Hi there everyone, I've been utilizing this forum for years now (gratefully) but finally decided to register so I could ask my own questions, kinda tired of always having to go to the dealer.....NOT that there's anything wrong with them, in my experiences they've done quality work.
So my question is this: I started smelling a 'rotten egg' smell 2 days ago from my LR3, it was very light, I actually only smelt it after parking in the garage but returning to it for an item I had in the garage fridge, that's when I smelt it? I had engaged my parking brake that day and it made some horrendous noise (a first and I do use it frequently), I immediately tried disengaging it, which didn't work, so I just drove approx 10 feet until it releases itself (which thankfully it did). I, dumbly, assumed the smell may have been something to do with that and let it go.
Drove yesterday and kept smelling the same scent INSIDE the cabin this time for the 20 mile round trip jaunt.
TODAY, it was STRONG!! Got home just in time to lift the hood and see white, sulfuric-smelling smoke coming out of both ends of the battery. I did cave, 2 years ago, and bought my battery from Napa, it's a Legend brand, it saved me a couple bucks. It looks like the battery has venting holes on either end. That's where the smoke was billowing out from. I've had some ongoing issues over the past 6 months I haven't been able to keep up with because my husband (yep, I'm a chic) had a catastrophic health incident requiring surgery, rehab & many months home so we've pretty much pilfered thru our stored monies and I was trying to hold on until early next month when I had a bit of cash to get my Beast seen by the appropriate 'doc.'
Is it possible, or am I really reaching, that the other glitches I'm having are all related? First thing was my driver's side brake light, tail light is fine, brake light wouldn't work (seems so odd to me?). I replaced the bulb, still no luck (unless you count the # of times I'm told my brake light is out, then I'm winning, lol), thought I got a bad pack of bulbs (wishful thinking, I know) I bought another @ a different store, still NO luck. THEN, my auto sensor headlamps stopped working (sorry if I'm not using correct terms) so I have to turn the lights off and on as needed **gasp!** hahaha back to the "old days." FINALLY, here's the best.......my AC blower started acting weird. It'd run but after awhile it'd putter out, read on here that it could be the relay switch? I even watched the YouTube video and thought about trying to change the part out myself but I know I'd break the kick panel or something and be worse off! So it gets cold here, yep I live in South Carolina and it has actually gotten cold here this winter, and guess what doesn't work? THE BLOWER for defrost, probably elementary for most of you but I didn't know? It may come on for 10-60 seconds then it putters out. Soooooo, bringing this back around to the battery, after a few go-rounds with having the defrost engaged but no blower working (I didn't realize the kids had hit the button to turn the system on so it was "on" but not doing anything) I went to start my Beast and the battery was dead, like click-click dead. Got a jump and for about a week every time I'd fire her up she'd turn over really slow, I wondered if I didn't somehow kill the battery when the broken system had been turned on for hours one night, while the truck was running, but blower wasn't doing anything (battery is barely 2 years old, if that). Then all of this came up with the smoking, sulfuric odor.
My question: do I go get a new battery? Or do I just fold and head to the dealer to see if all the electronic nonsense is causing a total system fault resulting in my battery being ruined? And why is it smoking? Scared me! When I pulled in I left the hood open as well as the garage door (after backing in) and let that gross scent go elsewhere.
I'm not a mechanic, not even close. My Dad raised a daughter encouraging her mechanical tendencies which I polished up on whilst active duty Air Force so please know I'm not some illiterate chic like most of my own friends BUT I'm not some acronym-knowing, hardcore gearhead either....not even close.
Thanks any/all in advance for advice! and for all past advice you didn't even know I was using.

 

I’m pretty sure you meant to start a new thread, not post into the one you did.

It helps posting in a new or related thread to get more responses.

Batteries normally have 2 vents. The one towards the back should be capped off and the one facing front should have a vent tube hooked up. This is important as the battery fumes can corrode sensitive electronic ECUs located just behind the battery.

No doubt you need a new battery, but the question is did your battery fail due to the alternator?

I would YouTube alternator test and figure that out.

No sense in changing the battery if the alternator needs to be replaced as well.

As one or both need to be replaced regardless of your other issues, change it/them and see if it clears up your other issues.

 

....also sounds like you need a new Brake (Pedal) Switch.

 

Yep I'd certainly replace the brake pedal switch! 22.00 at Auto Zone for a new one. It was the #1 part on my used 06 HSE that caused all kinds of issues. I got a fantastic deal on an Alternator on Ebay for $80.00 shipped and it's nearly 2 years old now and working well. After I got those small kinks worked out my LR3 has been a great LR.

LR3/RRS are very picky when it comes to voltage. If it doesn't get enough a lot of things can start to act very very weird.