California T7 Ocean – “12V battery discharged, please start engine” message every time, even with a fully charged battery

[kutta]

Hi all,


On my California T7 Ocean (2.0 TDI, 150 PS, 2025), the message “12V battery discharged – please start the engine” shows up every time I switch on the ignition, before starting the engine. It even happens after 5 hours of motorway driving, when the battery has been fully recharged.


VW says it’s not a problem and that I should just ignore it.


Could other T7 owners check whether they have the same issue, with this quick test (30 seconds)?

1. Switch on the ignition without starting the engine.
2. Watch the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel (not the central screen) for about 30 seconds. The message only shows for a few seconds.

A reply from owners of the same van who do NOT get this message would help me most. It would show VW that identical vehicles don’t do this, so it is a fault.


A “yes, mine does it too” is of course helpful as well.


Thanks, and greetings from France,
Dominique

 

[Parvus]

Hi Dominique,

I receive these messages, but feel informational and a warning the ignition is on and the impact to the battery. In my scenarios I think this is accurate, normal and working as expected.

As an example, I might experience this if I get in the van and my kids might press the power on for the console to light up CarPlay and I'm still arriving or packing something. So the ignition is 'on' but the engine has not started, so the warning arrives - I then get in and start the engine minutes later so no issue.

Likewise, when I stop the car but do not open the door the console remains on, maybe CarPlay or Audio is active. I might receive the message the battery is being used until I open the door and the lock the car for the system to enter standby.

Maybe slightly different to your experience is I DO NOT experience this every time I access the van, but only in scenarios when I might have the Infotainment active and no engine or EHU on.

Is there anything plugged in somewhere which could be holding an active connection (e.g. Phone or Bluetooth, or chargers?)

Hope this helps.
Matt

 

[kutta]

Hi Matt !
Thanks for your message! In my case, I always get the message after about 30 seconds, with nothing drawing power except the van itself.


So if I understand you correctly, you do not get this message after 30 seconds when nothing “extra” is drawing power. Is that right?

 

[Malc24]

Mine says ‘12v battery is being discharged’ ( not that it is discharged) after about 30 seconds without starting the engine or switching anything else on. It seems a bit premature but perhaps it is a good reminder to avoid leaving the ignition on and subsequently draining the battery by operating things in the van which have a high power demand.

 

[Parvus]

Hi Matt !
Thanks for your message! In my case, I always get the message after about 30 seconds, with nothing drawing power except the van itself.


So if I understand you correctly, you do not get this message after 30 seconds when nothing “extra” is drawing power. Is that right?

Hi,

In my case I’m starting the engine within 30 secs so not seeing this message very often.

I think if this message appears consistently and after 30 seconds, seems by design and normal.

 

[Chriskend]

Mine does it, it’s just informational. Also warns me when raising the roof without the engine running.

 

[stoobthealien]

Likewise - it's just a warning that running the ignition while not having the engine on is discharging the battery - seems a bit OTT!