battery has died
 

As I have been working from home for the past 5+ years I have not used my car so much. I invested in a CTEK MSX7.0 to keep the battery in good shape. Or so I thought.

On Tuesday last week I went to use the car and noticed the charger was showing the 80% charge led, what's that all about?? Disconnected the charger, and the car failed to start, just a token effort. Had to use my sons car. I re-connected the charger and put it on 'recon'.


I had a 30 mile (each way) journey planned for Friday, however the battery showed little inclination to start the car even with the charger now showing 100% charge, so used the wife's car (now starting to get grief that THE rover was not so great after all!)

Just been out to the car, same, no starting.

YES I need a new battery.

However,
each time I tried to start my car one of the headlights came on? Whats that all about? (It might have been both but I could only see the reflection of one). Oh and yes the lights were/are turned off :)


Steve

The headlights flash when you try and start the car with too little battery voltage. It's a feature :)

Modern batteries do seem to just fail with no warning. I have had two go on my MGs over the years.

First time, I'd driven somewhere only left it a couple of hours and went back out and just got clicking and flashing lights. Couldn't even jump start the car as it dragged the other car down.

Second time, got off the train home and went to the car park and exactly the same. Had to walk home to get my other car to nip down Halfords and get a new battery.

Thanks Guys,


Didn't know about the flashing lights!!

Hi Steve,

When an excessively discharged battery attempts to deliver the very large current demanded by the starter motor, the battery voltage drops to a level well below that required by the ECUs to function normally. I'd say that the random illumination of the panel and exterior lights is a result of that.

Simon

There is the LSM Emergency Backup. When voltage is low, it switches on the dipped headlights and tail lights and inhibits the other external lights (except the brake lights).
The 'flashing headlights' is when trying to start the engine with a low battery, the starter solenoid operates, the starter motor pulls the voltage low enough for the LSM Emergency Backup process and the solenoid to disconnect, the voltage rises, and cancels the Backup. The process repeats as long as the ignition switch is in the 'Start' position, causing the headlights to 'flash'.

Read this - it's important - Do not try to keep starting the car.

https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...d.php?t=106447

As for a new battery try Tayna - good reviews and after reading about them on here I've used them a couple of times and can confirm their good service.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/Rover-75-Car-Battery

As you've a diesel I'd probably go for the Varta E44 with a 5 year warranty.

Good Luck.

Andy.

Thanks for this Ray. :} I've just found it in RAVE so I've corrected my previous post. I see that the LSM also controls the instrument panel illumination which confirms the abnormal reaction of that too, although it's not part of the emergency back-up system of course.

Simon

I ordered the Varta E44 about 3 hours ago :D

Car will be left until the new battery is fitted.


I have used Tayna a few times now, very good customer service.
I replaced the battery on the Sedona November last year with a varta from them. Come March it gave up, Tayna replaced the battery and paid all postage costs, even arranged the courier to pick up the faulty battery



Steve