Leisure Battery Charging. Riddle me this...

[Richp]

2012 SE California.
Leisure batteries both new.
Leisure batteries charge on EHU
They don't charge when van driven.
Van is not a bluemotion.
Central control panel does show the G in circle when being driven.
Obvious place to check first is the Split Charge Relay.
I've done some testing with a meter, and the split charge relay appears to works.
The engine battery is only showing 12.4v despite a 700 mile drive last week, so low?
The engine battery charge increases to 13.6V with engine running, so I deduce the alternator is working.
With engine off. The input to the relay from the engine battery is showing 12.4V.
The output, to the leisure batteries is showing the same, 12.4V.
With the engine running, the input to the relay doesn't change, it remains at 12.4V, it doesn't increase to the 13.6V the engine battery is showing (with alternator) which you would expect?
So the leisure batteries are not being charged when the engine is running.
They do charge on EHU.
I'm at a loss to work out what's going on, so really appreciate any assistance.
All I can think is that the engine battery is not achieving sufficient charge for the power to divert to the leisure batteries. Is there a smart module between the engine battery and leisure battery relay which stops any charge divert unless the engine battery is optimised for charge?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[VW Guru]

Hi does the voltage change on the input wire to the split charge relay from the main battery with the engine running ? If it does but the output wire to the leisure battery’s is still at 12 volts or less then your relay has had it. If the voltage at the input wire does not change engine running then the fuse in the electrics box under the battery has blown.

 

[Richp]

The voltage at the input wire does not change when the engine is running. So that means the fuse in the electrics box has blown then? Can you point me in the direction of that fuse please?

 

[VW Guru]

The voltage at the input wire does not change when the engine is running. So that means the fuse in the electrics box has blown then? Can you point me in the direction of that fuse please?

Hi yes the fuses are well hidden so I hope your handy with a ratchet sockets and a screwdriver. The fuses are in the EBox under the battery so you need to remove the battery, the battery tray and the top of the ebox cover held in with approx ten screws, un clip the small fuse box from inside the front right of the cover and lift the cover off. Under that you will find a mass of wires and the main battery fuse box with ten strip fuses in it. I cannot remember the number for the fuses but they are clear so it will be obvious. I can give you the exact fuse number and amperage tomorrow when I’m back at work if you want to order a fuse before you take it all apart.

 

[Richp]

Thank you very much.
I'll wait for you to give me the fuse number info.
Idiot question, but I assume the fuse box is under the engine battery, not leisure?

 

[Richp]

I have a sizeable fuse box also under the ashtray pull out on the dashboard, is that a different one? Or fingers crossed, on my model is it the same box but in a more accessable place?

 

[VW Guru]

Nope it’s definitely under the battery in the ebox on all transporter based models

 

[VW Guru]

Oh and yes sorry it’s under the engine battery.

 

[WelshGas]

I have a sizeable fuse box also under the ashtray pull out on the dashboard, is that a different one? Or fingers crossed, on my model is it the same box but in a more accessable place?

This is the location of the Fuse Box. Ignore first 20 secs or so of the video.

 

[Loz]

100A midi fuse

 

[Richp]

Thanks guys for your help. VWGuru, if you can give me the fuse details today I'll chase that down Thanks

 

[Loz]

Thanks guys for your help. VWGuru, if you can give me the fuse details today I'll chase that down Thanks

I just did on the previous post...

 

[Loz]

The voltage at the input wire does not change when the engine is running. So that means the fuse in the electrics box has blown then? Can you point me in the direction of that fuse please?

only blown if there is no volts when the engine is stopped and the relay open.

 

[Richp]

When the relay is open and engine stopped, meter reads 12.4V, but that could be the back charge from the leisure battery, so will take a read with the leisure battery disconnected, and can I assume if there is no read then, that the fuse has gone?

 

[Loz]

When the relay is open and engine stopped, meter reads 12.4V, but that could be the back charge from the leisure battery, so will take a read with the leisure battery disconnected, and can I assume if there is no read then, that the fuse has gone?

no, with the engine stopped the relay should be open and the leisure batteries disconnected. So if there is power on both sides of the relay the main fuse is good.

 

[Richp]

Currently, with the engine stopped, I get a reading of 12.4V on both sides of the relay, with the leisure battery connected.
With the engine running, I get 13.6V at the engine battery, but no increase on the input to the trip, it still shows the 12.4V? Confused by this.

 

[Richp]

So is it possible that the fuse has gone, and the reading on the leisure battery is a back feed from the leisure battery, which is why it never changes?

 

[Loz]

There are 3 fuses; the 100A under the starter battery then another under the seat and a third on the rear battery post.
Does this help?

 

[Richp]

There are 3 fuses; the 100A under the starter battery then another under the seat and a third on the rear battery post.
Does this help?
View attachment 48449

This really helps thanks

 

[Richp]

Thanks everyone, it was the 100A fuse under the engine Battery blown. All sorted now. Your help is much appreciated.

 

[MattBW]

Thanks for letting us know the resolution, great to hear its fixed and it is likely to help future members too! Great result.

 

[Burcu]

2012 SE California.
Leisure batteries both new.
Leisure batteries charge on EHU
They don't charge when van driven.
Van is not a bluemotion.
Central control panel does show the G in circle when being driven.
Obvious place to check first is the Split Charge Relay.
I've done some testing with a meter, and the split charge relay appears to works.
The engine battery is only showing 12.4v despite a 700 mile drive last week, so low?
The engine battery charge increases to 13.6V with engine running, so I deduce the alternator is working.
With engine off. The input to the relay from the engine battery is showing 12.4V.
The output, to the leisure batteries is showing the same, 12.4V.
With the engine running, the input to the relay doesn't change, it remains at 12.4V, it doesn't increase to the 13.6V the engine battery is showing (with alternator) which you would expect?
So the leisure batteries are not being charged when the engine is running.
They do charge on EHU.
I'm at a loss to work out what's going on, so really appreciate any assistance.
All I can think is that the engine battery is not achieving sufficient charge for the power to divert to the leisure batteries. Is there a smart module between the engine battery and leisure battery relay which stops any charge divert unless the engine battery is optimised for charge?
Thanks for any advice.

Hello, I am having a very similar problem. I have a T6 Ocean registered April 2019.

I am having multiple problems with the battery, some* similar to yours listed below.
1) When hooked up it charges up to 12.7V maximum.
2)* After a 250 km drive it charges up to 12.4V maximum.
3) It does not hold the charge, drains to 12.2V or 12.1V after 1 day of wild camping.
4) It had extreme fluctuations and drained while driving although 'G' was displayed. The values on display would go to negative and the batteries got drained instead of charged after starting the motor or driving. e.g. 12.4V before starting the engine, 12.3V after starting the engine. The engine battery charge increases to 13.6V with engine running, so alternator was not the problem.

I am living in Belgium and I asked Group DeLorge in Hasselt to look into these problems. They told that the battery levels are normal (regarding issues 1, 2 and 3) and as long as they do not drop below 12.0V it would not be changed under guarantee. They also told fluctuations (regarding issue 4) are normal while driving and they did not even gave an appointment to check the issue.

After this, I contacted a specialist VW garage in Ghent named Van hoe & zonen. They accepted that the battery is not acting normal and looked into it for a month, even getting step by step help from Germany since it is a rare issue. Alternator and all batteries were checked. In the end they told they put a box below the passenger seat (which used to be present in T5 but not normally in T6) that separates the leisure batteries from the engine battery which seem to fixed the drain while driving issue (now it displays zero rather than negative values). They told even they are having trouble with VW to get the guarantee expenses covered because VW claims this is an edge case issue and is not related to fabrication. We really appreciated their help.

However my problems about the battery level are still there (issues 1, 2, 3) and they are not fixed. The battery is not charged to high levels and it does not hold the charge. Nothing compared to when we first bought it. This worry over battery has been ruining our recent trips.

I am in-between these options
1) Going after VW to get those issues fixed,
2) Get it fixed myself as long as it is under 500 EUR, or do not do any investment in leisure batteries since they are not reliable.
3) Get a separate portable solar generator and solar panel instead, something like Ecoflow River Pro to charge all our electronic appliances, since the VW battery performance is this low. This will cost me around 1000 EUR.

I wanted to ask you what would you choose to do.
How did you exactly fix it, was it an easy fix?
I am not knowledgeable with electronics, so I wanted to get your opinion.

 

[Perfectos]

Hi I had very similar issues on a 2018 Beach.
Starter battery was not holding charge and failed to start the van on several occasion.
initially dealer checked the battery, said there was no issue with the battery, despite it being 12.2v after two hours driving!

long story short, I contacted the dealer after sales manager, explained the situation fully.
van went back in to have a full factory hook up diagnostics check.

outcome:
“Battery fault, defect identified with earth strap, replaced strap and battery, carried out basic settings and adaptions“

approx 8 months later the alternator failed !

all replaced under warranty,

 

[WelshGas]

Hello, I am having a very similar problem. I have a T6 Ocean registered April 2019.

I am having multiple problems with the battery, some* similar to yours listed below.
1) When hooked up it charges up to 12.7V maximum.
2)* After a 250 km drive it charges up to 12.4V maximum.
3) It does not hold the charge, drains to 12.2V or 12.1V after 1 day of wild camping.
4) It had extreme fluctuations and drained while driving although 'G' was displayed. The values on display would go to negative and the batteries got drained instead of charged after starting the motor or driving. e.g. 12.4V before starting the engine, 12.3V after starting the engine. The engine battery charge increases to 13.6V with engine running, so alternator was not the problem.

I am living in Belgium and I asked Group DeLorge in Hasselt to look into these problems. They told that the battery levels are normal (regarding issues 1, 2 and 3) and as long as they do not drop below 12.0V it would not be changed under guarantee. They also told fluctuations (regarding issue 4) are normal while driving and they did not even gave an appointment to check the issue.

After this, I contacted a specialist VW garage in Ghent named Van hoe & zonen. They accepted that the battery is not acting normal and looked into it for a month, even getting step by step help from Germany since it is a rare issue. Alternator and all batteries were checked. In the end they told they put a box below the passenger seat (which used to be present in T5 but not normally in T6) that separates the leisure batteries from the engine battery which seem to fixed the drain while driving issue (now it displays zero rather than negative values). They told even they are having trouble with VW to get the guarantee expenses covered because VW claims this is an edge case issue and is not related to fabrication. We really appreciated their help.

However my problems about the battery level are still there (issues 1, 2, 3) and they are not fixed. The battery is not charged to high levels and it does not hold the charge. Nothing compared to when we first bought it. This worry over battery has been ruining our recent trips.

I am in-between these options
1) Going after VW to get those issues fixed,
2) Get it fixed myself as long as it is under 500 EUR, or do not do any investment in leisure batteries since they are not reliable.
3) Get a separate portable solar generator and solar panel instead, something like Ecoflow River Pro to charge all our electronic appliances, since the VW battery performance is this low. This will cost me around 1000 EUR.

I wanted to ask you what would you choose to do.
How did you exactly fix it, was it an easy fix?
I am not knowledgeable with electronics, so I wanted to get your opinion.

Firstly a little more information.
Was the vehicle a new order or a demonstration vehicle when purchased?
What items are you running off the Leisure battery when wildcamping? A VW Coolbox or a compressor fridge or anything else?
I'm not sure if you realise but because of the smart alternator/regenerative Braking and Stop Start then the engine battery and Leisure Battery will normally not be charged to more than 80% capacity by the engine alternator whilst driving. This is normal but can be bypassed by switching on the headlights.
Also, for the above reason, that is why VW recommend plugging into Mains to fully charge the Leisure battery on a monthly basis as stated in the Handbook.
The variable voltages you see on driving are due to the actions of regenerative Braking, Stop Start and the smart charging system.

 

[TwistyA]

Firstly a little more information.
Was the vehicle a new order or a demonstration vehicle when purchased?
What items are you running off the Leisure battery when wildcamping? A VW Coolbox or a compressor fridge or anything else?
I'm not sure if you realise but because of the smart alternator/regenerative Braking and Stop Start then the engine battery and Leisure Battery will normally not be charged to more than 80% capacity by the engine alternator whilst driving. This is normal but can be bypassed by switching on the headlights.
Also, for the above reason, that is why VW recommend plugging into Mains to fully charge the Leisure battery on a monthly basis as stated in the Handbook.
The variable voltages you see on driving are due to the actions of regenerative Braking, Stop Start and the smart charging system.

Hi. I am having a similar problem on my 2017 Ocean. The battery charges fully off the electric hook up, however when driving only reaches 40%. I'm about to go in holiday and won't have a hook up so any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks