For many of us, our Land Rovers are our pride and joy. A feat of engineering, an exhilarating off-road performer and a vehicle that delivers plenty of versatility. It can all come to a grinding halt though if your battery dies!
In our time as an independent Land Rover servicing specialist, we’ve seen a few vehicles encountering battery problems and often, they have been left faulty for too long. This leads to extensive and expensive repairs. So, in this blog, we take a deep dive and look at everything there is to know about your Land Rover battery. This way you can avoid costly repairs and keep your vehicle in the best possible condition.
What is the Land Rover battery for?
The battery in your Land Rover, as in any other vehicle, does two main jobs. Getting the engine started and supplying power to the vast array of electrical systems within it. That’s pretty much it. Just two jobs, but two that are so important that without a functioning battery, the vehicle simply won’t work!
Where will I find the battery in my Land Rover?
In most cases, you’ll find the battery to your Land Rover under the hood, but it can vary across different models. For example, With the Land Rover Range Rover (2002-2012) the battery is in the rear cargo area under a floor panel. In older models of the Defender, it is under the passenger seat and in the Discovery, it is under the hood near the windshield. Your user manual will contain the information if you need to double-check or are unaware of where the battery is.
What type of battery does my Land Rover have?
Land Rovers are likely to use one of four different battery types. The older models will use lead-acid batteries whilst some newer editions could contain Lithium-ion batteries. Let’s have a little look at each variant:
- Lead-acid: The most common type of battery and the oldest. You’ll find these in most vehicles. They are known for their reliability and affordability.
- AGM batteries: AGM or Absorbent Glass Mat batteries are a more expensive and more reliable upgrade to the lead-acid Land Rover battery. As the name indicates, they use a glass mat to secure the electrolyte.
- Lithium-ion: Small, light and commonly found in the newer models of Land Rovers, the lithium-ion battery provides a long-lasting power supply to your vehicle.
- Gel: Ideal for off-roading, these gel batteries use a gel electrolyte and not a liquid one. This gives them plenty of versatility as they are extremely durable and can withstand both high and low temperatures.
How can I tell if my Land Rover battery is faulty?
Luckily, your Land Rover may well give you a few signs that the battery is on its way out. Choose to ignore them and you could soon be facing a costly bill to get things to where they should be. Look out for the following:
1. Clicking sounds
When you turn the key, you may hear some unusual clicking sounds. This could mean the battery is low and doesn’t have enough power to get the engine started.
2. Dim lights
If your lights, both interior and exterior appear dimmer than normal, it could be that the battery doesn’t have enough power to illuminate them properly.
3. Slow starting
If your Land Rover takes longer to start than normal, the battery may be struggling to get the engine going. If the engine doesn’t do anything when you try to start the vehicle, it’s likely the battery is dead.
4. Faulty electrical features
If any of the electrical aspects of your car begin to falter, it could be due to the battery not sending enough power to them. Look at electric windows, sunroofs, the radio and any infotainment devices.
5. Sudden stalling
If the battery has low power, it could play havoc with electrical systems within the Land Rover leading to dangerous situations such as a sudden stall or the failure of power steering to respond as it should.
6. Battery warning light
If the warning light comes on, you need to have the battery either replaced or at least looked at by an engineer.
7. Damaged terminals
If the battery terminals are showing signs of damage or corrosion it is unlikely the battery will perform as it should. It may not be able to charge at all and could run flat or may not be able to discharge and leave you ready to go but not able to move!
Can I test my Land Rover battery myself?
Yes, you can, although if you have doubts it would always be advised you visit a Land Rover service centre for guidance and advice from professionals.
The tests you can carry out are simple and won’t take a great deal of time. They will allow you to make a general assessment and hopefully give you the answers you are looking for:
Basic inspection
Locate your Land Rover battery to look for signs things aren’t right. Corrosion or leaks are a sign the battery will need to be changed. Damage to the battery or its terminals could also point towards problems. Sometimes, you’ll just need to give the terminals a quick clean.
Headlight test
A simple test that can give you a strong indication of battery performance right away. If the lights appear dim when they are turned on, but the engine is off, the battery could be dying. Do the same test with the engine turned on and see if there is any difference. If the lights stay dim or go out, the battery is dead or may need a charge.
Voltage test
If you have a multimeter, you can test whether the battery has any power. You’ll be looking for a reading of 12.8 volts but can go down to 12.6. If the reading is much lower than this, the battery is likely weak and in need of a charge or replacement.
What are the common causes of battery drain on a Land Rover?
There can be many reasons why your Land Rover battery is draining, or completely dead. We’ve listed the five most common:
1. Car left on
You may have parked up and switched off the engine, but did you remember the lights and radio? Did you close the doors properly? If they occur often, these problems could see your battery lifespan shortened due to constant draining.
2. Defective alternator
The alternator charges your Land Rover, but should it develop a fault, what is going to charge your vehicle? You’ll gradually lose power and one day, when you try to start it, it won’t do anything!
3. Lack of use
If you are not driving often, your Land Rover battery will not be getting recharged and could eventually slow drain to a level where it is empty.
4. Parasitic drain
Sometimes, an electrical fault within your Land Rover leads to something staying on when it should be off. This will cause a drain on the battery which could lead it to run empty.
5. Age
The age of the battery has a large part to play. Over time it will wear down and the symptoms we listed earlier are more likely to become noticeable.
How to maintain a Land Rover battery
You can keep your Land Rover battery in close to optimal condition by making a few changes or starting a few new processes.
Driving lots of small journeys for example can be a hindrance to the battery. It has to do more work by having to help the vehicle start-up multiple times in quick succession. This can cause unnecessary stress and eventually damage the battery.
Frequent driving can also help. The longer you leave your vehicle parked up, the more likely the battery will deteriorate. In fact, insufficient use is among the top reasons for battery failure within motor vehicles.
You may have seen earlier the different battery types often found in Land Rovers. Each handles its environment differently and some struggle with extreme temperatures. Too cold, too hot, or constantly fluctuating temperatures can see a battery develop faults. Utilise your garage where possible.
A simple cleaning and inspection can go a long way to protecting your Land Rover battery. If you notice the terminals are dirty or appear corroded, a clean-up could transform your battery. Terminals that are dirty or have signs of corrosion will hinder the charging and discharging of your battery.
Finally, and perhaps one of the simpler pieces of advice is to remember to turn off items not in use. Leaving lights, radios or in-car systems turned on when you leave the vehicle will soon drain that power.
Choose RCV for Land Rover service and repairs
If you have started to notice a drop-off in the performance of your Land Rover, speak to our team at RCV. Our technicians have many years of experience working on all models of Land Rovers, helping drivers get back on the road when they thought it may not be possible. With prices up to 40% cheaper than main dealers and only using the latest manufacturers’ diagnostics, RCV are your premium choice for Land Rover servicing. With Land Rover MOTs also available, you can rely on RCV as your one-stop shop for all things Land Rover.