Dual battery options, LR3

[hillstrubl]

Assh*les broke into my car last night and left the doors open and every manual interior light on... The battery is now dead-dead and unable to hold a charge. Yes the battery might have had an issue to begin with but now it's past the point of revival, based on the burning smell I think it's taken the alternator out with it. Anyway, due to how reliant this frigging car is to good battery power (fun fact shifting out of park needs battery power...) I'm looking for advice on a dual battery kit that I'm hoping to install myself in the driveway. What's known to not be super manual and not impossible to install? I'm ok with putting together a kit but I don't want to be inventing a solution myself. Isolation and being able to jump one with the other is a plus. I'm sure there's some good resources on this board that can start me know the right direction.

 

[Ray_G]

Danny-
Much like the rest of your week, I apologize for this added pain.

If you check out my build thread on Expo you'll see my traxide install somewhere in there, was easy and has been very high quality. I'd also suggest considering a NOCO charger...love plugging mine in when she is sitting for a bit, esp with the fridge running.
R-
Ray

 

[hillstrubl]

Ray, always a plethora of knowledge and advice. Will check out that thread now. Thanks!

 

[jymmiejamz]

I don't know of any car that you can shift out of park without battery power.

Are you planning on adding a bunch of accessories that require a lot of power? If not, a micro jump box would probably be a better option. I have this one from Snap On. You can jump start a bunch of cars on one charge, and also use it as a charger for things like your phone with the USB port. A lot less complicated than a dual battery setup.

 

[mgreenspan]

You can shift most automatic transmissions without battery by removing the random covers on the center consoles and pushing whatever is beneath them or by turning the key to on and pressing the brake and moving the shifter. At least most poverty cars. I don't know about new fancy Rovers or things like audis that have batteries in the trunk and only electronic trunk openers.

 

[stu454]

I don't know of any car that you can shift out of park without battery power.

Are you planning on adding a bunch of accessories that require a lot of power? If not, a micro jump box would probably be a better option. I have this one from Snap On. You can jump start a bunch of cars on one charge, and also use it as a charger for things like your phone with the USB port. A lot less complicated than a dual battery setup.

I have an Antigravity micro jump box. It works nicely; it's not rated for diesels but it almost jumped a tractor trailer at work.

I've also been running an ARB 50 in the truck without a second battery for almost a year. No issues so far.

 

[hillstrubl]

I don't know of any car that you can shift out of park without battery power.

Yep, its definitely the case here. Hooked up a jumper box and it popped right into Neutral. I miss my 3rd pedal.

Are you planning on adding a bunch of accessories that require a lot of power? If not, a micro jump box would probably be a better option. I have this one from Snap On. You can jump start a bunch of cars on one charge, and also use it as a charger for things like your phone with the USB port. A lot less complicated than a dual battery setup.

No, I get why you're asking that, but this seems to be a commonly recurring issue with LR3s/RRS/LR4s as ancillary systems FREAK OUT without constant strong voltage. I'm aware that the actual solution to the problem is getting this peace of mind out of a SINGLE good battery/alternator, etc I'm instead trying to build in some wiggle room for when there is an issue allowing it to self-heal from a low power situation. (self-heal is probably not the right word to you but you get what I mean)

You can shift most automatic transmissions without battery by removing the random covers on the center consoles and pushing whatever is beneath them

That was further than I was willing to go with the 2 screaming kids in the car

or by turning the key to on and pressing the brake and moving the shifter

No dice, until power was restored via jumper pack

 

[DiscoDavis]

What he said. The voltage requirements are specific enough that the car throws a fit if anything goes wrong.

We had 2 cars that were almost identical and one with 2 batteries made it home with the other on a flatbed when both killed alternators in mud. The 2 batteries one was able to drive home 2 hours on the batteries alone.

 

[Roverman2010]

If you had taken out the owners handbook, page 184 tells how to take out of park.

BUT remember the book is in right drive mode so you remove the little rubber and plastic cover to the right hand side of the lever. The plastic tray takes a bit of wiggling but pushing it forward pop's it out, put your finger and feel for the little lever and bob's your uncle.

 

[jymmiejamz]

You can shift most automatic transmissions without battery by removing the random covers on the center consoles and pushing whatever is beneath them or by turning the key to on and pressing the brake and moving the shifter. At least most poverty cars. I don't know about new fancy Rovers or things like audis that have batteries in the trunk and only electronic trunk openers.

Right, you can do that with all Land Rovers too. Some cars are easier than others, but they all operate under the same principle as far as I know. Pushing the brake pedal won't do anything without battery power since the park lock solenoid is powered electrically.

 

[hillstrubl]

If you had taken out the owners handbook, page 184 tells how to take out of park.

BUT remember the book is in right drive mode so you remove the little rubber and plastic cover to the right hand side of the lever. The plastic tray takes a bit of wiggling but pushing it forward pop's it out, put your finger and feel for the little lever and bob's your uncle.

Good to know now, wasn't really in a place when this happened to think rationally.

 

[hillstrubl]

Back up and running, replaced Alternator and battery. No other damage electrically it seems.

 

[rlynch356]

btw, if you do want a 2nd battery LR makes the G-34 battery tie down bits

XYG500061 | Bolt - Battery Clamp
XYG000051 | Bolt - Flanged Hex
YJF500110 | Bracket-Battery Hold Down

then add in your favorite dual battery controller
National Luna, Blue Sea ACR, T-Max (the cheap option @$117 amazon)

 

[Ray_G]

So now that I'm up and running on real internet and halfway moved into a house near civilization I can follow up on my initial post. The LR3 is very easy to add a dual battery into-and as other's have noted their appetite for good power makes it a decent option to consider. I added my 2nd while in Abu Dhabi b/c of the fridge, wasn't truly necessary but I liked the peace of mind. Of course I'm a belt and suspenders kind of person so the truck already had a microstart jump box in it.

Since then I also added a NOCO dual battery charger that tucks in under the hood, and plugs in via an extension cord that is down by my winch. Overkill for sure, but the truck sits a fair amount from time to time so its nice to be able to plug her in, leave all the systems like the fridge running, and let the NOCO do its thing.

In terms of the Traxide I mentioned, it will come with all the LR spec tie downs, pre cut cabling, along with the split charger and such. I went with it b/c the exchange rate to the Australian Dollar made it a great choice compared to DIY components or other systems.
http://www.traxide.com.au/complete-diy-dual-battery/land-rover-dbs-kits/
r-
Ray