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LinDens90XS



Member Since: 25 Feb 2012
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 83

2003 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
minimum volts for TD5 battery
Can anyone tell me the minimum volts that a battery could be before not turning over and starting the engine?
Reason being is I have installed a Dash cam that also covers parking mode, I set the minimum battery level at 11.9v thinking this would be safe, but this morning I needed a jump start.
Before installing, the battery read 12.36 with engine turned off and 14.4 when engine started, so I thought my battery was in good condition.
Any thoughts very welcome Regards
Dennis.
Post #394267 31st Jan 2015 12:27am
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
by the time a battery has dropped below 12V at minimal load, there's next to nothing left in it. You might be able to start something but I wouldn't bet on much.

Engine running voltage of 14.4V means your alternator is working and charging the battery. It should stay around that even when you've got all your electrics on.

Have a look on this page:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article..._of_charge
The whole site is full of useful things, but the key table is this:




In my opinion, a battery that's only reading 12.36V at rest isn't in a great shape, but the only way to tell for sure would be to test it. How old is the battery?

Edit: I should add it's really hard to tell much about a battery just by measuring its voltage. For instance, starting with a fully charged battery if you've left your sidelights or dash cam on for ages and the battery is reading 11.9V, then it's going to be in a much worst state than if you've just tried to start the engine and it's reading 11.9V. Low current draw things allow the battery to "settle", whereas high current draw things lead to a localised dip that the battery can "recover" a bit from.
Post #394275 31st Jan 2015 12:49am
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LinDens90XS



Member Since: 25 Feb 2012
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 83

2003 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
Thanks for quick reply. it is still the original Delphi battery on a 2003 TD5xs. This is the first time that it has never started and I have had it since 2004 and am just coming up to 63,000. Regards
Dennis.
Post #394278 31st Jan 2015 1:03am
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ozzy57



Member Since: 14 Feb 2014
Location: Farnborough
Posts: 221

2002 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Alveston Red
An 11 year old battery? That's a rarity these days. Not many last more than 5 now.
At that age, I would certainly be preparing to change it soon.
Try charging your battery, then set your minimum charge higher, Td5s are fickle beasts when it comes to a low battery. It wasn't me!
Post #394302 31st Jan 2015 8:04am
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
I count my blessings every day with mine, it was built early January 2002 and released in May of that year, I bought it at auction {sub 5k 6 years ago} and I am the second name on the logbook. It came with FSH so I know from day one what it has had done to it, the battery is original, as is the clutch, the previous owners weren't too caring, yes it was serviced etc but it was a little unloved when I got it. Those that know me know what sort of abuse it has and with 173k, 70k of that is with me, the battery has only let me down three times. Twice can be put down to leaving lights on overnight and the other followed a day on Salisbury Plain in the wet. Yes the voltage gets low this time of year, I noticed the battery monitor start at 12.4v at ignition on, down to 11.8v when glow plug circuit is active and drops to around 10v on cranking and firing. It does seem to take slightly more cranking some of these really cold mornings but that is it. I do have an auxiliary deep cycle battery but that is on a manual switch over relay and I only switch it on charge with the engine running when I remember. I probably will change it this year and to be honest I would seriously look at a take off one from a breakers.
Post #394352 31st Jan 2015 12:10pm
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dorsetsmith



Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 4554

LinDens90XS wrote:
Thanks for quick reply. it is still the original Delphi battery on a 2003 TD5xs. This is the first time that it has never started and I have had it since 2004 and am just coming up to 63,000.








My TD5 90 HT still the original Delphi battery on a 2003 TD5 90,000 Mr. Green
Post #394364 31st Jan 2015 12:31pm
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Lou Sparts



Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
My Td5 is still on its original battery too, we get quite a few disco Td5s as part/x at work and many of them still have their Delphi batteries. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve
Post #394513 31st Jan 2015 7:48pm
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
Our farm '55 plate is still on its original too, and will still start if you accidentally left the farm radio on overnight which is handy.
Post #394655 1st Feb 2015 12:54am
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LinDens90XS



Member Since: 25 Feb 2012
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 83

2003 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
Thanks for all the replies. Well I was going to just replace with a Delphi but came across this adoring my search. "Delphi to Quit Battery Business - June 30, 2006|From Bloomberg News" http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/30/business/fi-delphi30
So it looks like I will end up using my local Motor Factors in the end.
Incidentally, I have had no trouble since posting regards starting (Just hope I have not spoken to soon). Regards
Dennis.
Post #395354 3rd Feb 2015 12:42am
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LinDens90XS



Member Since: 25 Feb 2012
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 83

2003 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
Oops!! sorry for typo during my adoring search. Regards
Dennis.
Post #395355 3rd Feb 2015 12:43am
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Lou Sparts



Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
I think Varta are the only company to make a direct replacement battery with the terminals in same place( they are in the middle of the width) not so important for us but more important for Disco two owners where the battery lead length is restricted. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve
Post #395373 3rd Feb 2015 8:57am
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