Over the Christmas period I did not use my Discovery for about 12 days as we had family staying. When I did go to take the car out of the garage the battery was completely flat, even the clock stopped, so I had to use the emergency key to enter the car and lift the bonnet. This was not easy task as the car was driven in forwards and the passenger side of my garage has very little room, hence asking someone a bit smaller than me to pull the bonnet catch. I do own an emergency battery pack and this was ok to give power to unlock the driver’s door but was not strong enough to start the car. I could not move the car out of the garage as it was in park and the gear lever did not move up. Only way now to start the car was to call Land Rover Assistance. Great service someone arrived within a short period in a Discovery, he however could not start the car with a battery pack and resorted to using extra long jump leads to his Discovery which worked a treat (I have now bought a set from Costco). He had no idea why the battery was flat as no discharge was found when he monitored it. Next step was a visit to the dealer as I was a bit concerned that if I parked for instance at an airport for a while the same thing could happen again.
The night before the car was due in I scanned the Internet and yes there were many problems of flat batteries but not on such a new Discovery. I then read a flat battery report of someone hanging his keys in the hall next to the garage and he was informed this could have made the battery flat.
What had I done! Moved into a bedroom downstairs next to the garage and placed both sets of keys on a dressing table adjacent to the garage wall, not quite under my pillow. The following morning when I was due to take the car in I went into the garage without any keys and was able to unlock the passenger door. When I phoned the dealer to explain I was told to still bring the car in and they would check it out. They concluded that leaving the keys where I did would allow the Discovery to sense the keys and start certain electrical things going and would never shut down properly, this had been the case for at least 10 days.
At least I did find out the reason for the flat battery and also got my car cleaned inside and out by the dealer, which was a pleasant surprise.
So the message is be aware where you leave your keys if you don’t use the car for an extended period.
The night before the car was due in I scanned the Internet and yes there were many problems of flat batteries but not on such a new Discovery. I then read a flat battery report of someone hanging his keys in the hall next to the garage and he was informed this could have made the battery flat.
What had I done! Moved into a bedroom downstairs next to the garage and placed both sets of keys on a dressing table adjacent to the garage wall, not quite under my pillow. The following morning when I was due to take the car in I went into the garage without any keys and was able to unlock the passenger door. When I phoned the dealer to explain I was told to still bring the car in and they would check it out. They concluded that leaving the keys where I did would allow the Discovery to sense the keys and start certain electrical things going and would never shut down properly, this had been the case for at least 10 days.
At least I did find out the reason for the flat battery and also got my car cleaned inside and out by the dealer, which was a pleasant surprise.
So the message is be aware where you leave your keys if you don’t use the car for an extended period.
