Went out and bought a voltage meter without ignition engaged or truck on I'm reading just about 6 volts or 18 dB's.

Typically how many volts are Disco 2's required to start, the battery starts up my VW with ease.

Had a bad harness for awhile that I've now fixed, have I booted my battery?

Thanks

 

should be 12 volts. disco's need good strong batteries.

 

Actually it is not the voltage, but the amperage required to start is around 150 amps. You BATTERy SHOULD BE IN THE HIGH 12 VOLT RANGE, With the engine off and between 13.6 and 14.4 volts when running.

 

You need enough voltage and enough amps.
If you're reading 6v that's way too low. It's a 12v starter and you want your battery and connections to be in good shape that you get at least 12v to the starter. Even with the battery fully charged, too small cables, loose corroded connections will reduce the voltage to less than optimal, i.e. 12v.

 

my disco has a new battery and it reads 12 to 13 volts while driving, if you have the heated seats on plus heater fan etc mine runs in the 12 v range idle sometimes around 11 v ultra gage readings

 

That is because the Ultra Gauge is getting the voltage sample from the OBDII port, directly on the battery will be slightly different due to a number of voltage drops on the way to the OBDII port (fuse links, fuses, connectors, and grounds).

 

Thanks all, looks like ill be heading in for a new battery. Reading 7 volts tops.

 

While a new battery is always good, sometimes a guy needs a cheap alternative until next payday. Junkyards pull the good batteries and sell them for like $25.

 

if you are reading 6v's either the battery is utterly fried, or you arent getting a good connection on the terminals with the voltmeter. you need a meter capable of putting a load on the battery to test its charge level, a nearly dead battery can still show high 11v's, even low 12's and still not have enough amps in reserve to supply the current draw of the starter. you probably have several dead cells in the battery if you are only getting 6v but have a clean firm connection on the terminals using the voltmeter.

 

Yep, a load can be something as simple as switching on the head lights. Dead cells will take the meter to the basement under load. Takes some real amps to run the starter, a clamp on ampmeter on my D1 showed 285 amp draw cranking. Any little corrosion can have so much voltage drop that the starter won't work.