Charging System Error

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machmike

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I posted that I was having some strange cabin light blinking issues this morning, its now turned into a 'Charging System Error' fault and I have the red triangle and Battery Symbol. My batteries are both new and about 5 months old (changed by JLR). Its snowing like crazy so I'm not going to check voltage until tomorrow as my garage is full of my restoration cars.

12.7 and 15.3+ for battery and then battery under load correct?


Any insight as to what else may cause this issue (besides battery and alternator) would be great to know.


Cheers.
 

machmike

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The Battery is reading 12.46V static
The Battery is reading14.87 running.

Which means the Battery is 1/2 discharged, and it appears the alternator is working fine.

Maybe I got a crap battery from JLR?
 

jlglr4

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A full battery should give you about 12.6-12.8v (make sure you leave the car hood up, key off, for a good 10 minutes, or you’ll have some systems still drawing voltage - its amazing how long stuff stays running in this car). With the engine running, you should see 14+ volts (I think mine sits around 14.4-14.7v usually).

If you just replaced the batteries, I’d be inclined to think alternator (or slipping belt or bad earth strap).

I don’t know why the dome lights would be going on and off like that - was it a regular pulsing on-off, or more irregular, like a flickering? And, were the dome lights coming on when they shouldn’t be (like a short to power), or were they switched on and then cutting out?

If you were getting voltage drops that severe, I would think you’d see it in the instrument cluster as well. The BMS will start shutting down non-essential circuits when the battery voltage gets low, but I don’t think it would turn them on and off rapidly like that.

Can you check for codes?

Also - just curious - where are you located that it’s snowing like crazy near the end of May?
 

machmike

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Colorado! This weather is pretty normal, we always get a late snow that breaks all sorts of trees and stuff. I'll be up all night knocking snow off of trees.

The alternator voltage is looking great. I think the battery is bad from what I am seeing. Its less than 6 months old so JLR is going to have to replace it....again....
 

greiswig

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Standard voltage readings Using a voltmeter may not work as well as you’d think, due to the PWM charge controller. I’d take it somewhere that can test that specific alternator.
 

machmike

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Any corrosion, loose connectors on the alternator, grounding straps in good shape?
Everything at the battery end looks pristine. Where is the grounding strap for the LR4? You are talking engine grounding correct (not a specific alternator ground)?
 

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