Hello,
I'm pretty sure you know what I'm talking about, ..Is there any way to stop this ridiculous situation where the radio shuts down when I turn the ignition off?
Even If I turn it back on again, it only gives me three mins then shuts down again.
Whatever happened to the good old "Accessory" position.
Thank you. Rant over.

If the motor isn’t running then you are using it! The radio shuts down to try to make sure that there is enough power to start the car. At 3 minutes it suggests that your battery is either not charged or can’t hold charge so is toast. Charge the battery properly and if you still get the 3 minute warning then buy a new battery!

Mines always done that, but just tirn the
radio back on, I believe you'll get about 1/2 an hour of play, DAVE.

Mahler wrote:

Hello,
I'm pretty sure you know what I'm talking about, ..Is there any way to stop this ridiculous situation where the radio shuts down when I turn the ignition off?
Even If I turn it back on again, it only gives me three mins then shuts down again.
Whatever happened to the good old "Accessory" position.
Thank you. Rant over.

A new starter battery you will get about three 10 minute cycles of the radio, if not too loud.

A tired battery you will be lucky to get one 10 minute cycle. Probably just 3 minutes if lucky.


It's a smart early warning system that the starter battery should be replaced so you don't get stuck when you can least afford it.


My previous battery was down to the 3 minute cycle, but kept going to see what happens. I do have 104AH of auxiliary batteries so can easily jumpstart myself, which I did once. I had the new starter battery ready to put in. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

As said time for a new battery if the existing one is FUBAR, however I did get this message after fitting a new battery after a year so did a hard rest been ok since. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

I discovered that it is important to attach the battery charger cables correctly. The negative lead should NOT go directly to the Neg battery terminal but placed so as to include the BMS within the chraging circuit. eg a chassis earth. Jules

Good point Jules, I've never considered that.

As you say the Battery Management System must be part-calculating how much you can take out by how much you are putting in. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Food for thought,
The battery has an indicator on it which suggests it is fine, although I have no idea how old it is.
Not sure it has a BMS fitted, I will check.
I find it very annoying that I cant sit there for 10 mins listening to Radio etc without the engine running.
It's a good job there is no stop/start system fitted!

Look on top of the battery posts there is usually a date stamp on there. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

What is the battery's voltage after it's been sitting for 24 hours, or at least 12 hours?

That will give a pretty good idea of its state of health. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Mahler wrote:

Food for thought,
The battery has an indicator on it which suggests it is fine, although I have no idea how old it is.
Not sure it has a BMS fitted, I will check.
I find it very annoying that I cant sit there for 10 mins listening to Radio etc without the engine running.
It's a good job there is no stop/start system fitted!

Interesting, going on these comments my Varda battery is toast after 5years.

Any help appreciated,been doing my own little test and found these readings.

1/5/24. Took off charger at number 4 and started car. Stopped car and took battery reading of 12.21
2/5/24 AM. Reading of 11.85.
After day out 64 mile round trip, headlights and fog lights on ( Wales see ) a few stops and starts around shops ,back home took reading of 12.01 in afternoon.

Does this show battery not holding charge as I take it alternator must be ok as reading went up a bit, or am I way off course here. Diolch in advance. If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

To check the alternator, you need to take a voltage while the engine is running. It should be well over 14 Volts, normally up to 14.6 Volts with the heated rear screen and headlamps on. Higher the 14.6 Volts could well point to the battery on the way out. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate. The family car.
2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Gone.
2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE. Gone.
Audi A5 convertible, my daily driver.
1972 Hillman Avenger GT, the project.

Those drops in the battery voltage and the resting voltage are a sign that your battery is toast. Not even 12volts after standing overnight, I’m surprised it even starts.