Low Battery - Please Start Engine message

[Jon Hyde]

Hi All,

My 2017 XF 3.0D S nudges me most mornings, telling me the battery needs charging. After a run, all is well, for a day or so.

As a result, I think I need to invest in a battery maintainer/charger, but which one? Or shall I just ignore it, as the car never actually struggles to start?

Hoping for thoughts and recommendations

Cheers!
Jon

[Raistlin]

Jon

The Ctek and Noco seem to be equally good (I've used both)

I use mine once a week and never have a battery problem.

These cars are certainly sensitive to voltage level though.

[Big John]

Hi Jon

If it is still on its original battery it is probably due a replacement which I am afraid is not cheap as you must replace with the correct type which is probably an AGM rather than a wet cell or "normal" lead-acid battery. I would get the current battery checked first to see if it needs replacing, but then invest in a ctek. I have this one https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/ct5-start-stop-uk .  This is really easy to use and optimised for AGM batteries.

J

 

[Patch58]

I use ctek stop/start and works fine

[Jon Hyde]

Thanks everyone!

I'll get the battery checked and replaced if necessary, then think about a CTec!

This is a great forum - always good advice there for the asking.

Cheers,
Jon

[Jon Hyde]

So...

Got the battery replaced at KwikFit, £260ish!

Halfords wouldn't touch it as it needed "coding".

Only problem was having to reset a few settings, but not really a hassle.

Now I have to remember to disable the dreaded start/stop nonesense though!

J

[KevinD]

Hi Jon,

Did replacing the battery and then disabling stop/start eliminate the low battery warnings? A year later, how are things?

I'm considering replacing the battery on my XF, I think it's the original so it's about 8 years old.

Cheers

Kevin

[N6 JMX]

Hi Kevin, in today's modern vehicles with so many sensitive electronic modules, the battery's ability to start the car is no longer the definitive test of the battery's condition. With so many electronics on your car, the battery becomes "suspect" when it gets to 5 years old, so I would definitely be intending to replace one that is at least 8 years old.

The auto stop / start system means that your battery is of the AGM type - Absorbent Glass Mat - and there should be no need to disable the stop / start to protect / prolong the battery. That said, there are some sensible activities to undertake to preserve the battery life between runs.

Firstly, when you leave the car, always double lock it - press the lock button on the key fob twice in quick succession. This engages the secondary locks and aids the car "going to sleep" and thereby turning off the electronics to a low quiescent load. However, if you then keep the keys within around 20 feet of the car, it will "stay awake" - akin to an eager puppy wanting to get out and go. The keys should be placed in a Faraday box, or pouch, so that the car can no longer see them, thereby entering "sleep" mode.

If you are not using the car for prolonged periods - by that I mean more than 1 week - then you should consider hooking the battery, via the remote charging posts, to a suitable battery conditioner or "Smart Charger". The above thread mentions the Ctek option, but my preference is for the Ring Automotive, version RSC 612, which I have for all of my cars. The RSC 612 can work with standard wet cell batteries or the more modern AGM batteries, but folks do also like the Ctek. Both cost about the same money.

The thread above talks about "coding" the new / replacement battery to the car, which advises the charging module that there is a new battery installed and resets the charging style, however it is a simple task that can be completed by any local / friendly garage with suitable diagnostic plug-in equipment. If you don't have one of those to hand, don't worry because the car performs checks regularly and can reset itself. In addition, the Ring Automotive Smart Charger has a mode whereby you can maintain power / voltage on the car whilst the battery is changed / disconnected, meaning you don't lose any of the settings.

Hope this helps.

N6 JMX

[Jon Hyde]

Hi Kevin,

Yes, (touching wood as I type!), no electrical problems since the battery was replaced!

Cheers!

Jon