 2023
Location: Oban
Posts: 6

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 PU Coniston Green
Alternator was the issue. Fairly easy job done this morning, gaves the earths a clean up too but the fact the battery light was consistently showing gave it away. Cheers for the help!
Post #979110 21st Jan 2023 12:22pm
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Glad it is sorted Thumbs Up
Post #979114 21st Jan 2023 12:37pm
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Defendertomten



Member Since: 19 Aug 2020
Location: Avesta
Posts: 48

Sweden 2000 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Coniston Green
Another thing regarding to charge or not to charge, was that i burned a fuse to the rear running light(or was it? Was more than 10 years ago) . Anyway. That also supplied the red battery lamp in the instrument. And with no power to that one it did not charge the battery... Have a electric skilled friend that found out. Changed the alternator with no success before. Came quite long before the battery was drained. Land Rover owner since 2003
2008 Disco3 manual
2000 Defender 130 td5 snorkel warn m6000
Post #1004025 13th Aug 2023 9:12pm
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