Battery change – Discovery 3/4

Battery change – Discovery 3/4

13. August 2020 Off By Kenny

The Discovery 3/4’s starter battery should be replaced at least every 4 years as it will lose power over time and the Discovery 4 is quite sensitive to low battery voltage.

There are a few things to consider when changing the battery. So here is a small manual with all the steps, followed by a few pictures below:

  • Vehicle should be in sleep mode
  • Remove old battery
  • Install a new battery, charge it completely before
  • Switch on ignition, start engine
  • Program the new battery type with a diagnostic device (e.g. IID tool)
  • Perform a BMS reset with a diagnostic device
  • Reprogram time, radio station etc.

 

1: Sleep Mode

It is recommended that the battery is removed only after the vehicle has “fallen asleep”, as this way fewer errors occur and are logged, because the existing communication between different control units – which takes place before the vehicle falls asleep – is not suddenly interrupted. Therefore you should unlock the vehicle, open the hood and then wait until the vehicle has gone back to sleep mode (for safety reasons approx. 20min). Some garages also recommend to open the trunk and the windows, but I don’t know exactly why and nobody could explain it to me exactly.


2: Remove Battery

The battery is located under the hood on the left side (passenger) under a plastic cover. The plastic cover can be easily removed when the locking hooks are opened. Then first the negative pole should be loosened, then the positive pole (both with a 13mm nut) and then the retaining bracket can be loosened with two screws (10mm nut). Now the battery can be lifted out.

First disconnect the positive pole, then the negative pole

 

To 3: Install new Battery

Reinstall the new battery in reverse order to point 2. It should have been fully charged before. I took the opportunity in the pictures to connect the fixed connections of a charger to the battery. Do not use the negative pole of the battery. Why do you find also here on the page in the article about “charging the battery correctly”.

 

Recommendation: Directly connect cables for charging in between.


To 4: Ignition

There are no details to say: Ignition on, turn on engine


To 5: Battery settings

I have used the IID tool. If the battery type was changed, the new battery should be set first. To do this move into the area:
Car Configuration – BCM Body Control – Battery Type
(Here you can find a list. For the most used battery (Exide 95AH AGM) this setting is correct: H8HD 90AH 950 cold cranking ampere)

 

To 6: BMS reset
After that the BSM must be reset:
– Service/Reset – BCM Body Control – Battery Replacement – Continue

(Note: You should not stand on the brake when doing this)

(if this does not work the first time without problems, then repeat it again until it was successful)



If the reset fails, take your foot off the brake and repeat until it works.
Generator charges the battery even when idling (accelerator pedal position to less than 18% = idle), battery voltage at 14.2V


To 7: Settings
Program the time of radio stations, etc.

Note: Various error messages may appear after a battery change. Then do not be frightened! These error messages usually come from the interrupted communication and can either be cleared immediately or disappear after a reset or automatically after a few hours.

 

All information is based on a Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE MJ2012. No guarantee for the correctness of the information. If you have any information or find errors, please write me.

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All information as always to the best of our knowledge and belief, but without guarantee!