Battery management issues VW New California T7

[Wannabecamperman]

Hi, thanks for your update. I’m not really that deep into the technical details, but what the technician explained to me is that the concept in the new T7 is fundamentally different from what it used to be. There is a separation relay, but it serves a different purpose now. The basic idea behind it is that – if the starter battery discharges for any reason – the leisure battery can step in and charge the starter battery.
That said, in my opinion, it really shouldn’t happen that if the camper’s leisure battery gets drained, the starter battery is automatically depleted as well. That could be a problem.
Alternatively, we might be thinking in the wrong direction entirely, and the issue might not be related to the connection between the two batteries at all. It could be that certain consumers aren’t shutting down properly and are draining the starter battery instead – for example Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or some control units.

I totally agree. My Tesla for example, stops the use of sentry mode when the battery goes below 20% - surely WV should have something similar to ensure that you can at least start the van and get some charge that way.

I feel so sorry for those who excitedly took delivery of their new T7 Calis, only to find that the summer is over before they can even be used reliably, and apparently no fix yet on the horizon!

 

[kaifetzer]

I totally agree. My Tesla for example, stops the use of sentry mode when the battery goes below 20% - surely WV should have something similar to ensure that you can at least start the van and get some charge that way.

I feel so sorry for those who excitedly took delivery of their new T7 Calis, only to find that the summer is over before they can even be used reliably, and apparently no fix yet on the horizon!

It’s not that bad if you drive regularly or are connected to shore power; in that case, you can use the car very well, and it’s fun too. I still hope that VW will get this under control.

 

[WelshGas]

It’s not that bad if you drive regularly or are connected to shore power; in that case, you can use the car very well, and it’s fun too. I still hope that VW will get this under control.

I agree. As in the past VW have taken an everyday vehicle and converted it into a Campervan and adding a Leisure electric/ electronic system to it without, possibly, carrying out extensive R&D on how owners use it.
For a start, Keyless Entry. Why would you have such a system on a campervan. You park up on your campsite and the key remote or remotes are with you or in the vehicle constantly communicating with the vehicle. That's not something that happens with a normal everyday vehicle for hours/days on end.
On the Hybrid plugging in to charge the EV battery charges the engine battery. Your not likely to be doing that when camping and I'm not sure if plugging into campsite EHU will do that and keep pace with the power drain of constant activation of vehicle systems via the Keyless remote.
The system probably works in theory and the way VW believes it will be used by owners. Now they have to inject some common sense and wisdom into the resident Geeks as to how owners use their vehicles.

 

[beczkarz]

Hi, greetings from Poland! I am struggling with such a defect. Is there any chance to solve it by my own? By the time being VW servis in Poland hasn't met such an issue. Many thanks for answer.

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Hello Tomasz,
how did You solve the issue? I have exactly the same in my new T7.

BR
Szymon

 

[beczkarz]

@TomaszW Have you had any luck with this as I am having pretty much the same issue?

Hello Lakes_Puma,
I have excatly the same issue as TomaszW.
Have You solved Your defect? How?
Thank You for reply

 

[Lakes_Puma]

Hello Lakes_Puma,
I have excatly the same issue as TomaszW.
Have You solved Your defect? How?
Thank You for reply

Hello @beczkarz

my van went to the dealers and they said they did a software update on it but when I picked it up nothing had changed so it needs to go back again

 

[kaifetzer]

Hello @beczkarz

my van went to the dealers and they said they did a software update on it but when I picked it up nothing had changed so it needs to go back again

same for me

 

[TomaszW]

Hello Tomasz,
how did You solve the issue? I have exactly the same in my new T7.

BR
Szymon

Hi, not yet. I have an appointment in the service sheduled on friday. I’ve contacted with a serviceman by an email with full description of the problem, but it serms VW in Poland still reacts as they haven’t heard about the issue. Sad.

 

[kaifetzer]

Hi everyone,
I picked up my Ocean from the workshop today. VW has installed a new configuration in the control unit. I’ll report back on whether this leads to any improvement.
*****

I have another question: These are the two fuse boxes in the T7 Ocean. Unfortunately, I can’t find any detailed fuse assignment in the manual. See pictures!
Does anyone happen to have this information?

 

[WelshGas]

Hi everyone,
I picked up my Ocean from the workshop today. VW has installed a new configuration in the control unit. I’ll report back on whether this leads to any improvement.
*****

I have another question: These are the two fuse boxes in the T7 Ocean. Unfortunately, I can’t find any detailed fuse assignment in the manual. See pictures!
Does anyone happen to have this information?

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Have you checked the Digital Handbook in the Volkswagen App. On my Multivan Hybrid I have the Full Fuse map for each Fuse Box, specifically for my VIN.

 

[kaifetzer]

Have you checked the Digital Handbook in the Volkswagen App. On my Multivan Hybrid I have the Full Fuse map for each Fuse Box, specifically for my VIN.

Yes, I’ve checked — the fuses in the driver’s area are shown, but even that picture is slightly different. However, for the camping area in the rear, there’s no diagram and no mention of any fuses at all. I also can’t find any reference in the manual indicating where the fuse box in the rear area is located. Really poor documentation.

 

[TomaszW]

Yes, I’ve checked — the fuses in the driver’s area are shown, but even that picture is slightly different. However, for the camping area in the rear, there’s no diagram and no mention of any fuses at all. I also can’t find any reference in the manual indicating where the fuse box in the rear area is located. Really poor documentation.

Hi, there is no such information either in dgital manual or california app (there is also manual available). Olny you can do is to unplugged the fuses one by one and you get it . BTW could you be so kind and share with us a view of the software code number installed in your vehicle? Many thanks!

 

[kaifetzer]

Hi, there is no such information either in dgital manual or california app (there is also manual available). Olny you can do is to unplugged the fuses one by one and you get it . BTW could you be so kind and share with us a view of the software code number installed in your vehicle? Many thanks!

thanks, Version 2650

 

[WelshGas]

Yes, I’ve checked — the fuses in the driver’s area are shown, but even that picture is slightly different. However, for the camping area in the rear, there’s no diagram and no mention of any fuses at all. I also can’t find any reference in the manual indicating where the fuse box in the rear area is located. Really poor documentation.

Have you checked under the Drivers seat LHD

 

[burton61]

Is there a way to do a poll here?

Thought it might be useful to see how many members do and don't have battery issue with the various T7 Cali's and who have had a fix that resolves the problem. Getting more difficult to keep up as this thread or similar threads grow.

 

[beczkarz]

Hi, not yet. I have an appointment in the service sheduled on friday. I’ve contacted with a serviceman by an email with full description of the problem, but it serms VW in Poland still reacts as they haven’t heard about the issue. Sad.

Hello Tomasz,
I have appoitment 10.09.2025.
Please update me once You have some information. Maybe it would be helpful for my dealer.
Any chance You could send me this e-mail? (szymon84@o2.pl) Thanks.

 

[FivetonesCali]

There aren’t that many California specific forums, I wonder if anyone at VW tracks what’s going on with their customers by monitoring them?

What I’d like to see is “I went to the dealer, they applied the software update, everything works now.”. The reason I pay extra for certain products is the delight of “oh they thought of that, great!”, VW used to have this. They’ll need to regain this, many VW die-hards are losing the faith.

 

[TomaszW]

thanks, Version 2650

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.

 

[PK1958]

There aren’t that many California specific forums, I wonder if anyone at VW tracks what’s going on with their customers by monitoring them?

What I’d like to see is “I went to the dealer, they applied the software update, everything works now.”. The reason I pay extra for certain products is the delight of “oh they thought of that, great!”, VW used to have this. They’ll need to regain this, many VW die-hards are losing the faith.

Mine seems to be working ok now. The vehicle battery stays topped up but the leisure battery does slowly drain when parked up. I have a diesel ocean

 

[thatsnotmynaim]

How slow is slow?!?

 

[Rubinstein]

Mine seems to be working ok now. The vehicle battery stays topped up but the leisure battery does slowly drain when parked up. I have a diesel ocean

Same here, mine is ok after the update. Before everything was draining around 3 days, now it can be parked up for weeks before the leisure battery gets low, which was the same as my 6.1

 

[PK1958]

How slow is slow?!?

After a week it was down to 70% on the control panel. I don't know if that is excessive but it is manageable for me.

 

[wildslammer22]

How on Earth did the new Cali get through QC?

Choosing the wrong fabric for the pop top is careless, mixing an aluminium roof with a steel body and not foreseeing any issues even more so (not as if there was no precedent, ask any Defender owner of the past 50 years!) but this issue is fundamental to the vehicle being useable for its intended market.

Like Landrover, VW can usually rely on a lot of good will from its loyal customer base, especially California ones but this seems a bit of a stretch. This is well over a year from release and to not have a fix yet suggests some fundamental design flaws.

 

[WelshGas]

After a week it was down to 70% on the control panel. I don't know if that is excessive but it is manageable for me.

What's the voltage display showing?

 

[Rubinstein]

After a week it was down to 70% on the control panel. I don't know if that is excessive but it is manageable for me.

Same as mine I’d say