Intermittent Charging Fault, message + battery light

[PTMADRID]

Hi all. 2010 l322 range rover tdv8 3.6 with 95000 miles. Last couple of days, a few miles in "ping" charging fault message + red battery symbol +red triangle. A few minutes later, warning lights disappear. Another few minutes "pings" again, same messages/lights. Couple minutes more warnings disappear and don't return for rest of journey. Same today. About 5 miles in "ping". I timed it this time. Warnings stayed on 9 minutes then cleared. 1 minute later, they are back. 3 minutes after that they've cleared again and stay clear for next 40 miles, A road and motorway cruising at 70mph.
Battery showing 12.4v with engine off. Just over 14v with engine idling at about 800rpm.No appreciable increase in voltage with higher revs.
I appreciate many comments suggesting demise of alternator at this age/mileage, but the way the fault presents, early on, then disappears has me scratching my head. Any thoughts?

 

[Datatek]

Hi all. 2010 l322 range rover tdv8 3.6 with 95000 miles. Last couple of days, a few miles in "ping" charging fault message + red battery symbol +red triangle. A few minutes later, warning lights disappear. Another few minutes "pings" again, same messages/lights. Couple minutes more warnings disappear and don't return for rest of journey. Same today. About 5 miles in "ping". I timed it this time. Warnings stayed on 9 minutes then cleared. 1 minute later, they are back. 3 minutes after that they've cleared again and stay clear for next 40 miles, A road and motorway cruising at 70mph.
Battery showing 12.4v with engine off. Just over 14v with engine idling at about 800rpm.No appreciable increase in voltage with higher revs.
I appreciate many comments suggesting demise of alternator at this age/mileage, but the way the fault presents, early on, then disappears has me scratching my head. Any thoughts?

Quite possibly worn brushes in the alternator. Otherwise, corroded connectors or the engine to chassis earth strap which is quite a common failure item.

 

[backinblack]

How old is the battery?
Does it charge from a mains charger and hold it?

 

[Mark Piercy]

Have the battery tested. 12.4v is a little low and these machines rely heavily on a good battery.
As said a possible faulty alternator also as this will take the battery down with it

 

[PTMADRID]

How old is the battery?
Does it charge from a mains charger and hold it?

Never had any starting problems and sits for days in between using. Just bought a ctek battery conditioner which is now connected at all times on driveway

Have the battery tested. 12.4v is a little low and these machines rely heavily on a good battery.
As said a possible faulty alternator also as this will take the battery down with it

Bosch battery on when I bought it 18 months ago. I've neve had to put it on charge and it fires up every time, even after sitting for days. Just had a quick look underneath. Can even see an earth strap and barely see front of alternator, let alone aknnections at rear. A while ago I began suffering from claustrophobic vertigo, which makes me feel ill lying under car. Very frustrating and hs curbed any mechanic ing which requires that position!
Local lady specialist thinks alternator is most likely cause, but I am going to affix additional engine earth strap somewhere up top and see if fault goes away. Don't you live intermittent faults!!

 

[PTMADRID]

Never had any starting problems and sits for days in between using. Just bought a ctek battery conditioner which is now connected at all times on driveway

Bosch battery on when I bought it 18 months ago. I've neve had to put it on charge and it fires up every time, even after sitting for days. Just had a quick look underneath. Can even see an earth strap and barely see front of alternator, let alone aknnections at rear. A while ago I began suffering from claustrophobic vertigo, which makes me feel ill lying under car. Very frustrating and hs curbed any mechanic ing which requires that position!
Local lady specialist thinks alternator is most likely cause, but I am going to affix additional engine earth strap somewhere up top and see if fault goes away. Don't you live intermittent faults!!

Sorry for typos!

 

[backinblack]

Never had any starting problems and sits for days in between using. Just bought a ctek battery conditioner which is now connected at all times on driveway

Bosch battery on when I bought it 18 months ago. I've neve had to put it on charge and it fires up every time, even after sitting for days. Just had a quick look underneath. Can even see an earth strap and barely see front of alternator, let alone aknnections at rear. A while ago I began suffering from claustrophobic vertigo, which makes me feel ill lying under car. Very frustrating and hs curbed any mechanic ing which requires that position!
Local lady specialist thinks alternator is most likely cause, but I am going to affix additional engine earth strap somewhere up top and see if fault goes away. Don't you live intermittent faults!!

It may well start with low volts. What voltage have you got on the battery after the CTEK has been on for a while?
I get around 12.8v

 

[backinblack]

You could try plugging one of those voltage displays in the accessory socket.

 

[PTMADRID]

It may well start with low volts. What voltage have you got on the battery after the CTEK has been on for a while?
I get around 12.8v

Just got in and connected ctek. It's at level 3 just now. Will wait a while and check. 10 mile round trip to local landy garage and no fault warnings.

 

[Mark Piercy]

Just got in and connected ctek. It's at level 3 just now. Will wait a while and check. 10 mile round trip to local landy garage and no fault warnings.

It's having a joke with you my mate

 

[PTMADRID]

It's having a joke with you my mate

All part of the fun of Range Rover ownership.

 

[Mark Piercy]

It bloody is lad

 

[pwood999]

Still worth checking the battery CCA/EN capacity even if it's "only 18 months old" . . .

 

[PTMADRID]

No. No clue about electrics. CCA, cold cranking amps? Guess I read that on the battery? EN?? you've got me there.

 

[Datatek]

No. No clue about electrics. CCA, cold cranking amps? Guess I read that on the battery? EN?? you've got me there.

EN just means European Norm, so the CCA conforms to the EU Norm.

 

[PTMADRID]

Still worth checking the battery CCA/EN capacity even if it's "only 18 months old" . . .

Could be aot older. Will there be a date on the battery?

 

[Datatek]

Could be aot older. Will there be a date on the battery?

On some there is a date code but not all. However, the date is not that important. Lead Calcium batteries used in cars can last a very long time if kept fully charged and fail remarkably quickly if kept in a low state of charge. I always write the date on the battery when installing a new one.

 

[Mark Piercy]

On some there is a date code but not all. However, the date is not that important. Lead Calcium batteries used in cars can last a very long time if kept fully charged and fail remarkably quickly if kept in a low state of charge. I always write the date on the battery when installing a new one.

Same here at the garage
Everyone forgets the date they were fitted

 

[PTMADRID]

On some there is a date code but not all. However, the date is not that important. Lead Calcium batteries used in cars can last a very long time if kept fully charged and fail remarkably quickly if kept in a low state of charge. I always write the date on the battery when installing a new one.

Just some updates. With ctek at no. 7 disconnected it and battery voltage at 12.96v. Admittedly, almost straight after disconnecting ctek.
Battery is Bosch S5, 95A. Can only see pictograms on top but none are CCA. Does indicate stop/start compatible (which my car isn't!)
Safety leaflet was still attached to battery, appears to be dated 2020, so I guess battery at least 5yo.
What is the 2 pin plug that plugs into the negative battery terminal clamp? One of the wires is badly bent about right next to the plug. Not broken, but the insulation is split a little in places. I have sprayed WD40 and rewrapped it. Not driven it yet.
Did factory use electricians tape on wiring loom? There seems to be quite I bit of it under the bonnet!!

 

[Datatek]

Just some updates. With ctek at no. 7 disconnected it and battery voltage at 12.96v. Admittedly, almost straight after disconnecting ctek.
Battery is Bosch S5, 95A. Can only see pictograms on top but none are CCA. Does indicate stop/start compatible (which my car isn't!)
Safety leaflet was still attached to battery, appears to be dated 2020, so I guess battery at least 5yo.
What is the 2 pin plug that plugs into the negative battery terminal clamp? One of the wires is badly bent about right next to the plug. Not broken, but the insulation is split a little in places. I have sprayed WD40 and rewrapped it. Not driven it yet.
Did factory use electricians tape on wiring loom? There seems to be quite I bit of it under the bonnet!!

The 12.96 is the surface charge, look at it after 1 hour. S5 95A sounds like an AGM battery which may not be suitable for your car. AGM batteries require a different charging regime to normal batteries. Bosch these days is just a brand name, likely to be made in the same eastern European countries and factories as Varta and other brands as far as I can see.
I can't answer you other points as I am not familiar with you model.