Land Rover Defender Battery Woes: Slow Starts & Dim Lights

Hey there! I faced similar issues with my 2018 Land Rover Discovery last month. The symptoms were exactly like yours, slow cranking and dimming lights. Initially thought it was just the main battery, but turned out both the main and auxiliary batteries were failing. Had it checked at the dealership, and their diagnostic showed the auxiliary battery wasn't holding charge properly anymore. The voltage regulator was also acting up, which caused the flickering. They replaced both batteries and the voltage regulator. It was a serious repair that took about a day and a half because they had to reprogram some electrical components after the battery swap. If you're experiencing these symptoms, definitely don't wait too long, a failing battery can leave you stranded or damage other electrical components. Just make sure wherever you take it, they have proper diagnostic tools for Land Rovers. These electrical issues can be tricky to diagnose without the right equipment. Hope this helps!

Hey again! Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That's exactly what I was worried about, the whole battery and voltage regulator combo causing trouble. Really helpful to know it wasn't just a simple battery swap. By the way, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for all that work? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair, or have you noticed any other quirks? Cheers!

Hey there again! Really glad I could help! Just to update you, yeah, everything's been running perfectly smooth since I got it fixed. Honestly, it's like having a different car now, no more of those annoying slow starts or flickering lights. For my repair, I ended up paying 290.00 € just for fixing that auxiliary battery issue. Much better deal than I initially feared, especially after they told me about potential voltage regulator problems! But luckily, turned out the voltage regulator was fine in my case, so that saved some cash. It's been about three months since the fix, and I haven't had a single electrical problem. Starts up like a charm every time, and all the lights are working exactly as they should. Such a relief not having to worry about getting stranded somewhere! Trust me, getting it sorted sooner rather than later is definitely the way to go. Made such a difference to my daily driving experience. Let me know how you get on with yours! Stay in touch!

Thanks everyone for your input! Just wanted to update you all on what happened with my Defender. Finally took it to a mechanic last week, turns out you were right about the batteries! The auxiliary battery was completely shot, and the main one wasn't far behind. The mechanic showed me how both batteries were struggling to hold charge. The repair was pretty straightforward, they replaced both batteries and ran a full diagnostic check just to be safe. Took about 4 hours total, and cost me around 450 bucks, not cheap, but definitely worth it! The mechanic was super professional and explained everything clearly. You should see how it runs now, starts up instantly, no more flickering lights, and all the electrical systems are working perfectly. Such a relief! Wish I'd done it sooner instead of worrying about it for weeks. Thanks again for pushing me to get it checked out, you probably saved me from getting stranded somewhere! Will definitely keep an eye on the battery health from now on. Take care, everyone!