Battery Problem

[Searcaigh]

Almost to the day a year ago my original battery died on me after I stopped to air up after a camp out in the desert.

Was not too much of a problem, a jump start from from one of my friends and I drove home in safe mode at an easy 80kph - the vehicle would not move up from 3rd gear.

Anyway I replace the battery (Varta) the following day and up until yesterday I have not had any problems in that area.

Thursday morning drive to work, Thursday afternoon about to leave for home, stick the key in and nothing

Borrowed the boss's 5 series and attmepted to jump start it ..... nothing

Used the boss's car to go pick up a new battery (AC Delco), changed batteries and ........ nothing

Now I am running late, anniversary dinner with wife planned so lock everything up bearing in mind I have been outside in 40C and 80% humidity for 2 hours at this stage and take a taxi home, shower, then return to town for the dinner and overnight at the Dubai Intercon.

This morning I drive the wife's Disco to where mine is parked and after 5 minutes of running hers whilst connected, I manage to start my Disco, and we both drive home, although I cannot re-start my car without resorting to hooking up again.

Once again the car drove in safe mode with the green M and S lights flashing.

So question was I sold a naff battery?

Will be taking it back to the the place I bought it from (Independent Landy workshop) on Sat morning to check it out and hook up another (hopefully better) new battery.

Both the Varta and AC Delco cost 200 Dhs (about $55), Optimas that most people rave about cost 900 Dhs here ($250), but there have been a lot of complaints about them over here, and nearly everyone I know has had theirs replace under warranty no questions asked after failing in less than 6 months.

Has anyone else had this problem?

BTW my Disco is 2001 model auto V8

[Disco Mike]

You do have a problem, whether it is the battery and or the alternator is hard to say, Up front, I would say you have a bad battery, but without have a load test performed on both of them it is a hard call.
Your truck will go into limp mode caused from low voltage.
Let us know what you find.
Mike

[Searcaigh]

Good News, problem was a knackered negative terminal on the battery