Freelander's Failing Battery Symptoms Need Your Help

Hey there! I had similar issues with my 2013 Land Rover Discovery (petrol). The symptoms you're describing are exactly what I experienced, weak starts, dimming lights, and struggling battery. Last time at the garage, it turned out my alternator was failing to properly charge the battery. The voltage regulator inside the alternator was shot, which meant the battery wasn't getting charged while driving. They had to replace the entire alternator unit. The mechanics also tested the battery and found it had been damaged from being repeatedly drained. Both components needed replacement. It was a pretty serious issue since it could've left me stranded anywhere if not fixed. Quick tip: If you want to confirm it's the alternator, you can get the battery voltage checked while the engine is running, if it's below 13.5V, your alternator is likely the culprit. Just my experience, but worth checking these components before looking at the ECU. Hope this helps! Best, Mark

Thanks for sharing that Mark! Yeah, sounds exactly like what happened to my Freelander last year. You're spot on about the alternator, seems to be a common weak point in these models. Really glad you mentioned the voltage tip, that's super helpful. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repairs? And has everything been running smoothly since, or did any other issues pop up? Cheers!

Hey! Quick update on my Discovery situation, since I last wrote about the alternator issues, I actually took it to a mechanic who found it wasn't the alternator after all! Turned out to be a fault in the engine control system that was draining the battery. Got it sorted for 290 Euro, mainly had to fix some wonky battery voltage issues. Everything's been running like a dream since then. No more dimming lights, no weak starts, nothing! The engine fires up perfectly every time now. It's such a relief when you finally get these things fixed properly, isn't it? Honestly, it was a bit cheaper than I expected, considering I was bracing myself for a full alternator replacement. Sometimes we get lucky, eh? Just goes to show it's worth getting a proper diagnosis before assuming the worst. Hope this helps with your situation! Let me know how you get on with yours. Cheers, Mark

Thanks again Mark, really appreciate the update! You won't believe it, but I actually just got back from the mechanic today. Funny enough, my story went the opposite way, what they initially thought was an electrical system issue turned out to be a failing alternator after all! Had to get it replaced along with a new battery. Cost me a bit more than yours, but at least it's sorted now. The mechanic I found was actually great, super thorough and explained everything clearly. Such a relief after my last dodgy experience! They even showed me the worn-out alternator parts and demonstrated why it was causing all those problems. Car's running perfectly now, no more dimming lights or startup issues. Guess these Land Rovers just like keeping us on our toes, don't they? Thanks for all your help with this. Really helped me understand what I was dealing with. Cheers!