California T5

[Mimmo]

Hello everyone, my name is Mimmo. I live in Turin, Italy, and I’m writing using an online translator, so I apologize for any mistakes in my English.

I’m very happy to be a new member of this group.

Two months ago I bought a 2012 Volkswagen California T5.2 with the 180 HP BiTDI CFCA engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, and front-wheel drive. Since then, I’ve already built a sliding rear storage drawer in the luggage compartment and installed an external shower connection with both hot and cold water mixer control.

For the hot water system, I installed a small 9-liter boiler with a 200 W / 12 V heating element. I placed it in the lower compartment of the kitchen cabinet under the sink. Everything is working perfectly so far.

Unfortunately, I do not have the owner’s manual in Italian, so I’m trying to understand the most important information from the German version.

I would like to ask a few questions:

1. Is it possible to find an Italian owner’s manual for this vehicle, preferably as a digital file rather than a printed copy?
2. When connected to external 230 V shore power, does the onboard charger also charge the starter battery, or only the leisure batteries?
3. Where is the onboard battery charger located?
4. The 230 V / 150 W socket on the left wall behind the passenger seat:
   • Is it powered by a 12 V DC to 230 V AC inverter?
   • Is it a pure sine wave inverter, and is it safe for charging laptops and other electronic devices?
   • Where is the inverter located?
   • I measured the voltage at this outlet with a voltmeter and it showed about 198 V instead of 230 V. Does anyone know why?
5. Could someone provide the electrical wiring diagrams, especially the fuse locations and the body channels/routing used for the electrical and electronic wiring harnesses?
6. Does the original charging system work reliably and efficiently?
7. What is the typical battery autonomy for running the refrigerator before recharging is needed?
8. The van currently has two newly installed 80 Ah AGM batteries. I would like to replace them with a single 150 Ah lithium battery (NDS Tempra).
   I understand that I would need to install a DC-DC charger between the alternator and the lithium battery, while keeping the original charger because the lithium battery I chose has a BMS that can also accept lead-acid charging profiles.
   Has anyone already done this conversion? I would really appreciate any advice or recommendations.

Thank you very much!

 

[Beeechke1]

Welcome Mimmo, I am sure you will find answers to all your questions on this very knowledgeable forum.
I will try to answer some of the easy questions from my knowledge or running a 2010 California SE similar to yours.
2) The answer is yes but it but it appears to be an unintentional result of the electrical layout - once the leisure batteries are topped up it will trickle down to the starter battery.
3) Probably under the fridge, you can see it through the round inspection hatch in the side of the kitchen cupboard, on later models I believe it was moved to above the rear leisure battery in the bottom of the wardrobe.
6) Yes in my experience of 8 years of ownership and 500+ nights camping in our van.
7) Over both Summer and Winter trips if the leisure batteries are in good condition I would expect 3 nights minimum.
Hope this helps expect others will be along soon to help with the other questions.
Regards Kelvin

 

[WelshGas]

Hello everyone, my name is Mimmo. I live in Turin, Italy, and I’m writing using an online translator, so I apologize for any mistakes in my English.

I’m very happy to be a new member of this group.

Two months ago I bought a 2012 Volkswagen California T5.2 with the 180 HP BiTDI CFCA engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, and front-wheel drive. Since then, I’ve already built a sliding rear storage drawer in the luggage compartment and installed an external shower connection with both hot and cold water mixer control.

For the hot water system, I installed a small 9-liter boiler with a 200 W / 12 V heating element. I placed it in the lower compartment of the kitchen cabinet under the sink. Everything is working perfectly so far.

Unfortunately, I do not have the owner’s manual in Italian, so I’m trying to understand the most important information from the German version.

I would like to ask a few questions:

1. Is it possible to find an Italian owner’s manual for this vehicle, preferably as a digital file rather than a printed copy?
2. When connected to external 230 V shore power, does the onboard charger also charge the starter battery, or only the leisure batteries?
3. Where is the onboard battery charger located?
4. The 230 V / 150 W socket on the left wall behind the passenger seat:
   • Is it powered by a 12 V DC to 230 V AC inverter?
   • Is it a pure sine wave inverter, and is it safe for charging laptops and other electronic devices?
   • Where is the inverter located?
   • I measured the voltage at this outlet with a voltmeter and it showed about 198 V instead of 230 V. Does anyone know why?
5. Could someone provide the electrical wiring diagrams, especially the fuse locations and the body channels/routing used for the electrical and electronic wiring harnesses?
6. Does the original charging system work reliably and efficiently?
7. What is the typical battery autonomy for running the refrigerator before recharging is needed?
8. The van currently has two newly installed 80 Ah AGM batteries. I would like to replace them with a single 150 Ah lithium battery (NDS Tempra).
   I understand that I would need to install a DC-DC charger between the alternator and the lithium battery, while keeping the original charger because the lithium battery I chose has a BMS that can also accept lead-acid charging profiles.
   Has anyone already done this conversion? I would really appreciate any advice or recommendations.

Thank you very much!

1. This is the English site for Digital vehicle handbooks. I'm sure there is an Italian version.

Find Your Volkswagen Owner's Manual | Volkswagen UK

Find the right owner’s manual for your car quickly and easily. Simply enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and we’ll take care of the rest.

www.volkswagen.co.uk

2. Not by design but on the T5.1/T6 there is a trickle charge to the engine battery ONCE the leisure batteries are fully charged.
To check if yours does plug the vehicle EHU into the mains. Charge for 24hrs then check the starter battery voltage. If greater than 13v its being charged.

3. The onboard charger was below the fridge but about 2012 it was moved to the rear wardrobe above rear leisure battery.

4. The inverter is powered from leisure batteries. It is a 150w inverter, NOT pure sine wave. The inverter is integral with the socket.

5. See below for pdf of California specific handbook.

6. The built in charger and leisure system are reliable.

7. Fully charged the leisure batteries can power fridge for 3-4 days and fridge+ parking heater 2+ days depending on settings and temperature.

8. Members have installed lithium batteries. Use the Search function for relevant posts.

 

[Alexlex85]

Hello and welcome Mimmo,

Please find attached an English manual.
Perhaps some of our italian members can help you with an italian version.
I suggest you use chatgpt for translating


I see you have a CFCA engine. Without sounding like a broken record in this forum, I hope yo are aware of the common issues they suffer with the EGR cooler resulting in increased oil consumption and in need of a replacement engine.


When connected to external 230 V shore power, does the onboard charger also charge the starter battery, or only the leisure batteries?
On electric hook up it charges both leisure batteries and starter battery

Where is the onboard battery charger located?
One in the cupboard accessible from the back on the left hand side and a second one under the drivers seat(considering the driver is on the left hand side of the car being an italian car).

 

[WelshGas]

Hello and welcome Mimmo,

Please find attached an English manual.
Perhaps some of our italian members can help you with an italian version.
I suggest you use chatgpt for translating


I see you have a CFCA engine. Without sounding like a broken record in this forum, I hope yo are aware of the common issues they suffer with the EGR cooler resulting in increased oil consumption and in need of a replacement engine.


When connected to external 230 V shore power, does the onboard charger also charge the starter battery, or only the leisure batteries?
On electric hook up it charges both leisure batteries and starter battery

Where is the onboard battery charger located?
One in the cupboard accessible from the back on the left hand side and a second one under the drivers seat(considering the driver is on the left hand side of the car being an italian car).

Are you referring to the Split Charge relay as the “ second “ battery charger?

 

[Alexlex85]

Are you referring to the Split Charge relay as the “ second “ battery charger?

reading back now I thought the OP was asking about battery location.

 

[Mimmo]

Welcome Mimmo, I am sure you will find answers to all your questions on this very knowledgeable forum.
I will try to answer some of the easy questions from my knowledge or running a 2010 California SE similar to yours.
2) The answer is yes but it but it appears to be an unintentional result of the electrical layout - once the leisure batteries are topped up it will trickle down to the starter battery.
3) Probably under the fridge, you can see it through the round inspection hatch in the side of the kitchen cupboard, on later models I believe it was moved to above the rear leisure battery in the bottom of the wardrobe.
6) Yes in my experience of 8 years of ownership and 500+ nights camping in our van.
7) Over both Summer and Winter trips if the leisure batteries are in good condition I would expect 3 nights minimum.
Hope this helps expect others will be along soon to help with the other questions.
Regards Kelvin

Thank you very much

 

[Mimmo]

Welcome Mimmo, I am sure you will find answers to all your questions on this very knowledgeable forum.
I will try to answer some of the easy questions from my knowledge or running a 2010 California SE similar to yours.
2) The answer is yes but it but it appears to be an unintentional result of the electrical layout - once the leisure batteries are topped up it will trickle down to the starter battery.
3) Probably under the fridge, you can see it through the round inspection hatch in the side of the kitchen cupboard, on later models I believe it was moved to above the rear leisure battery in the bottom of the wardrobe.
6) Yes in my experience of 8 years of ownership and 500+ nights camping in our van.
7) Over both Summer and Winter trips if the leisure batteries are in good condition I would expect 3 nights minimum.
Hope this helps expect others will be along soon to help with the other questions.
Regards Kelvin

Thank you very much

 

[Mimmo]

Hello and welcome Mimmo,

Please find attached an English manual.
Perhaps some of our italian members can help you with an italian version.
I suggest you use chatgpt for translating


I see you have a CFCA engine. Without sounding like a broken record in this forum, I hope yo are aware of the common issues they suffer with the EGR cooler resulting in increased oil consumption and in need of a replacement engine.


When connected to external 230 V shore power, does the onboard charger also charge the starter battery, or only the leisure batteries?
On electric hook up it charges both leisure batteries and starter battery

Where is the onboard battery charger located?
One in the cupboard accessible from the back on the left hand side and a second one under the drivers seat(considering the driver is on the left hand side of the car being an italian car).

Thanks for the information. Could you tell me more about the problems I'm having with the EGR cooler, and what remedies I should take to prevent them? Currently, there are no problems and no warning lights are on.
Thanks