Vehicle Battery Not Charging on EHU – 2020 VW California Ocean T6.1 4Motion

[DeclanW]

I’m hoping someone might be able to shed some light on an issue I’m having with my 2020 VW California T6.1 4Motion.

When connected to electric hook-up (EHU), the leisure batteries are charging normally, and the overhead display shows the “EHU connected” icon as expected. However, the vehicle battery is not being charged — even after extended periods on hook-up.

Has anyone experienced this before on a T6.1?

I’d really appreciate any suggestions on:

• What might be causing this issue
• Things I could check or try to help identify the root cause
• Whether this is something that needs dealer diagnostics or can be resolved independently

Having read related issues on this forum, I have checked all fuses, including the 100A fuses in Fuse box A beneath the vehicle battery and cannot see any issues. There is mention of an 80A fuse near the split charge relay beneath the passenger seat but I cannot find/locate it?

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice!

Cheers,
Declan

 

[Robbiemanso]

The vehicle battery does not charge when on electric hook up, only when engine is running. Hook up only charges the leisure batteries. The split charge relay allows all batteries to charge when engine is running only.
Hope this helps!

 

[DeclanW]

Hi Robbie, thanks for your reply. This was indeed the initial response from my dealership when I spoke to them. This seemed to be contradicted by my T6.1 California manual together with some technical documents and posts on this forum. I therefore contacted VW Customer services and their technical department confirmed that the vehicle battery should be charged while on EHU. I appreciate that this will not be true for all versions of the California. In fact, I think there was a poll recently trying to establish which versions supported charging of the Vehicle battery while on EHU. Of course I am happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Please give us more detail why you think vehicle battery is not charged when on EHU.How did you measure, after how long waiting ?
It will only charge vehicle battery after leisure batteries at 100% and with low current of 1or 2 amps.

 

[DeclanW]

I measured the vehicle battery voltage, using an multimeter, over a period of two days. Prior to connecting the EHU, the Vehicle battery was showing 12.7V and the Leisure battery was 13V ( measuring the battery under the passenger seat). Having connected the EHU and monitored the vehicle battery voltage over the two days and it was showing between 12.7V and 12.5V.

I presumed that I would expect to see this climb to over 13V during this time? Is this a reasonable assumption?

Should I expect to see a spike in voltage at the vehicle battery even when only receiving a trickle charge or 1A or 2A?

Having initially connected the EHU, the Leisure battery was showing 14V (measured 30 minutes after hooking-up)

The only draw on the vehicle battery during this period, as far as I am aware, would have been locking/unlocking the vehicle and opening/closing the drivers door.

Hope that this helps.

 

[WelshGas]

I measured the vehicle battery voltage, using an multimeter, over a period of two days. Prior to connecting the EHU, the Vehicle battery was showing 12.7V and the Leisure battery was 13V ( measuring the battery under the passenger seat). Having connected the EHU and monitored the vehicle battery voltage over the two days and it was showing between 12.7V and 12.5V.

I presumed that I would expect to see this climb to over 13V during this time? Is this a reasonable assumption?

Should I expect to see a spike in voltage at the vehicle battery even when only receiving a trickle charge or 1A or 2A?

Having initially connected the EHU, the Leisure battery was showing 14V (measured 30 minutes after hooking-up)

The only draw on the vehicle battery during this period, as far as I am aware, would have been locking/unlocking the vehicle and opening/closing the drivers door.

Hope that this helps.

Until the Leisure Battery voltage, on EHU drops to Float charge , 13.4 v or thereabouts then the Leisure Batteries are being charged and the Starter battery will not be charged.
You need to wait longer until the Leisure battery voltage drops and then check the Starter battery.

 

[DeclanW]

Many thanks WelshGas, much appreciated. Will do that and let you know how I get on.

 

[sidepod]

Would such an “intelligent “ vehicle not prioritise starter battery if it was discharged?

 

[WelshGas]

Would such an “intelligent “ vehicle not prioritise starter battery if it was discharged?

No.
Even previous versions would not charge a flat engine battery . You would need to charge it specifically.
On my T5.1 the engine battery voltage, on EHU, never rose above 13.4v even after 72hrs on EHU, and didn't start rising until the Leisure Batteries charging voltage dropped to Float charge of 13.4 v.

 

[sidepod]

Just for the absence of any doubt.
With/without hook-up. After a couple of hundred miles last weekend, no max charge used.