Help! What’s wrong?

Lambeth Cali · Mar 14, 2021

Help!

The generator symbol keeps flashing with G and then back to plug symbol. It keeps chiming and flashing roof open. It’s not.
I think I have a flat leisure battery. I’ve parked up on drive and put on charge. I’ve owned it 12 yrs and it’s never made a single sound. But this is a new unit.

GrannyJen · Mar 14, 2021

Mine went nuts like that on my previous Cali.

I can't remember now what I did, finally I was to turn the unit off, leave it overnight, then back on again and it sorted itself.

Apparently it had something to do with the batteries being disconnected. Being totally useless at anything mechanical or electrical I just thanked the higher power that I was praying to at the time :shocked

WelshGas · Mar 14, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
Help!
View attachment 75105
The generator symbol keeps flashing with G and then back to plug symbol. It keeps chiming and flashing roof open. It’s not.
I think I have a flat leisure battery. I’ve parked up on drive and put on charge. I’ve owned it 12 yrs and it’s never made a single sound. But this is a new unit.

Check Control Panel Diagnostics.

Control Panel Off and wait 30 secs

Control Panel On

Press and Hold R lower button and then press Control Knob for 5 secs.

New Hidden Menu . Scroll to VW Diagnostics.

If there are any codes shown, take note and then Reset/Clear.

Return to Main Menu.

Switch Off Control Panel using L lower button. Wait 30 secs and Switch On.

Try Roof/Heater or Fridge

Also make sure the Leisure Batteries are charged.
By the way, you should have 2 x Leisure Batteries, unless the 50 amp Cube Fuse on the Rear, under wardrobe, Leisure Battery has failed.

AlisonF · Mar 14, 2021

I had that flashing G when my batteries has been drained when in for a warranty issue. Hopefully charging will help. A CTEK reconditioning kit may also be your friend with 12 year old batteries. Or just new batteries...

Lambeth Cali · Mar 15, 2021

Curious. Anyone know what this means?
I fitted wardrobe shelves on Friday and noticed that interior lights weren’t working so a very flat battery. All charges up now after overnight plug in.
I’m hoping all back to normal.

I think we’re back to normal now. Error cleared and roof raised and lowered and now showing as down.
I think the flat leisure battery got it confused. Does anyone know if that’s what Error 1000 means?

I’ve just read the thread on this.

Roof fault error message

Hi Thanks for the guidance. I get as far as step 5 and then it says error 1000 at the top. Underneath it says ERASE PRESS ESC 5S. Which is the escape button? Is 5S five times? Cheers Escape Button - Bottom R, and 5S is 5 seconds.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

I don’t want to go anywhere near a dealer. I don’t think they have a clue about Calis apart from the engine. Roof working fine at the moment. Time will tell.
I’ll give it its annual proper clean tomorrow and clear all the leaves away.

WelshGas · Mar 15, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
I’ve just read the thread on this.

Roof fault error message

Hi Thanks for the guidance. I get as far as step 5 and then it says error 1000 at the top. Underneath it says ERASE PRESS ESC 5S. Which is the escape button? Is 5S five times? Cheers Escape Button - Bottom R, and 5S is 5 seconds.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

I don’t want to go anywhere near a dealer. I don’t think they have a clue about Calis apart from the engine. Roof working fine at the moment. Time will tell.
I’ll give it its annual proper clean tomorrow and clear all the leaves away.

What voltage is the Control Panel showing for the Leisure Batteries?

Lambeth Cali · Mar 15, 2021

WelshGas said:
What voltage is the Control Panel showing for the Leisure Batteries?

I’ll look tomorrow. What should it be?
That would be on the main screen, yes? Not in the hidden menu?

westfalia · Mar 15, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
View attachment 75128
I think we’re back to normal now. Error cleared and roof raised and lowered and now showing as down.
I think the flat leisure battery got it confused. Does anyone know if that’s what Error 1000 means?

View attachment 75129

It looks like you have a timer set? I think that could be so that the heater
starts up at a certain time, or its an alarm set.

The No1 in the clock symbol.

2into1 · Mar 15, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
Does anyone know if that’s what Error 1000 means?

Based on another thread, the 1000 is an estimate of how much you've saved yourself by asking here rather than going to a VWC 'California Specialist' who would have replaced the panel for £800 plus vat.

Lambeth Cali · Mar 15, 2021

2into1 said:
Based on another thread, the 1000 is an estimate of how much you've saved yourself by asking here rather than going to a VWC 'California Specialist' who would have replaced the panel for £800 plus vat.

Oh it’s worse than that. THIS IS THE NEW PANEL!
I replaced it after summer, v expensive but at least sent from Germany and fitted myself. Actually I quite like it. It is better than the old one.

westfalia said:
It looks like you have a timer set? I think that could be so that the heater
starts up at a certain time, or its an alarm set.

The No1 in the clock symbol.

That would explain the flat battery if the heater was set to come on every day!
According to this it’s normal

control unit clock symbol

Just had new control unit fitted under warranty and 'clock and 1' symbol (see attached) in upper middle of display is confusing me. Listers who fitted the unit don't have any ideas. It isn't the heater programme as a different clock symbol appears when heater is programmed. Anyone out there know...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

It’s those crazy VW gfx guys.

WelshGas · Mar 15, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
I’ll look tomorrow. What should it be?
That would be on the main screen, yes? Not in the hidden menu?

You’ll have to change the Control Panel screen to show Battery voltage. Select Display and select Battery.

Lambeth Cali · Mar 16, 2021

WelshGas said:
You’ll have to change the Control Panel screen to show Battery voltage. Select Display and select Battery.

View attachment 75167

Plugged in 13.4v 0.2 A. Unplugged 12.9v 0.0A. Is that good? 13 year old battery, only really used to power fridge tbh.

WelshGas · Mar 16, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
View attachment 75177
Plugged in 13.4v 0.2 A. Unplugged 12.9v 0.0A. Is that good? 13 year old battery, only really used to power fridge tbh.View attachment 75178

12.9 is OK.
Now leave Off charge for a week. It should be 12.6 or more if the 2 Leisure Batteries are holding their charge with nothing switched on or anything plugged into 12v sockets.

Lambeth Cali · Mar 16, 2021

WelshGas said:
12.9 is OK.
Now leave Off charge for a week. It should be 12.6 or more if the 2 Leisure Batteries are holding their charge with nothing switched on or anything plugged into 12v sockets.

Thanks that’s very helpful.

andrew bazeley · Mar 21, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
Help!
View attachment 75105
The generator symbol keeps flashing with G and then back to plug symbol. It keeps chiming and flashing roof open. It’s not.
I think I have a flat leisure battery. I’ve parked up on drive and put on charge. I’ve owned it 12 yrs and it’s never made a single sound. But this is a new unit.

Just a thought: mine is 12 years old too. Last year I got the leisure batteries replaced with new ones, and the other day I also replaced the engine battery for the for the first time. Everything works really well now. Maybe you've done this already, in which case I can't help.

Lambeth Cali · Mar 21, 2021

andrew bazeley said:
Just a thought: mine is 12 years old too. Last year I got the leisure batteries replaced with new ones, and the other day I also replaced the engine battery for the for the first time. Everything works really well now. Maybe you've done this already, in which case I can't help.

The engine battery died last year and was replaced by the AA.
I’m waiting until Tuesday to see how much charge the leisure batteries hold.

westfalia · Mar 21, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
The engine battery died last year and was replaced by the AA.
I’m waiting until Tuesday to see how much charge the leisure batteries hold.

I regularly have mine on hook up charge, it hasn't been on charge
for a week and i did a 20 minute drive this morning.

Just had a look at what the battery level is and its looking
good. 15 yrs this June, original batteries.

flying banana · Mar 21, 2021

westfalia said:
I regularly have mine on hook up charge, it hasn't been on charge
for a week and i did a 20 minute drive this morning.

Just had a look at what the battery level is and its looking
good. 15 yrs this June, original batteries.

View attachment 75475

Who's dirty fingers have been turning on your control panel ?

westfalia · Mar 21, 2021

flying banana said:
Who's dirty fingers have been turning on your control panel ?

Thats on your screen, give it a wipe.

WelshGas · Mar 21, 2021

westfalia said:
Thats on your screen, give it a wipe.

On my screen as well. :happy

Lambeth Cali · Mar 21, 2021

As far as what VW recommend you do, I don't think I have treated my batteries well. The van sits unused August - June. It's not a daily driver and isn't on the drive, so I can't plug it in. We go for day trips in it a few times perhaps, maybe 100 miles or so. When we are camping its used for the fridge and lights only. On a two week holiday to say 5 sites, I'll hook up for 3. But they have worked brilliantly. I remember when I bought it from Campervansales in the handover they said the batteries 'like' being plugged in. Does plugging them in condition them a bit?
Anyway, on Tuesday I'll see if I will get another season out of them.

westfalia said:
I regularly have mine on hook up charge, it hasn't been on charge
for a week and i did a 20 minute drive this morning.

Just had a look at what the battery level is and its looking
good. 15 yrs this June, original batteries.

View attachment 75475

You replaced the control panel though, yes? Old one had black text?

Lambeth Cali · Mar 22, 2021

WelshGas said:
12.9 is OK.
Now leave Off charge for a week. It should be 12.6 or more if the 2 Leisure Batteries are holding their charge with nothing switched on or anything plugged into 12v sockets.

So after 6 days it showing 12.5v and 90%. That’s ok isn’t it? What do you think?
I think when camping unplugged with the fridge on I reckon we loose 10% a day. We often camped a whole week without needing to plug in. I would then plug in at the next site.

Of course the roof is showing up, which it isn’t. I’m starting to ignore the sensors. I can hear the roof locking when it shuts. I never take my finger off the button until the noise stops. I suppose some would think that was a risky thing to ignore.

GrannyJen · Mar 22, 2021

Lambeth Cali said:
So after 6 days it showing 12.5v and 90%. That’s ok isn’t it? What do you think?
I think when camping unplugged with the fridge on I reckon we loose 10% a day. We often camped a whole week without needing to plug in. I would then plug in at the next site.
View attachment 75551
Of course the roof is showing up, which it isn’t. I’m starting to ignore the sensors. I can hear the roof locking when it shuts. I never take my finger off the button until the noise stops. I suppose some would think that was a risky thing to ignore.

Try raising the roof and closing again. I've had that problem when I've been low on charge.