Leisure battery issue

V

Van Mots

VIP Member
Messages
17
Location
Gloucester
Vehicle
T5 SE 140
Hi,
Can anyone help me?
My leisure battery isn’t charging from either mains hookup or whilst driving.
Whilst driving the control panel display is as per the first image.
When the engine is off, the display is as per the 2nd video.
Even after 4 hrs driving or 48hrs on mains hookup up, the display is as per the 2nd video. When the engine isn’t running or when the the van isn’t hooked up to the mains, the fridge will switch on but turns itself off in short order. Any advice welcome. Thank you.
 
Hi,
Can anyone help me?
My leisure battery isn’t charging from either mains hookup or whilst driving.
Whilst driving the control panel display is as per the first image.
When the engine is off, the display is as per the 2nd video.
Even after 4 hrs driving or 48hrs on mains hookup up, the display is as per the 2nd video. When the engine isn’t running or when the the van isn’t hooked up to the mains, the fridge will switch on but turns itself off in short order. Any advice welcome. Thank you.
P.s. I have a 2014 SE California
 
Both leisure batteries? And, I don’t think that the experts can see your videos. Try uploading photos perhaps?

Hi,
Can anyone help me?
My leisure battery isn’t charging from either mains hookup or whilst driving.
Whilst driving the control panel display is as per the first image.
When the engine is off, the display is as per the 2nd video.
Even after 4 hrs driving or 48hrs on mains hookup up, the display is as per the 2nd video. When the engine isn’t running or when the the van isn’t hooked up to the mains, the fridge will switch on but turns itself off in short order. Any advice welcome. Thank you.
IMG_4727.jpeg
 
First photo is display whilst engine running, second is with ignition off
 
No, I think the motor home company just replaced the one under the rear wardrobe
 
No, I think the motor home company just replaced the one under the rear wardrobe
Basically the 1st picture is Normal. The G symbol, Generator/Alternator, shows the vehicle is charging the Leisure Batteries, hence the 14.5 v shown.
The 2nd photo shows virtually flat leisure batteries.
NB: the fridge will not run if the Leisure Battery voltage drops below 11.5v at any time.

I would suggest the front leisure battery is knackered and will not hold charge AND the 75amp cube fuse on the +tve pole of the rear leisure battery has blown. This means you are running on 1 leisure battery only.

The front battery needs replacing at least and the rear battery cube fuse checked.

Ideally both batteries should have been replaced but you might be lucky in just replacing the front one as long as it is identical to the new rear battery which should be AGM and a minimum 75 amp/hours.
 
Basically the 1st picture is Normal. The G symbol, Generator/Alternator, shows the vehicle is charging the Leisure Batteries, hence the 14.5 v shown.
The 2nd photo shows virtually flat leisure batteries.
NB: the fridge will not run if the Leisure Battery voltage drops below 11.5v at any time.

I would suggest the front leisure battery is knackered and will not hold charge AND the 75amp cube fuse on the +tve pole of the rear leisure battery has blown. This means you are running on 1 leisure battery only.

The front battery needs replacing at least and the rear battery cube fuse checked.

Ideally both batteries should have been replaced but you might be lucky in just replacing the front one as long as it is identical to the new rear battery which should be AGM and a minimum 75 amp/hours.
Thank you for your advice, I’ve reached out to the garage and asked that they put it right.
 
Basically the 1st picture is Normal. The G symbol, Generator/Alternator, shows the vehicle is charging the Leisure Batteries, hence the 14.5 v shown.
The 2nd photo shows virtually flat leisure batteries.
NB: the fridge will not run if the Leisure Battery voltage drops below 11.5v at any time.

I would suggest the front leisure battery is knackered and will not hold charge AND the 75amp cube fuse on the +tve pole of the rear leisure battery has blown. This means you are running on 1 leisure battery only.

The front battery needs replacing at least and the rear battery cube fuse checked.

Ideally both batteries should have been replaced but you might be lucky in just replacing the front one as long as it is identical to the new rear battery which should be AGM and a minimum 75 amp/hours.
Hi, thanks for your earlier advice. The dealership (not VW) are refuting the fact that the VW California has 2x leisure batteries, they keep saying it is very unusual for a California to have 2 batteries and that if it does, they would normally be located next to each other! Do you or anyone on this forum have documented proof that the VW California has 2 leisure batteries so I can send it to them?
 
Hi, thanks for your earlier advice. The dealership (not VW) are refuting the fact that the VW California has 2x leisure batteries, they keep saying it is very unusual for a California to have 2 batteries and that if it does, they would normally be located next to each other! Do you or anyone on this forum have documented proof that the VW California has 2 leisure batteries so I can send it to them?
Page 6 of the California Supplement Owners Handbook.
Handbook in the Resources section.
 
Hi, thanks for your earlier advice. The dealership (not VW) are refuting the fact that the VW California has 2x leisure batteries, they keep saying it is very unusual for a California to have 2 batteries and that if it does, they would normally be located next to each other! Do you or anyone on this forum have documented proof that the VW California has 2 leisure batteries so I can send it to them?
The VW California SE and Ocean models are equipped with two leisure batteries.

Battery Positions
    • First Leisure Battery: Located underneath the front passenger seat (left-hand side in right-hand drive models), beneath a protective rubber cover.
    • Second Leisure Battery: Located in the rear of the vehicle at the base of the wardrobe/cupboard, behind a removable access panel. [1, 2, 3, 4]
 
Thank you WelshGas, I appreciate it, the dealership are not as nice after the sold the vehicle as they were before they sold it!!!!
 
if your still having issues in the middle of October I’ll be home in Tewkesbury and will happily show you and help you trouble shoot, I’ve got all the tools required.

I’ve recently posted pictures of the batteries in post 9, ocean owned from new and one battery under the passenger seat, one in the rear wardrobe. I’d assume t5 is the same.

Not cheap but VW Droitwich, Leon, is an expert with these vans. Then bill the garbage you bought it from.
 
if your still having issues in the middle of October I’ll be home in Tewkesbury and will happily show you and help you trouble shoot, I’ve got all the tools required.

I’ve recently posted pictures of the batteries in post 9, ocean owned from new and one battery under the passenger seat, one in the rear wardrobe. I’d assume t5 is the same.

Not cheap but VW Droitwich, Leon, is an expert with the
Thank you WelshGas, I appreciate it, the dealership are not as nice after the sold the vehicle as they were before they sold it!!!!
had another thought. Grove batteries in Cheltenham will test your batteries for free. Chris there knows where the batteries are and how many there are.
 
Hi, thanks for your earlier advice. The dealership (not VW) are refuting the fact that the VW California has 2x leisure batteries, they keep saying it is very unusual for a California to have 2 batteries and that if it does, they would normally be located next to each other! Do you or anyone on this forum have documented proof that the VW California has 2 leisure batteries so I can send it to them?
Hi, I've had issues with my leisure battery in my newly purchased VW SE California T5. I took it back to the retailer and after an hour they found the second battery under the front passenger seat. They said it was probably the original battery and was drawing power from the new leisure battery in the rear of the van. They did, of course, replace this to resolve the issue of the new battery in the rear draining....They didn't realise the second battery existed but explained/thought it provided power for the electric pop-top roof....You could contact P&P Campervans in Gosport, Hampshire....They're sorting this issue for me.
 
Thank you WelshGas, I appreciate it, the dealership are not as nice after the sold the vehicle as they were before they sold it!!!!
Are you any further forward?
 
Back
Top