LR3 Battery Explodes

Colin hughes

Colin hughes

Well-known member
May 4, 2004
265
2
Cannington, Ontario
My boss just purchased a used 2005 LR3, sadly at my recommendation, and two days ago the check engine light came on. The truck seemed to run fine so he drove home with plans to go by the dealership the following morning. Anyway, he got home, went to apply the emergency brake and the whole truck went haywire - suspension dropped, dash like a Christmas tree, etc. Had it towed to the dealer who called him yesterday afternoon and told him the battery had exploded dumping acid all over critical components and wiring harnesses. They said a breather hose for the battery was kinked and this caused the problem. However, a check with the dealer he purchased it from in Florida revealed that this has happened to five LR3's at LR Palm Beach already, it's a known problem and one LR is still at a loss to solve. Seems strange that a hose of this importance would be a flexible rubber as opposed to a rigid unit. He's now waiting for the Area Rep to go to the dealer and look at the truck which may or may not be covered by warranty. Anyone else heard of this happening?
 
azarmadillo

azarmadillo

Well-known member
Nov 7, 2004
795
1
Phoenix, AZ
www.chadmanz.com
garrett said:
Buy a Lexus.

What makes the LR3 appealing again?
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The LR3 is awesome. We had one for 10 days off-road. Being that it wasn't ours, we did our best to try and kill it. It did everything we did with modified RRC, DI, DII and a D90 and it made all it look easy. And it did it with the stock Goodyear tires.

With the right driver behind the wheel, an LR3 is going to keep up with the coilers just fine and then pass us all on the highway going home.
 
C

CoyGlasscock

Guest
Happened to me as well. I pulled the battery out and drove it without a battery for about 30 miles to get another one. I replaced it with aftermarket. it took a few engine starts and stops before everything started working correctly. All of the lights that came on, went off except the "Airbag" light. When I got back into town I went by the dealer and they reset the codes and all is fine now.
 
Colin hughes

Colin hughes

Well-known member
May 4, 2004
265
2
Cannington, Ontario
Looks like LR is going to repair the damage under warranty. It seems a dealer in Florida replaced the battery and blocked the breather hose they still insist caused the problem. Funny thing though, the battery was replaced in 2005.
 
sideview

sideview

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2006
505
0
Shenandoah Valley
Did your battery actually explode Coy & battery acid leaked out? This is the first I'm hearing of this happening on an LR3.

My original (Delphi) battery went kaput. It was weak to start, but would start after a few cranks. It gave a lot of weird fault warnings, which I found out is a sign the battery is not producing enough voltage so shuts down non-critical systems. Ended up being two dead cells. My dealer said they'd seen it happen to quite a few and replaced it with an Interstate.


I think that breather hoses have to be flexible in order to expand to pressure(?). If that was the cause, the nimrod that kinked it should flip the bill! Damn shame that happened.
 
umbertob

umbertob

Well-known member
Apr 26, 2007
230
11
Altadena, CA
Even if the hose was kinked I don't see how it could cause such a catastrophic malfunction. The hose is connected to the top of the battery with a small plastic elbow that comes off with the slightest of pulls. It's not screwed in or anythingt. If there was that much pressure generated inside the battery to cause it to burst, wouldn't this elbow just pop off its socket well before the entire thing "explodes"? I think that the defect must have been inside the battery casing.
 
Colin hughes

Colin hughes

Well-known member
May 4, 2004
265
2
Cannington, Ontario
I think the electrics system was overcharging the battery and caused it to crap out. We really couldn't see how a small hose could cause this to happen either, especially when the battery was replaced over two years ago. Apparently, according to a local fireman, these breather hoses are really only on vehicles to send the fumes a certain way when electronics and other things under the hood are close to the battery and a spark could start a fire. The LR area rep up here in Canada said they are doing the repair and then charging it back to the dealer in Florida. Like to see their face when they open the bill.
 
garrett

garrett

Well-known member
Jun 18, 2004
10,931
5
53
Middleburg, VA
www.blackdogmobility.com
azarmadillo said:
The LR3 is awesome. We had one for 10 days off-road. Being that it wasn't ours, we did our best to try and kill it. It did everything we did with modified RRC, DI, DII and a D90 and it made all it look easy. And it did it with the stock Goodyear tires.

With the right driver behind the wheel, an LR3 is going to keep up with the coilers just fine and then pass us all on the highway going home.
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10 days can hardly qualify it as as "awesome". Try logging 100K miles on it first and see how many recalls and other random shit you have to put up with. Not to mention my ARB fridge has better lines.

Now the RRS.......I could live with a few recalls in that case. They are quite sexy.

My brother has 110K on his Lexus GX470. Just routine maintenence.
 
sideview

sideview

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2006
505
0
Shenandoah Valley
Garrett, Garrett, Garrett. Don't you need to go bag balm you nipples or something? :p

I think LR3s are pretty sexy myself. If reliability was a top concern I doubt I'd buy any Land Rover.
 
nwoods

nwoods

Well-known member
Apr 1, 2006
467
0
SoCal
www.nextstepdesigns.com
garrett said:
Not to mention my ARB fridge has better lines.
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LOL, that is hilarious (and I tend to agree)...but why an ARB? I would figure a ludite like you would prefer the Engle because it doesn't have the option of having the LED's burn out or something.....
 
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CoyGlasscock

Guest
sideview said:
Did your battery actually explode Coy & battery acid leaked out? This is the first I'm hearing of this happening on an LR3.
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I stopped at a gas station and with no warning it just would not start again, I popped the hood and found it was leaking from the top seam. I got jump start and pulled the battery out. With the battery out I lost the air suspension and all kind of lights and beeps.

It was during a trip where I had driven from Califronia (following the Mexican border most of the way) to Lousiana and was returning when this happened. I put 4,500 miles on it in 4.5 days. All of which was between 100-115 degrees. I think it had a lot to do with the heat and the non-stop driving. It happened in Yuma, Ca which is the hottest part (and the furtherest away from a LR Dealer).

I put a Bosch brand (all I could find) in it that was rated just a hair more CCA then the factory and an exact fit. (also only $79) I'll see how long that one last.
 
WNYDiscoIIErik

WNYDiscoIIErik

Well-known member
Jan 29, 2006
4,133
1
Clarence, NY
www.lucky8llc.com
From the article:

"I love the idea of a gay-headed family and hope to have one myself. And what better vehicle to drop my new pre-schooler off in than the classic Range Rover? The well appointed and ruggedly refined Rover screams my-kid-can-get-the-job-done-and-has-two-dads"
 
jwest

jwest

Well-known member
May 28, 2006
899
7
WA & NC
garrett said:
That ain't no RRS.
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Funny, I can't stand the rrs however I love the fullsize RR. I also love my arb fridge. I compared the Engel's and thought the arb was better designed even if it's just the materials used and I also like the digital screen and temp knob. Ours just lives in the lr3 where the center 2nd row seat was. It just happens to be exactly the same width as that space, however none of the 2nd row seats are in anymore anyway. On long trips it's nice that my passenger can access the fridge hatch as well.

It also serves as a good seat in the back for putting on boots if it's snowing or raining like hell.
 
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