Battery management issues VW New California T7

[Rubinstein]

What voltage do the Leisure batteries show?
The % or hours left is just a calculation based on the Current Draw at that point in time. Just switching on the Control Panel screen will draw current which drops then the screen goes off.

13.3v on leisure
12.4v engine

 

[WelshGas]

13.3v on leisure
12.4v engine

According to those readings the Lithium Leisure Batteries are fully charged and the AGM engine battery is at 80% as is normal in modern vehicles as the SMART alternator charges the AGM to 80% to leave room for Regenerative braking power storage.

 

[Rubinstein]

According to those readings the Lithium Leisure Batteries are fully charged and the AGM engine battery is at 80% as is normal in modern vehicles as the SMART alternator charges the AGM to 80% to leave room for Regenerative braking power storage.
View attachment 139005

Such a pain it’s not easy to get to the starter battery. What I would have liked to have done is do a before and after draw test on the battery to see if the update had shut down background systems as it’s supposed too. That way I’d know straight away if it’s worked instead of having sit around for days not using the van.

 

[stationmaster]

This is giving me really bad vibes.
I need a vehicle that’s reliable.
Not filling the reliable vehicle tick box’s tbh.

Exactly my thoughts - i have agreed a deal to buy a T7 California, but reactant to commit as it will be my only vehicle and unreliable cars are no fun at all

 

[stationmaster]

We've decided to invoke our option to return the vehicle to the dealership under the 14 day cooling off period, after buying it remotely. Not sure if I actually want to send it back yet, lets see how this all transpires over the coming weeks, but it keeps our options open to do so if we want to.

Perfectly understandable. Hopefully things will work out well and you can keep the van - if not, your covered.

 

[Rubinstein]

Well, initial results on the update are VERY encouraging in my case. After being parked up from Wednesday lunchtime until this morning van is showing 13.3v on leisure and 12.6v on engine battery. Rear info screen shows this as 70% and 100% respectively, but as Welshgas says, it’s the voltage that’s important, not the graphic. So whatever was in the update has certainly made a difference to my van (2.0 diesel) as both batteries would have dropped significantly in that time before having it done. Leisure battery voltage has stayed the same over the period and engine battery is slightly higher by 0.3v. So that’s restored my confidence in it, I shall now be going full send walkabout. Obviously if your due to pick up, I’d insist on proof 27T7 update has been done. Happy van = happy man, or woman of course

 

[stationmaster]

Well, initial results on the update are VERY encouraging in my case. After being parked up from Wednesday lunchtime until this morning van is showing 13.3v on leisure and 12.6v on engine battery. Rear info screen shows this as 70% and 100% respectively, but as Welshgas says, it’s the voltage that’s important, not the graphic. So whatever was in the update has certainly made a difference to my van (2.0 diesel) as both batteries would have dropped significantly in that time before having it done. Leisure battery voltage has stayed the same over the period and engine battery is slightly higher by 0.3v. So that’s restored my confidence in it, I shall now be going full send walkabout. Obviously if your due to pick up, I’d insist on proof 27T7 update has been done. Happy van = happy man, or woman of course

Excellent news - thanks for the update

 

[Sacha1dog]

Apologies if this has been answered already up the thread, but when the VW emergency guy came out to our vehicle last week, he told me that if the batteries are depleted to empty, they have to be replaced, due to some internal relay I think he said.

Can anyone confirm if this is the case or not please?

 

[Woodstock25]

Apologies if this has been answered already up the thread, but when the VW emergency guy came out to our vehicle last week, he told me that if the batteries are depleted to empty, they have to be replaced, due to some internal relay I think he said.

Can anyone confirm if this is the case or not please?

I eventually picked up our new van yesterday after it threw up faults 1 hour before we were due to pick it up a month ago. Initial tests indicated that the batteries would discharged to zero in a matter of days.

So when they did the software update they were advised by by VW that if the batteries were depleted, they should change them as part of the update. That also complicated the update progress as the batteries are coded to the vehicle as well.

Glad to say we have now picked up our van, and (touch wood) everything is good!

 

[Sacha1dog]

I eventually picked up our new van yesterday after it threw up faults 1 hour before we were due to pick it up a month ago. Initial tests indicated that the batteries would discharged to zero in a matter of days.

So when they did the software update they were advised by by VW that if the batteries were depleted, they should change them as part of the update. That also complicated the update progress as the batteries are coded to the vehicle as well.

Glad to say we have now picked up our van, and (touch wood) everything is good!

Thank you, glad to hear you’ve finally got your van back!

I’m surprised that VW are still happily shipping these vehicles knowing that there is a serious issue with them. We picked ours up 2 weeks ago and they certainly knew at that point of the issues.

 

[sticky1]

What voltage do the Leisure batteries show?
The % or hours left is just a calculation based on the Current Draw at that point in time. Just switching on the Control Panel screen will draw current which drops then the screen goes off.

I agree the percentage shown doesn’t reflect the data I can see on the Victron MPPT, I don’t think the leisure batteries have a shunt, I think it calculates the capacity based on consumption. I regularly see the leisure batteries go from 80% to 100% in minutes when driving, which reflects what I see on the Victron.
The lowest I have seen the starter is 12.1v but it still spun the engine into life with no sign of reduced capacity.

 

[sticky1]

Such a pain it’s not easy to get to the starter battery. What I would have liked to have done is do a before and after draw test on the battery to see if the update had shut down background systems as it’s supposed too. That way I’d know straight away if it’s worked instead of having sit around for days not using the van.

When it is clear the process of getting to the starter battery I am going to put a Victron shunt on it.

 

[stationmaster]

I am wondering if all T7 Multivan Californias have an issue with battery drain? Do they all require the software update? Or are some being delivered/have been delivered to customers with no battery drain issues? Has anybody got one that is ok?

 

[Jerrywho]

According to those readings the Lithium Leisure Batteries are fully charged and the AGM engine battery is at 80% as is normal in modern vehicles as the SMART alternator charges the AGM to 80% to leave room for Regenerative braking power storage.
View attachment 139005

I went for 27T7 update last week; from that date on engine battery shows 80% which might be in accordance with your statement but never higher than that. On the other hand leisure battery can only be charged by hook up while upon some charge consumption (ex fridge) DOES NOT recharge while driving; I am really tired of the issue....this afternoon I will go to VW dealer and will ask for a definitive solution since I will be on vacation in a couple of days; even more, after several depletions to zero in both batteries they told me that batteries are ok!! A time came that I dont believe what I am told. I wil tell more tomorrow upon my visit

 

[Sacha1dog]

VW dealership called to say the various software updates have been installed, and the HV battery is now charging.. I pointed out that the issue isn't with the HV battery! its the 12 V battery. they said its been charged and should now be OK. pointed out that this is the whole point, but i get the impression they don't have much of a clue of the issues discussed in this thread.

I'm going to collect it and leave it on the drive and see what happens.

 

[Rubinstein]

VW dealership called to say the various software updates have been installed, and the HV battery is now charging.. I pointed out that the issue isn't with the HV battery! its the 12 V battery. they said its been charged and should now be OK. pointed out that this is the whole point, but i get the impression they don't have much of a clue of the issues discussed in this thread.

I'm going to collect it and leave it on the drive and see what happens.

Did they name the 27T7 update as one of the “various” ones ?
I’d ask them to be more specific. I was given warranty paperwork to show what had been done, it shows 27T7 has been installed

 

[stationmaster]

I am wondering if all T7 Multivan Californias have an issue with battery drain? Do they all require the software update? Or are some being delivered/have been delivered to customers with no battery drain issues? Has anybody got one that is ok?

I have not taken delivery of my T7. Th supplying dealership says that the vehicle I am buying does not require any updates - that all is fine. Maybe just a few vehicles have an issue?

 

[Sacha1dog]

Did they name the 27T7 update as one of the “various” ones ?
I’d ask them to be more specific. I was given warranty paperwork to show what had been done, it shows 27T7 has been installed

They have not installed any software updates, I asked specifically. They say the VW system is not suggesting my van needs any. ‍

 

[Rubinstein]

They have not installed any software updates, I asked specifically. They say the VW system is not suggesting my van needs any. ‍

“VW dealership called to say the various software updates have been installed”

From your previous post ?

 

[Sacha1dog]

“VW dealership called to say the various software updates have been installed”

From your previous post ?

You are correct, that is what he said on the phone. However when I arrived at the site, both the guy from the phone call and his service manager was there. I asked specifically if update 27T7 had been installed, and they said actually no, there were no updates installed, because there are no recalls or updates due on the vehicle. He said that he meant that various tweaks in the settings were made to improve the charging for the HV battery.

I get the strong feeling that they don't know what they are talking about. The VW dealer who I bought the vehicle form is around 80 miles away, whilst the VW dealership that I was taken to by the VW Emergency guy is my local one, that doesn't sell Cali's, it only sells vans. Whilst that shouldn't maybe make a difference in theory, I think it might do in practice.

I will leave the vehicle on my drive in the coming days. if the battery drops significantly, I am going to take it back to the selling dealer and leave it with them.

I checked on the screen in the rear compartment when I got home, the 12V battery was at 70% charge and showing 3 AMP's being drawn whilst parked up.

 

[Rubinstein]

You are correct, that is what he said on the phone. However when I arrived at the site, both the guy from the phone call and his service manager was there. I asked specifically if update 27T7 had been installed, and they said actually no, there were no updates installed, because there are no recalls or updates due on the vehicle. He said that he meant that various tweaks in the settings were made to improve the charging for the HV battery.

I get the strong feeling that they don't know what they are talking about. The VW dealer who I bought the vehicle form is around 80 miles away, whilst the VW dealership that I was taken to by the VW Emergency guy is my local one, that doesn't sell Cali's, it only sells vans. Whilst that shouldn't maybe make a difference in theory, I think it might do in practice.

I will leave the vehicle on my drive in the coming days. if the battery drops significantly, I am going to take it back to the selling dealer and leave it with them.

I checked on the screen in the rear compartment when I got home, the 12V battery was at 70% charge and showing 3 AMP's being drawn whilst parked up.

Gotcha, thanks for clarifying. Only thing I’d say is make a note of the battery voltage, not the percentage, it’s more accurate. Also the 3 amp draw is there because the screen has been activated, I believe it drops when it goes to sleep. After my update, which cured the drain, when I activate the screen it still shows 2amp draw.

 

[burton61]

If there is a belief that not all T7 cali's have the battery problems I wonder if it is related to a build date or even a build location. I saw somewhere in the online manual that the chassis number for each vehicle captures both of those. So It might be worth comparing notes on build dates and build locations. i.e. not the whole chassis number

 

[burton61]

 

[burton61]

found it per my cut and paste above but build date is just a year date so not so specific.
However the build location has 3 options...maybe just clutching at straws!!

 

[stationmaster]

If there is a belief that not all T7 cali's have the battery problems I wonder if it is related to a build date or even a build location. I saw somewhere in the online manual that the chassis number for each vehicle captures both of those. So It might be worth comparing notes on build dates and build locations. i.e. not the whole chassis number

I have asked a couple of dealerships how widespread the battery drain issues are, and I'm not certain their answers helped me understand the situation any better!

For people that are waiting on the delivery of their new vans this must be a big concern. I know it is for me.