Battery management issues VW New California T7

[Dodge1311]

Dealer called me yesterday to let me know there was a recall on the van for excessive battery drain. Funny thing is I don’t have any issues. It’s as good if not better than the battery life in my 6.1 just about 4 days in camping mode with fridge on beats my 6.1 by a good day and that’s after 5 months with lots of camping. they wanted to do the update next week, but we are off camping agin so it in the following Monday. I hope it doesn’t give me the problems i never had to start with.

 

[Rubinstein]

Dealer called me yesterday to let me know there was a recall on the van for excessive battery drain. Funny thing is I don’t have any issues. It’s as good if not better than the battery life in my 6.1 just about 4 days in camping mode with fridge on beats my 6.1 by a good day and that’s after 5 months with lots of camping. they wanted to do the update next week, but we are off camping agin so it in the following Monday. I hope it doesn’t give me the problems i never had to start with.

If it ain’t broke !!!

 

[thatsnotmynaim]

Dealer called me yesterday to let me know there was a recall on the van for excessive battery drain. Funny thing is I don’t have any issues. It’s as good if not better than the battery life in my 6.1 just about 4 days in camping mode with fridge on beats my 6.1 by a good day and that’s after 5 months with lots of camping. they wanted to do the update next week, but we are off camping agin so it in the following Monday. I hope it doesn’t give me the problems i never had to start with.

I do think that perhaps the earlier vans did not have the issue or it was not as bad and at some point something changed, mine doesn’t appear to have it unless I leave it unused for a number of weeks..

 

[Corradobrit]

Dealer called me yesterday to let me know there was a recall on the van for excessive battery drain. Funny thing is I don’t have any issues. It’s as good if not better than the battery life in my 6.1 just about 4 days in camping mode with fridge on beats my 6.1 by a good day and that’s after 5 months with lots of camping. they wanted to do the update next week, but we are off camping agin so it in the following Monday. I hope it doesn’t give me the problems i never had to start with.

Leave well alone if you think the electrical system is working as expected.

 

[nickyboy83]

Have the issue on my 2.0 diesel now where the 2nd battery isn’t charging whilst driving but ok on EHU. I’ve had mine since March and can’t help but wonder if a software update in Aug has been a factor. Booking it in tomorrow.

 

[sticky1]

I’m planning to wait and let as many other people do the ‘beta’ testing for VW as possible.
If I don’t drive the van for a couple of weeks the California app will drop as low as 12v and 50% but the engine still spins up with no signs of a depleted battery. My suspicion is that there isn’t a real shunt on the starter battery but just a voltage sensor that calculates capacity.

 

[Rubinstein]

I’m planning to wait and let as many other people do the ‘beta’ testing for VW as possible.
If I don’t drive the van for a couple of weeks the California app will drop as low as 12v and 50% but the engine still spins up with no signs of a depleted battery. My suspicion is that there is a real shunt on the starter battery but just a voltage sensor that calculates capacity.

So as far as I’m concerned with my van it’s cased closed. Having had the update in July, and I think I’ve used it 3 times since then, the rest of the time it’s been parked up with no problems, just come back from a short drive today and the van I just excellent. It seems that the PHEV is having more complications obviously due to the tech involved, and maybe a lack of experience at the dealer level, mines a 2.0 Diesel, maybe that helped, but I’m sure VW will get it sorted asap. It’s just disappointing and frustrating for those who have parted with good money are having to deal with it on what has always been seen as a premium product. Not a great start on the T7 for some, but as I say, my experience with getting it resolved was as it should be, just a shame it happened in the first place.

 

[beczkarz]

Hi, because I have this software already installed that leads me to the conclusion the issue is a hardware problem as mentioned before - see previous posts regarding gateway and replacement some parts. I left my vehicle at the garage this morning. There was a cold invitation at the front desk. I will keep you informed at the result. Best.

View attachment 140262

Hello.
My new California has SW version: 2768 (but HW: H11) - is it newer?
I just got a call from VW service - that the car is ready and "fixed".
I will know more tomorrow - whether they did the tests with circuit breaker or not...
I guess they just reseted the computer.

When reading this post I had exactly the same scenario that was described before:

" if you flick the external breaker ( back left above the shower head) off before or after using external power it can sometimes send a fault message to the system and shut off the inverter module ..which in turn means no external power or charging…this in turn shows external power unavailable and ground power connected warning when driving!.and shows 5.0v in the leisure batteries…..the fault can only be reset at the dealership.
Advice is LEAVE the breaker on ALL the time ..don’t flick it off and don’t push the test button ( no real need anyway!) …let’s see how we get on!!"

 

[TomaszW]

Hello.
My new California has SW version: 2768 (but HW: H11) - is it newer?
I just got a call from VW service - that the car is ready and "fixed".
I will know more tomorrow - whether they did the tests with circuit breaker or not...
I guess they just reseted the computer.

When reading this post I had exactly the same scenario that was described before:

" if you flick the external breaker ( back left above the shower head) off before or after using external power it can sometimes send a fault message to the system and shut off the inverter module ..which in turn means no external power or charging…this in turn shows external power unavailable and ground power connected warning when driving!.and shows 5.0v in the leisure batteries…..the fault can only be reset at the dealership.
Advice is LEAVE the breaker on ALL the time ..don’t flick it off and don’t push the test button ( no real need anyway!) …let’s see how we get on!!"

View attachment 140395

Hi,

I was told that in my can there was only reset done. It is working right now but honestly kind serviceman said it may happen again. Strange is that after 3 weeks without external connection all batteries were fully charged. Basically the effect has been removed but the defect remains.

 

[Toneb]

Don't know if this relates to issue in this thread but I hooked up my T7 Cali Ocean (diesel) today as both batteries were a little depleted. Checked some hours in and it had charged them but not quite completely - so left for a few more hours. When I went back the display by the rear door said that the 2nd batt was at 5V and a notification said "the campsite power supply is currently unavailable".
The mains from that socket is fine and unless he cable has developed a fault while being hooked up that is fine too!
Now I had an issue which required VW breakdown to come and start the van some months back as the vehicle battery was completely depleted (had to use manual key to get in) after 3 weeks unmoving.
Is this somehow related to the software issues reported here?
Is there a fuse breaker that needs resetting?
Thanks

 

[Toneb]

Don't know if this relates to issue in this thread but I hooked up my T7 Cali Ocean (diesel) today as both batteries were a little depleted. Checked some hours in and it had charged them but not quite completely - so left for a few more hours. When I went back the display by the rear door said that the 2nd batt was at 5V and a notification said "the campsite power supply is currently unavailable".
The mains from that socket is fine and unless he cable has developed a fault while being hooked up that is fine too!
Now I had an issue which required VW breakdown to come and start the van some months back as the vehicle battery was completely depleted (had to use manual key to get in) after 3 weeks unmoving.
Is this somehow related to the software issues reported here?
Is there a fuse breaker that needs resetting?
Thanks

Checked the circuit breaker - that hadn't been tripped.

 

[sticky1]

Did you check to see if the vehicle was taking a charge in the app?

 

[Toneb]

Did you check to see if the vehicle was taking a charge in the app?

No.
Reconciled to it being the pwer management issue and will contact the dealer tomorrow.

 

[sticky1]

I’m really interested to understand the cause of the battery depletion.
I think I’d have to understand if the supply was cut off and whether the lithium charging circuit is somehow ‘open’ when plugged in and causing the drain.
Did you say that on this occasion the starter battery is also dead? If so that surely points to the 12v charger as I understand that when plugged into EHU it charges both the leisure and starter battery.

 

[beczkarz]

Hi,

I was told that in my can there was only reset done. It is working right now but honestly kind serviceman said it may happen again. Strange is that after 3 weeks without external connection all batteries were fully charged. Basically the effect has been removed but the defect remains.

Hello.
Same with mine T7.
There was only reset done.
Now everything is working ok.
I have tried to reproduce the issue inside tha VW garage but I could not.
As You said - It will definitely come back. Effect is solved but defect is still there.

Shall we just wait for newer SW that could have this sorted out?

 

[Toneb]

No.
Reconciled to it being the pwer management issue and will contact the dealer tomorrow.

I’m really interested to understand the cause of the battery depletion.
I think I’d have to understand if the supply was cut off and whether the lithium charging circuit is somehow ‘open’ when plugged in and causing the drain.
Did you say that on this occasion the starter battery is also dead? If so that surely points to the 12v charger as I understand that when plugged into EHU it charges both the leisure and starter battery.

No the starter batt was OK, and yes in my experience the EHU has charged both the leisure and starter batts

 

[Jerrywho]

Don't know if this relates to issue in this thread but I hooked up my T7 Cali Ocean (diesel) today as both batteries were a little depleted. Checked some hours in and it had charged them but not quite completely - so left for a few more hours. When I went back the display by the rear door said that the 2nd batt was at 5V and a notification said "the campsite power supply is currently unavailable".
The mains from that socket is fine and unless he cable has developed a fault while being hooked up that is fine too!
Now I had an issue which required VW breakdown to come and start the van some months back as the vehicle battery was completely depleted (had to use manual key to get in) after 3 weeks unmoving.
Is this somehow related to the software issues reported here?
Is there a fuse breaker that needs resetting?
Thanks

I was told by the dealer (with or without any criteria) that once you hook up you shouldnt let it connected long (I dont know what long means....) after full charging because; otherwise both batteries will incornprehensibly deplete. This is just what she said.

 

[Rubinstein]

I was told by the dealer (with or without any criteria) that once you hook up you shouldnt let it connected long (I dont know what long means....) after full charging because; otherwise both batteries will incornprehensibly deplete. This is just what she said.

Not sure what he means by that, but I’ve left mine connected for days and not had problems. As far as I know it will just take the charge it requires then stop, it’s designed to be connected for long periods of time as there is a pass through for the mains sockets in the van as well as 12v charging.

 

[Peter Chequers]

I just tried plugging mine in and got this message

 

[Peter Chequers]

I then got a warning on my phone that the battery was being protected and power supply not available

 

[Rubinstein]

I then got a warning on my phone that the battery was being protected and power supply not available

Have your RCD tripped, or have you moved them before ?

 

[Lakes_Puma]

Not sure what he means by that, but I’ve left mine connected for days and not had problems. As far as I know it will just take the charge it requires then stop, it’s designed to be connected for long periods of time as there is a pass through for the mains sockets in the van as well as 12v charging.

This seems what happened with me, I connected EHU and everything was working as expected to begin with but after a couple of days when I checked again I got all the usual symptoms.

I wonder if the issue is that when the batteries were fully charged it should have gone into a standby mode but this fails and then we get the issues.

 

[TomaszW]

This seems what happened with me, I connected EHU and everything was working as expected to begin with but after a couple of days when I checked again I got all the usual symptoms.

I wonder if the issue is that when the batteries were fully charged it should have gone into a standby mode but this fails and then we get the issues.

Hi, In my T7 Coast (petrol) seems to be ok. It is connected for one week by now. I haven’t used the car or unplugged it.

 

[Lakes_Puma]

Hi, In my T7 Coast (petrol) seems to be ok. It is connected for one week by now. I haven’t used the car or unplugged it.

View attachment 140523

Have you had any updates done or hardware replaced by the dealer?

 

[TomaszW]

Have you had any updates done or hardware replaced by the dealer?

On Friday I was told that only reset of system had been done. Aslo a dealer confirmed that the defect is not solved. They are waiting for software update. I have the software number 2650 since I got it in July.