New Defender Battery Drain issue resolution mitigation solution

I’ve been asked what model and where to order from:
CTEK 40-162 Time To Go Battery Charging Units & 40-165 Battery charge indicator with 12 V Comfort connector 22 cm amzn.eu/d/0dgu5z8

[@mikedrake4597]

Absolutely wonderful demonstration and has given me the confidence to buy The ctec and fixed cable to the battery. Thank you and all the best. Michael 🙏

[@cotswoldmusings]

You’re very welcome Michael 😊

[@roborat2000]

It's amazing how modern vehicles don't warn you that you're draining the batteries at critical levels. It tells you it's too late, your battery can't start the car. This should be considered a design flaw.

[@cotswoldmusings]

I think it does but clearly too late especially if you’re camping or something. Yes, a major flaw. Clarkson and Harry Metcalfe did a video recently about RR’s where the Grand Tour have had to stop using RR’s because of this issue 🤦

[@andrewhurstcars]

Land Cruiser Prado always had twin batteries in the engine bay, shame Land Rover didn’t fit a smaller battery just for the electronics, and preserve the main battery just for starting the vehicle. I went for the 10 amp CTEK so it can charge a very low battery faster if needed, but for just routine battery topping up then this one is plenty.

[@bbutler777]

Brilliant video - Thanks Rory…..just had same battery low warning on mine….. already had a CTEK charger at home but wasn’t aware of the comfort connector (with the light system)…..have now ordered that from Amazon and will be copying your setup. Many thanks 👍

[@cotswoldmusings]

Always glad to share positive outcomes 😊

[@robholland1937]

I often top up my 2011 Rangie battery with my Ctek. Got an adaptor for the Ctek to the 13pin tow socket. Absolutely great bit of kit 😊

[@cotswoldmusings]

Interesting 😊

[@lindo1234567890]

@@cotswoldmusings Look up DA1410. I got mine from JGS4x4. It works well enough on my L405 but I find after a day or so it stops charging. I assume the car switches off the electrics to preserve battery.

[@LandRoverDS2020]

Good info Rory. I have a 2020 Discovery Sport and have the battery go flat even the remote start via the app would not work. Brought it to LR and they replaced the battery reason they told me it wouldn't hold a charge when tested and also they had a bad batch of batteries is 2020. Just subscribed also. Andrew

[@cotswoldmusings]

Interesting thanks 🙏

[@atoieno]

My experience with this is interesting. I have a Bluetooth state of charge battery monitor so I can use the app on my phone to see what voltage the battery has. I had the dreaded "low battery start engine warning" on a touring trip after a night's camping. The battery voltage was 12v. I started the engine and it ran while we had breakfast. After an hour, of its own accord the engine stopped running. The battery was charged to 12.7 volts. Good to go. I can only conclude that an algorithm determines when a sufficient charge is reached and turns off the engine. So while it's a nuisance it is not a show-stopper. If you are camping and you get the warning do as you are told!

[@cotswoldmusings]

Very interesting 🤔 Thanks

[@atoieno]

@@cotswoldmusings I'd like someone to try this to verify my supposition.

[@cotswoldmusings]

@@atoieno Hi, can you share details and link for the Bluetooth state of charge monitor please 🙏

[@atoieno]

@@cotswoldmusings Hi Rory. Google "BM2 battery monitor". Regards, Mahn.

[@user-eb6hy4xs9u]

Thanks Rory, very useful, I will be camping in my defender and was concerned regarding the battery issue. Where did you get the traffic light connection from and charger? Thanks

[@robholland1937]

Part of the Ctek range of battery leads. Comfort connector.

[@cotswoldmusings]

Bought via Amazon 😊

[@cotswoldmusings]

CTEK 40-162 Time To Go Battery Charging Units & 40-165 Battery charge indicator with 12 V Comfort connector 22 cm amzn.eu/d/0dgu5z8

[@user-eb6hy4xs9u]

Just purchased the same set up Rory!

[@system11yt]

I went to test drive one last week at a LR dealer, they had to use a jump pack as the battery was flat! The casual nature with which this happened did suggest it's not uncommon... I still bought it though, I'll buy a jump pack and a ctek, just in case... How have you been finding the off road tyres on road?

[@cotswoldmusings]

Hi, yes good plan. As to your question; no issues with the tyres …….. not noisy and look great / purposeful. Enjoy 😊

[@cotswoldmusings]

Oh and I should add that with normal use and occasional top-up charge, I’ve never needed to use a jump starter pack.

[@loshan1212]

How did you do the wiring? Isn't the battery under the driver's seat, so you'd have to route the wiring under the floorboard, to the front?

[@cotswoldmusings]

Hi, I’ve produced a new recent video showing answers to your questions 😊

[@loshan1212]

@@cotswoldmusings thank you! appreciate it:)

[@JC-xw7ml]

If you press the boot button and just open that, the Pivi system doesn’t start up, sometimes i reckon I open the boot 20 to 30 times a day as I use the vehicle for work. Also if you leave a normal door open It will shut down after a few minutes (I’ve had the doors open all day whilst the dog sleeps on back seat) Never had a low battery warning in 3 years. It’s the opening and closing that keeps firing up the Pivi system .

[@cotswoldmusings]

However, this is a very narrow ‘don’t do and avoids’ where for many family situations and scenarios it’s just not realistic to manage behaviour to prevent systems booting-up in the background and risking a flat battery ruining your day, event, trip or whatever. For sure it’s impressive you’ve managed well within these parameters and avoided this widely known annoyance. Jeremy Clarkson is on record stating they stoped using JLR vehicles as camera cars etc. for this precise reason.

[@JC-xw7ml]

@@cotswoldmusings open and close the doors enough times on any modern vehicle it will drain the battery. How many times do you have to keep locking, unlocking, open and closing the doors on any trip? Put your gear in the back that you need most and the info doesn’t start up, you can physically see the Pivi firing up (or not if just open back) just common sense I would’ve thought.

[@kapukis3225]

Which door you call the normal door?

[@cotswoldmusings]

@@kapukis3225 good question which is one for JC to answer as I don’t know what he/she meant 🤔

[@JC-xw7ml]

@@kapukis3225 a normal door, as in ones you get in and out of, Leave any one of them open the thing shuts down after about 3 minutes . Open boot using the boot button pivi/dash etc doesn’t fire up at all. Didn’t think it was that confusing

[@paulbarry1044]

Stupidity by Land Rover engineers again.They build a vehicle for off road and remote area touring and it has this wonderfull feature.Big backward step from the D4,which did similar,but for not as long.

[@cotswoldmusings]

Yes truly unbelievable 🤦‍♂️

[@DanUK1984]

Who on earth says they have built the Defender for "Off road and remote area touring"!? Of course, it can do that, but let's be honest; that is not their target market. The rest of us want a responsive infotainment system, and unfortunately, with the best will in the world, if you had complete shutdown, it would just be too slow and you'd have driven down the road before you could access it. This issue, as you say is nothing new. The Freelander 2, Evoque, D3/D4 and every other car on the market with an infotainment system - performs the same way.

[@CircumambulationMaedia]

Wait, so your battery literally drains from opening the door too many times? LOL, imagine being away at a camp site over a weekend, and you and the kids go in and out of your car 30 times over a weekend and because you literally opened your doors, your battery is flat. If this was my car, I'd be taking it back to the dealer for a refund.

[@cotswoldmusings]

To a greater or lesser degree, this issue applies to all modern cars. For various reasons most cars on the road are driving around with low state of charge batteries, meaning a lot of drivers could be caught out. But, yes in 2024, for the Defender to not have ‘camping mode’ feature so that the vehicle can be used for its intended purpose is damming and should’ve been fixed with a software update 3 years ago!!

[@DanUK1984]

@@cotswoldmusings Do you think even 1% of Defender owners go camping with their vehicles?

[@cotswoldmusings]

@@DanUK1984 ha, yes very true Dan 🤣🤣

[@olliemilner1]

Where did you get the rubber washer/bung to keep the positive and negative connections on the terminals?

[@cotswoldmusings]

eBay plastic pipe cut to fit - about £3 😊

[@user-vs2gs8rk1o]

Could I ask, how exactly did you get a solid fix to the terminals please? I have already, in the space of 3 months already had alow battery warning. Many thanks

[@cotswoldmusings]

Hi, no solid fix because I didn’t want any warranty issues. I’ve just used washers to ensure good connection, then (I think) 8mm plastic tube to slide onto connecting posts tightly, and finally small cable ties 😊👌

[@user-vs2gs8rk1o]

@@cotswoldmusings Thanks for your reply. It's appreciated

[@user-vs2gs8rk1o]

@@cotswoldmusings Just a bit if FYI . I already have a CTEK charger and contacted CTEK for compatability. Here is their reply 'Yes, the MXS 5.0 is suitable for charging AGM batteries and the Indicator eyelet M8 (56-382) is also compatible with the MXS 5.0 charger. Check with your battery manufacturer what your battery needs! Most of today's AGM batteries also require no more than 14.4V for efficient charging, but some super batteries can accept 14.7V for the most efficient/fastest charge (but also charge at 14.4V, it just takes slightly longer). In short: If it is to be charged with the higher voltage of 14.7V that both AGM and "snowflake" provide, then you should use it. If it is to be charged with the "normal" 14.4V, then use only "CAR" mode. If you cannot get this info from the battery manufacturer, you can always use CAR (normal) mode, it works for all batteries' Hope this is useful.

[@Bo-st6be]

Did you have the same problem with the P440e? Or is the 12v battery charged by the big battery/charger on the hybrid?

[@cotswoldmusings]

In all truth I haven’t had any problems with either ……. I just wouldn’t want to be caught out. No I believe all Hybrids including EV’s, even Tesla’s have separate 12v batteries to run systems separately to the high voltage drive battery

[@EDHBlvd]

What a poor design. I’ve noticed my Volvo (2020 V90CC) will only “ready” the car (booting up the digital instrument cluster and center infotainment) if you open the driver’s door. And it shuts off in about 5 minutes or less if you close the door. The other 3 doors and boot do not trigger this “ready state”. Seems like a superior design than Land Rover.

[@cotswoldmusings]

For sure there should be a ‘camping mode’ in settings, as anyone going on a trip might get caught out.