Morning everyone,

Apologies if this has been raised before but I have had a search around but couldn't find anything that covers this exactly. Nearest thing I found was http://www.freel2.com/forum/post107510.html#107510

I've got a 2007 MY TD4 Auto. Milage approx 78k.

Started up the vehicle this morning (ambient temp gauge read -4C) and hit the heated seat and 'PROG' button to get things nice and toasty.

The tickover kept dropping and then picking up which I assume was the demand on the system from the heated screen/aircon heaters etc. Not worried about that but during this time the headlights and dash kept flickering.

I've also noticed a bit of headlight flicker when stopped at junctions recently too.

Since I've had the vehicle, I've had an issue whereby if you engage drive quickly after starting the throttle doesn't respond and the car runs along on tickover. The dash battery light is also illuminated during this period.

I've found a work around for this which is; Stop, put the selector to Neutral rev the engine, battery light goes out, engage Drive and everything is normal.

I mention the battery light issue as I wonder if the 2 are related???

Battery is fairly new and it cranks and fires very well so I don't think it could be that. Other than that the vehicle runs fine.

Any suggestions welcome.


Cheers,

Jason Discovery 4 HSE - Aintree Green
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Automatic - Tonga Green
Defender XS - Tonga Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 Td4 ES Manual - Epsom Green - Gone Now *
Freelander 1 Td4 Kalahari SE - Epsom Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 XEi - Epsom Green - Gone Now

www.greenlandrover.uk

"Since I've had the vehicle, I've had an issue whereby if you engage drive quickly after starting the throttle doesn't respond and the car runs along on tickover. The dash battery light is also illuminated during this period."

I've had that and so have a few others on here. Seems 'normal'.

The work around works every time for me: -

Engage Neutral
Rev and battery light goes off.
Drive away!

Very strange!  Discovery 4 HSE - Aintree Green
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Automatic - Tonga Green
Defender XS - Tonga Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 Td4 ES Manual - Epsom Green - Gone Now *
Freelander 1 Td4 Kalahari SE - Epsom Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 XEi - Epsom Green - Gone Now

www.greenlandrover.uk

if the battery light is on could the alternator be giving a poor charge to the battery, and when you rev it the charge is increased enough to make things appear normal ?

I had a Zafira which kept on killing the battery, which was tested fine. The charge from the alternator was tested fine as well.
Eventually changed the battery for a heavier duty one, but still kept on draining (there were no constant drains showing on the voltage either)
Eventually had to change the alternator too, and it transpired that Vauxhall had upgraded the alternator specs between mine coming off the production line and it being sold new.

Just wondering if yours might be a similar problem and worth checking the alternator (and battery) are both rated correctly and up to the job ?

Cheers RogB,

Battery is a Bosch heavy duty one so I'm not so worried there.

The possible alternator issue is interesting. I'll look into that. Cheers.

The battery light is not the main issue though. It's the flickering headlights/dash under heavy electrical loads that worries me. Maybe that could also be alternator related?

Just been chatting with someone who used to work at JLR on power management strategies and he has a vague recollection that it could be a software issue in the engine management or body controller. Mentioned it might be worth checking that all ECUs have the latest software. Discovery 4 HSE - Aintree Green
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Automatic - Tonga Green
Defender XS - Tonga Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 Td4 ES Manual - Epsom Green - Gone Now *
Freelander 1 Td4 Kalahari SE - Epsom Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 XEi - Epsom Green - Gone Now

www.greenlandrover.uk

no probs, hope you get it sorted.

Apparently my Zafira (2.2 petrol) might have been rolled off the production line and then sat in a holding yard for several months before that spec vehicle was ordered by a dealer. This is common practice with mass market manufacturers.

In between coming off the line, and being shipped to the dealer, they altered the specs to have a heavier duty alternator and heavier duty battery but did not reflect this change in any public available documentation (I found this all out through a friend of my local mechanic who did the work)