Discovery 2017

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  • RegG
    Member Since: 22 Jul 2020
    Location: East Midlands
    Posts: 38
    United Kingdom 

    "Low Battery, Please Start Engine" Message

    My D5 is a 2020 model year. Over the last few months I have had the "Low Battery, Please Start Engine" message appearing on the screen. This has happened a few times, especially during cold weather and when the car has been standing unused for a few days.

    The dealer replaced the battery (at great expense!!!) three days ago and I thought all would be well. However, the message appeared again today - I had driven some 26 miles and was doing some work on a house and had left the rear hatch open for half an hour or so. Having locked the car up and returning to it probably 15 minutes later the rear hatch would not open on its own, the message appearing on the dash! I started the engine for just a couple of minutes and all seemed to rectify itself.

    I spoke to the dealer and they want me to leave the car with them overnight to see if there is any drain on the battery?!

    Has anyone else had this problem and, if so, what was the outcome/repair?

    Thanks in anticipation.

    2020 Discovery Landmark 3.0 SDV6, Portofino Blue
  • BBDisco5
    Member Since: 30 Jun 2020
    Location: Cheshire
    Posts: 38
    United Kingdom 
    2022 Discovery SDV6 HSE Lux Carpathian Grey

    I often get that message after opening and closing the doors or tailgate a few times when washing the car and eventually the tailgate won't open or close until the car is started.

    I also have a Ctex battery monitor fitted and the low battery message can pop up on the dash when the Ctex is showing 80% charge.
  • Loz
    Member Since: 29 Mar 2023
    Location: Berkeley
    Posts: 52
    United Kingdom 

    I’ve had this loads of times when Camping with the back door left open as all the lights are on inside for quite a long time opening and closing the tailgate lots of times just drains the 12 V battery. Fortunately it can start using the 48 V system from the MHEV so always seems to start. I’ve fitted a, battery charger permanently by the battery so when we are Camping, I can also plug the car into the hook up and keep the battery charged up.

    2023 Dynamic-R Metropolitan Edition D300MHEV
  • PRH
    Member Since: 15 Feb 2018
    Location: South
    Posts: 49
    United Kingdom 
    2019 Discovery Sd4 (180) HSE Lux Indus Silver

    Sadly it seems very common. I have always had it on a MY19. Have had a new battery and it’s still persistent. My original battery went flat which eventually took out the tracker battery. The new car battery then went flat which can’t have done it much good 😳. Took the car to an indi to diagnose with nothing much found draining it. Since then, touch wood, it has remained charged when parked but still the warning on the dash. I sometimes use a CTEK which clears it for a week or so but it always comes back. I try to ignore it but it does get through

    See also https://disco5.co.uk/forum/thread3516.html
  • RegG
    Member Since: 22 Jul 2020
    Location: East Midlands
    Posts: 38
    United Kingdom 

    Thanks for the replies..... It does seem to be a relatively common issue. I had the same problem on a Discovery Sport but a new battery (under warranty) seemed to cure it. The car has been left for a couple of days and all is well so I can't see what the dealer will achieve by keeping the car overnight!

    I think I will see how it goes before letting the dealer have it in again.

    Thanks again for the replies.

    2020 Discovery Landmark 3.0 SDV6, Portofino Blue
  • Wolfpack
    Member Since: 25 May 2019
    Location: Norfolk, UK
    Posts: 361
    United Kingdom 
    2017 Discovery Si6 HSE Corris Grey

    I have had this message pop up innumerable times with old and replacement batteries.

    If there is a significant drain leading to a flat battery, it should be measurable and diagnosable. Sadly that brings us back to the time honoured belief that dealers technicians skills and JLR interest are wanting.

    Most of the time a very short journey has been enough to stop the message appearing which did make me feel there was a very high bar set for the early warning message, if it can be cleared with a 5/6mile drive.

    I do wonder if there is more than one battery drain issue ‘out there’.
  • eelpout
    Member Since: 01 Jun 2017
    Location: Don't call it "Cali"
    Posts: 304
    United States 

    my '22 D5 does this all the time. just sitting for a few days unused will bring it up.

    it almost seems like the OEM spec battery (900 cca?) doesn't take into account the idle electrics going on.

    i was thinking of replacing the battery, but from what I read here it may not accomplish much. i guess i should check the resting voltage to at least see where it's at.

    EDIT: I'll add that at whatever level my battery is currently at, I can no longer update the software. doesn't matter if I drive the car an hour on the highway either, tried that and always get the message the battery was too low. Confused

    Just measured the resting voltage and it is around 12.06v, which seems pretty low to me.

    I guess I'll see if the dealer will replace it as it's still under warranty.
  • eelpout
    Member Since: 01 Jun 2017
    Location: Don't call it "Cali"
    Posts: 304
    United States 

    I replaced the battery with a new DieHard and the resting voltage is higher, above 12.4 but still not as high as I would expect, thought I read somewhere that LR recommends 12.6v or higher.

    I probably need to run this on the road for a while or put it on a charger. the (non-dealer) shop that installed the battery said the car needs to be driven around to get the voltage up.

    and still the software won't update. Sad
  • jimbg
    Member Since: 23 Jun 2016
    Location: Devon
    Posts: 1472
    United Kingdom 

    12.6volts is a fully charged battery.



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    2017 HSE now sold, if you own WF17AXN then you have a well sorted car!
    2022 Range Rover Sport P400e HSE Dynamic and 2023 Sport P440e Dynamic SE on order
  • eelpout
    Member Since: 01 Jun 2017
    Location: Don't call it "Cali"
    Posts: 304
    United States 

    interesting, what's that from?

    my new one read 13.1v when I topped it off last night.

    what I'd like to know is, what does JLR consider the minimum for both the low battery warning and the software update threshold. a bit maddening they don't tell you.



  • B50int
    Member Since: 02 Sep 2018
    Location: Yorkshire
    Posts: 158
    United Kingdom 

    I think that previous charge chart was for a lead acid. The OEM is an AGM battery that has higher voltages. So 13.1 for a brand new fully charged battery is right.

    I have the message frequently when parked up watching sons cricket. Doors opening all the time keeps all the computers awake and it rarely lasts more than a few hours until it pops up.

    I too have a ctek and tend to top it up after a weekend of cricket but have never had a starting issue (on two different D5s) even when I have ignored the message for several hours…!



    MY23 (2022) D300 SE R-Dynamic Eiger Grey, Tow Pack, Matrix Headlights and a few other options
    Gone: 2018 HSE 3.0 tdv6 Santorini black
  • SpikySimonW
    Member Since: 10 Jun 2024
    Location: Oxford
    Posts: 3
    United Kingdom 

    What’s the recommended trickle charging setup for the D5?

    eg. specific terminals rather than direct to battery, neat routing of cabling etc.

    Thanks.
  • PRH
    Member Since: 15 Feb 2018
    Location: South
    Posts: 49
    United Kingdom 
    2019 Discovery Sd4 (180) HSE Lux Indus Silver

    I plug my CTEK into the towbar socket. Works well as no wiring or bonnet lifting required and you can leave the charger and extension lead under the back of the car with the car locked.
  • B50int
    Member Since: 02 Sep 2018
    Location: Yorkshire
    Posts: 158
    United Kingdom 

    +1 for the towbar socket ctek connection- just leave the ctek carry bag on your drivers seat as a reminder not to drive off without unplugging….

    I also have a ‘ctek comfort’ panel mounted in the boot with direct battery connection- although I tend to use that more as a power supply for charging an iPad when the car has shut everything else off…

    For settings- my ctek has an AGM option. It’s quite old now so I don’t know if newer ones look operate the same?

    MY23 (2022) D300 SE R-Dynamic Eiger Grey, Tow Pack, Matrix Headlights and a few other options
    Gone: 2018 HSE 3.0 tdv6 Santorini black
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