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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20861  
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Battery voltage low. (Typically after cranking).
Have you done many short trips lately? Maybe worth checking Alternator charging current just to see it's doing its job properly. _\Hennessey|Venom| F5/___ ___\⭐️Lone|Star|State/___ ____\We|Will|Win/___ ____/🇬🇧🇺🇸\____ _//*⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰*\\_ |
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28th Jan 2018 12:55pm |
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| MadTom Member Since: 10 Sep 2013 Location: Olomouc Posts: 663  
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Battery light with running engine means problem with charging. It is time to check that it charges enough, measuring battery voltage with idling engine and with all power consumers (lights, fan, heating, ...) powered on. . There is no connection between battery voltage and this light, but with not working alternator, the voltage will be low. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufínek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo
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28th Jan 2018 2:19pm |
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| Marks Landy Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 306 
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Is your alternator drive belt tight enough?
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28th Jan 2018 4:49pm |
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| JonJop Member Since: 23 Jan 2018 Location: St Agnes Posts: 63 
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Been out in her all day today and seems fine again. I did install a headunit and amp yesterday so do have the ignition on for parts of it whilst testing which could have been the issue. Also, the handbrake light has only worked intermittently today so it could perhaps be a bad connection going into the panel?
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28th Jan 2018 7:11pm |
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| JonJop Member Since: 23 Jan 2018 Location: St Agnes Posts: 63
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Wife just called to say the light is on again. Is there a way of checking if there is a drain on the battery when the ignition is turned off? Just wondering if the fact the light started coming on the day after I fitted an amp is coincidential, or, if the amp is draining the battery causing the light to come on when we start it?
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30th Jan 2018 10:53am |
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| Mash Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: Guernsey Posts: 1674  
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I had an issue on mine for a few months until I replaced the alternator, my charge warning light would randomly come on go out, some drives would be fine some would be on all the way, no starting issues/ dim lights etc.
I fluked tested the alternator with and without the light on and had 24-26v (on a Wolf 24v running system) so my alternator was just producing enough power to run the vehicle, fitted a new alternator once I could afford one and it’s been fine since. 90 wolf - Jasmin http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39408.html 90 V8 - Maggie http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic42564.html 110 TD5 - Buggsy http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic59029.html 52HG25 lightweight https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72342.html D3 Hse - Fiona Capri 2l S - Anna Think I might have a problem............ |
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30th Jan 2018 11:01am |
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| JonJop Member Since: 23 Jan 2018 Location: St Agnes Posts: 63
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Eliminated the amp being a drain.
With the ignition off I have constant power from the power cable and no power from the switch cable. When the ignition is on the switch cable becomes live and powers the unit up. I’ll check the alternator. Just posted a question about the clock bulb so if anyone can lend their electrical expertise on that one it would be much appreciated! |
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30th Jan 2018 5:49pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20861
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When you fitted all your audio kit, did you ensure you isolate the battery and interior lights were off?
If not, which really should be the interior lights will put a fair drain on the battery whilst working on it with the doors open. If you have the motor running, check for voltage at the battery after a couple of minutes. It should be circa 13.8v - 14.5v ish which should show your Alternator is charging the battery which it should be doing after cranking as that is when a large draw is put on the battery reserve capacity. Normally Defender batteries are very good from the factory, is yours standard? How old is it? I have had similar myself before, but it went soon enough when battery was back up to good voltage and reserve. Also, check battery post clamps are tight. It's often caused by a power draw without the engine running whilst doing work on it. Which is why I always turn interior lights off or any main electrical work and disconnect the battery completely.  _\Hennessey|Venom| F5/___
___\⭐️Lone|Star|State/___ ____\We|Will|Win/___ ____/🇬🇧🇺🇸\____ _//*⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰*\\_ Last edited by custom90 on 30th Jan 2018 7:35pm. Edited 2 times in total |
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30th Jan 2018 7:18pm |
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| JonJop Member Since: 23 Jan 2018 Location: St Agnes Posts: 63
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Thanks mate - yep, had the lights turned off and isolated the battery whilst doing the install.
We have done a couple of short trips this weekend too which could have caused it. I'll run a test on the battery to see if it could be the alternator at the weekend. Thanks for all the help guys. |
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30th Jan 2018 7:29pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20861
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It could well be that alone, especially associated with the cold weather.
Defenders do struggle a bit, especially in the winter with on-going regular short trips only. _\Hennessey|Venom| F5/___ ___\⭐️Lone|Star|State/___ ____\We|Will|Win/___ ____/🇬🇧🇺🇸\____ _//*⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰*\\_ |
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30th Jan 2018 7:37pm |
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| JonJop Member Since: 23 Jan 2018 Location: St Agnes Posts: 63
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Thanks again - I must say, I absolutely love the old thing so far!
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30th Jan 2018 8:06pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20861
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_\Hennessey|Venom| F5/___
___\⭐️Lone|Star|State/___ ____\We|Will|Win/___ ____/🇬🇧🇺🇸\____ _//*⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰*\\_ |
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30th Jan 2018 8:15pm |
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| JonJop Member Since: 23 Jan 2018 Location: St Agnes Posts: 63
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I can hear a bit of a belt squeal - will get it tightened up this weekend and I think the battery light may go off!
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2nd Feb 2018 4:46pm |
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| JonJop Member Since: 23 Jan 2018 Location: St Agnes Posts: 63
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The mystery continues with this one.
Checked the belt and it seems tight - no obvious signs of it slipping when running. I put a multimeter on the battery and has a reading of 12.18v when the engine wasn’t running. Fired it up and the reading jumped to 13.8v so everything seems to be as it should be there. The battery light is still on though. I’m a little baffled by this one now. |
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3rd Feb 2018 6:10pm |
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