Range Rover Charging System Fault: 4 Common Reasons

Are you facing a problem with the charging system of your Range Rover? This issue can arise due to various reasons. But it is possible to solve this issue if you can figure out the cause.

So, why are getting Range Rover charging system fault error messages?

You are getting the Range Rover charging system fault message due to a faulty alternator or a bad battery. You can also get this error if you have a failed drive belt or a faulty battery management system. This issue can be fixed by repairing the alternator, replacing the battery and the drive belt, or replacing BMS.

Are you still having doubts about how you can do these yourself? Well, worry not as we have a detailed outline for you.

Range Rover Charging System Fault: A Quick Fix

Follow this quick fix in order to solve the Range Rover charging system fault error message:

Reason	Symptoms	Solutions
A faulty alternator	1. Trouble starting your Range Rover 2. Frequent stalling of the engine 3. Whining or screeching noise after the vehicle starts 4. Dim or overly bright lights 5. The smell of burning rubber or wires 6. A Dead battery 7. The battery dashboard warning light is on	Fix the alternator
A bad battery	1. Dim headlights 2. Slow engine crank 3. Clicking noise when trying to start the car 4. The gas pedal needs to be pressed to start the car 5. The engine backfires 6. Smell of sulfur 7. A swollen battery case 8. Corrosion of the battery terminals	Replace the battery
Drive belt failure	1. Squealing noise 2. Power loss 3. Engine overheating 4. Signs of wear and tear on the drive belt	Replace the drive belt

Are you still confused about how to fix the Range Rover charging system fault error message? Read the subsequent sections for a more detailed fix.

How to Fix Range Rover Charging System Fault: An In-Depth Fix

Here are four reasons why you are getting the Range Rover charging system fault message:

Reason 1: A Faulty Alternator

A faulty alternator is a common problem that can lead to charging system faults.

Symptoms:

These are the symptoms of having a faulty alternator in a Range Rover:

1. Trouble starting your Range Rover
2. Frequent stalling of the engine
3. Whining or screeching noise after the vehicle starts
4. Dim or overly bright lights
5. The smell of burning rubber or wires
6. A Dead battery
7. The battery dashboard warning light is on

Solution: Fix The Alternator

Material Needed:

1. A wrench kit
2. A socket set
3. Bearings, brushes, and diodes as replacements.

1. Disconnect the battery:

• Before you start working on the alternator, disconnect the battery to avoid any electrical shock or damage to the system.
• Locate the battery negative terminal and use a wrench to loosen the terminal bolt.
• Carefully remove the terminal from the battery.

2. Remove the serpentine belt:

• Locate the serpentine belt tensioner and use a wrench to loosen the tensioner bolt.
• Slowly loosen the belt until it is loose enough to remove from the alternator pulley.
• Remove the belt from the alternator pulley and set it aside.

3. Disconnect the wiring harness or connectors:

• Locate the electrical connections for the alternator.
• Carefully disconnect the electrical connections.
• Make sure to mark the placement of the electrical leads before removing them.

4. Remove the alternator:

• Locate the mounting bolts for the alternator.
• Use a wrench to loosen the mounting bolts.
• Carefully remove the alternator from the vehicle.

5. Inspect the alternator:

• Inspect the alternator for any signs of damage or wear.
• Check the bearings, brushes, and diodes.
• If any of these components are damaged, they will need to be replaced.

6. Replace the damaged components:

• Replace any damaged components with new ones.

7. Reinstall the alternator:

• Install the alternator back into the vehicle.
• Reconnect the electrical connections.
• Make sure to tighten the mounting bolts.
• Reinstall the serpentine belt.
• Readjust the tensioner.

8. Reconnect the battery:

• Carefully reconnect the battery negative terminal.
• Tighten the terminal bolt.

A bad alternator can cause your AC to malfunction. If your AC does not work properly, your AC recharge will not last.

Reason 2: Bad battery

A bad battery can also cause issues with battery charging.

Symptoms:

These are the symptoms of a bad 12 V car battery:

1. Dim headlights
2. Slow engine crank
3. Clicking noise when trying to start the car
4. The gas pedal needs to be pressed to start the car
5. The engine backfires
6. Smell of sulfur
7. Swollen battery case
8. Corrosion of the battery terminals

Solution: Replace The Bad Battery

Materials Needed:

1. A wrench kit
2. A new car battery

To replace the battery of your car, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable:
   • Locate the negative battery terminal.
   • Use a wrench to loosen the negative battery cable terminal bolt.
   • Carefully remove the negative battery cable from the terminal.
2. Disconnect the positive battery cable:
   • Locate the positive battery terminal.
   • Use a wrench to loosen the positive battery cable terminal bolt.
   • Carefully remove the positive battery cable from the terminal.
3. Remove the old battery:
   • Lift the old battery out of the battery tray.
   • Be careful not to spill any battery acid.
4. Install the new battery:
   • Carefully place the new battery in the battery tray.
   • Make sure the positive and negative terminals are facing the correct way.
5. Connect the positive battery cable:
   • Use a wrench to tighten the positive battery cable terminal bolt.
6. Connect the negative battery cable:
   • Use a wrench to tighten the negative battery cable terminal bolt.
7. Start the engine and check for battery leaks:
   • Turn the key to the “On” position and wait a few minutes.
   • Check for any leaks around the battery terminals.
8. Dispose of the old battery properly:
   • Take the old battery to a local recycling center or auto parts store for proper disposal.

Your battery is now replaced. A bad battery can leave you stranded on the highway. You will need to send an SOS signal for help. But your Range Rover may have limited SOS functionality. 

So, check your battery regularly. Moreover, you can increase the lifespan of your battery.

Reason 3: Drive Belt Failure

Sometimes the drive belt fails, causing charging problems.

Symptoms:

These are the symptoms of a drive belt failure:

1. Squealing noise
2. Power loss
3. Engine overheating
4. Signs of wear and tear on the drive belt

Solution: Replace The Drive Belt

Materials Needed:

1. A serpentine belt tool
2. A new drive belt. The drive belt should be compatible with your vehicle model as stated in your car owner’s manual.
3. A spanner
4. A pry bar
5. A tension gauge if your car does not have an automatic spring tensioning system

Working Process:

Follow these steps to replace your drive belt:

Loosen the tension and remove the belt:

1. Locate the adjustment fastener and loosen it using the serpentine belt tool.
2. Move the adjusting mechanism far enough to allow you to remove the belt.
3. Some vehicles use an automatic spring tension system. In that case, pull the tensioning device back so that you can remove the belt.

Install new belt:

1. Install the new drive belt.
2. Make sure that it is properly seated in the V-shape groove.
3. If the belt is a Serpentine type, then make sure that it is the correct width and squarely aligned in the pulley grooves. If this is not correctly aligned, the belt will be thrown off the pulley wheels.

Correctly tension new belt:

1. Tension the belt using a spanner and a pry bar.
2. Then, check it with a tension gauge if your car does not have an automatic spring tensioning system. 

Start the engine:

1. Start the engine.
2. Observe the belt to make sure that it is properly seated and operating correctly.
3. Stop the engine again, and recheck the tension.

Reason 4: Faulty battery management system (BMS):

A bad BMS can result in charging system problems.

Symptoms:

These are the symptoms of a bad battery management system (BMS):

1. Inaccurate state-of-charge readings
2. Battery overheating or excessive temperature fluctuations
3. Premature battery degradation and reduced lifespan

Solution:

If your BMS is bad it will be much easier for you to take your car to a mechanic. But if you want to fix the BMS by yourself, watch this video:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How does a car battery charging system work?

A car battery charging system works by using the electric energy produced by the car’s alternator. The alternator of the car takes mechanical energy supplied by the crankshaft. This mechanical energy, in turn, is converted into electrical energy. This energy is then used to charge the 12 V battery. The charging of the battery is monitored by a battery management system in the vehicle.

What are the stages of car battery charging?

The three stages of car battery charging are bulk charging, absorption charging, and maintenance charging. Bulk charging is the first stage of charging the car battery where a high current is supplied to the battery. At 80% capacity absorption charging starts and charging current is reduced. The final stage starts at about 95% battery capacity.

What is the voltage of a charged car battery?

The voltage of a charged car battery is 12.6 V to 14.5 V. When the engine is stopped, a fully charged car battery will be 12.6 V. This is known as the resting voltage. This value can rise to 14.5 V when the engine is running. This is because the battery is being boosted by the alternator.

Conclusion

So, now you know all there is to know about Range Rover charging system fault error messages. Range Rovers can develop problems with their charging systems for a variety of reasons. It is important to solve these issues when they arise. I hope reading this article helped you solve this problem easily.

That is all for today. Thank you for reading my article. Goodbye and Good luck with your Range Rover!