Radio = Battery

[Reedster]

Driving along the radio lost all stations. CD, Sat nav all working OK ???????
Had a look on here and Google the problem giving possible battery problem. I tested the battery with a tester and it was showing only half charge. Off to battery centre who tested it in more depth showing a similar problem and the voltage was dropping as we were looking at the meter. Which battery, ah it has to be the expensive one ........... sods law !!!! New battery fitted at a good discounted price which gave an error DSC and 4x4 fail please check. No problem as it auto resets after you drive a little bit. All radio stations working as well as everything else ok. I did notice a slightly better MPG also from 27.9 to 30.4, possibly due to new battery ???? Anyway happy motoring again. 

[Huxsta]

Off topic a bit, but I changed my battery in my sprinter van late last year and mpg on a regular run I do, it went from 28.5mpg ave to 33+ the very next day driving absolutely no different as I’ve done that boring same journey 5 days a week for over 4 yrs. I could only think what with everything being electronic these days, something was not getting the full 12v required. So very plausible to me!

[X5Sport]

If the battery is not holding a charge then the alternator has to work harder.  That means more ‘load’ on the engine.  More load = more engine drag = lower mpg.

Shiny new battery = happy alternator = less drag on the engine = happy owner (once you’ve paid for the expensive battery that is  >:( )