Dead on drive

[Toneb]

Found my T7 California dead on my drive. Has been imobile for some weeks but has been hooked up to mains all that time. I fear the battery/hookup issue has reared it's head again. Awaiting AA.

 

[Perfectos]

Found my T7 California dead on my drive. Has been imobile for some weeks but has been hooked up to mains all that time. I fear the battery/hookup issue has reared it's head again. Awaiting AA.

Does hook up charge the starter battery ?

I suspect not.

Get yourself a battery conditioner that you can leave connected to the starter battery during long periods of inactivity. Such as Noco genius 10or similar

 

[cangyroo]

T7 ocean (2.0L Diesel) does charge the engine battery on hook up…, well it does on mine

 

[Toneb]

Does hook up charge the starter battery ?

I suspect not.

Get yourself a battery conditioner that you can leave connected to the starter battery during long periods of inactivity. Such as Noco genius 10or similar

The EHU has always recharged the vehicle battery before. Now it's stuck with the "Deep discharge protection" still enabled and not recognising the EHU ! Trying recommended methods to unfreeze. Taking out fuses momentarily is last option on list.

 

[Toneb]

The EHU has always recharged the vehicle battery before. Now it's stuck with the "Deep discharge protection" still enabled and not recognising the EHU ! Trying recommended methods to unfreeze. Taking out fuses momentarily is last option on list.

Done the fuse removal workaround - no go!.
Oh well, a trip to a VW dealer again.

 

[Toneb]

Found a fix on YT that involves unplugging the J608 control module and disconnectng vehicle battery for 10-15 mins then reconnecting. Says there is a SW patch. Anyone know if this is the case?

 

[sidepod]

Get yourself a decent jump pack, one with deep discharge override.

 

[Toneb]

Get yourself a decent jump pack, one with deep discharge override.

Does hook up charge the starter battery ?

I suspect not.

Get yourself a battery conditioner that you can leave connected to the starter battery during long periods of inactivity. Such as Noco genius 10or similar

Thanks …. Coming from Amazon tomorrow (Noco Genius10)

 

[Perfectos]

T7 ocean (2.0L Diesel) does charge the engine battery on hook up…, well it does on mine

I suspect this is not a charge that would have a meaningful input? Have you measured the input to the starter battery whilst on hook up?
It may be that the latest multivan has been given a meaningful upgrade to allow SB to be charged whilst on EHU , but I suspect it's more of a minor leakage trickle and not by design.

This has been noted as an ongoing "feature" on Californias from T5 onwards, perversely some do receive leaky voltage from EHU some do not.

 

[Perfectos]

Thanks …. Coming from Amazon tomorrow (Noco Genius10)

You can get additional lead with ring connectors so it can be left attached to the battery terminals and simply plugged into the connector , allowing the bonnet to be closed whilst charging. Check the ring connector sizes corresponds to the battery terminal fixings

 

[sidepod]

CTek comes with those as standard

 

[Toneb]

Found a fix on YT that involves unplugging the J608 control module and disconnectng vehicle battery for 10-15 mins then reconnecting. Says there is a SW patch. Anyone know if this is the case?

BTW: This didn't work!
And what a struggle getting to the vehicle 12V battery to boot.

 

[pluc99]

BTW: This didn't work!
And what a struggle getting to the vehicle 12V battery to boot.

I was under the impression that there were battery terminals under the bonnet so that you didn't have to access the actual starter battery.

 

[Toneb]

I was under the impression that there were battery terminals under the bonnet so that you didn't have to access the actual starter battery.

There are but I wanted to discharge it and reveal it to install connecting wire for the Noco charger I've bought.

 

[Toneb]

There are but I wanted to discharge it and reveal it to install connecting wire for the Noco charger I've bought.

For any wondering, I didn't get an eyelet connector accessory - rather drilled out the attachment rivet to the crock clamps which revealed copper eyelet ends to the wiring.

 

[Robie]

Belated I know. The power management system shunts power back and forth between the starter battery and the two leisure batteries. Have you fixed it?

 

[Toneb]

Belated I know. The power management system shunts power back and forth between the starter battery and the two leisure batteries. Have you fixed it?

It’s at the Van Centre now (Scunthorpe).
Latest is it went dead again 2 days later and a multimeter showed 0V on the 12V battery.
AA managed to start it and said he thought at least 2 cells were U/S.
Looks like the “Deep discharge protection” kicked in when it read the low voltage and then wouldn’t come out of it and wouldn’t/couldn’t charge either battery on hook up or motor.
Await call today to find out (hopefully).

 

[Toneb]

It’s at the Van Centre now (Scunthorpe).
Latest is it went dead again 2 days later and a multimeter showed 0V on the 12V battery.
AA managed to start it and said he thought at least 2 cells were U/S.
Looks like the “Deep discharge protection” kicked in when it read the low voltage and then wouldn’t come out of it and wouldn’t/couldn’t charge either battery on hook up or motor.
Await call today to find out (hopefully).

Van Centre reports that one of the leisure batts is u/s …. But that the starter batter is fine - which directly contradicts my own experience in testing it and that of the AA tech!
They have done a SW update as well as fitting a new leisure batt.
So what can I do about the starter battery?
I suspect there is an internal fault that my drive to the garage fixed itself via vibration - so my confidence in it remains low.
I may well buy a new battery and fit it myself, but for now I need the van for a trip over the weekend.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Are leisure batteries not covered by warranty?

 

[Perfectos]

Wondering if the dealer has swaped Starter for LB , then replaced LB ?

Did you take photos of the faulty starter battery serial # etc

 

[Toneb]

Wondering if the dealer has swaped Starter for LB , then replaced LB ?

Did you take photos of the faulty starter battery serial # etc

Yes, the leisure batts are covered by warranty.
They said the starter was OK and even took a vid of them testing it.
I am concerned tho that the thing having read OV across the +/- terminals that it smacks of an internal short-circuit seemingly intermittent.
I am contemplating fitting a new starter batt myself - one afterall is same price as the NOCO Genius10 that I bought to charge it, and my concerns will be allayed.