Tonio44
Hi all!
We have made our first cold weather trip with our 2007 Cali. During that trip several problems occurred in a puzzling way (to me).
First we made a stop at family member's place. So the van was parked on a flat surface, outside and with only the fridge on. We were not leaving or sleeping in it. After a day we realised that the fridge was not cold, actually warmer than outside, even if the console and button light indicated it was on. I didn't note the battery status but it was draining quite significantly. (nothing was plugged in and it was locked). It was Christmas time so we just put ice packs in the fridge and left for our next destination.
We drove 350 kms and parked the van for 3 days with 100% battery displayed. Console off, nothing plugged in.
After 3 days it was -1.5°C when I started the van. Console indicated low battery (again didn't pay too much attention cause I guessed it was cold related) and that went up after some time running the engine. I put the fridge on with cold stuff in and then parked the van for the day. In the evening the fridge was obviously not making any cold, although due to the fresh external temp, that was hard to tell.
We then drove 40 kms to a remote camp site where we set camp in the dark (unfortunately we were late with 2 tired and hungry kids). So I open the roof with the engine on, no problem. I put the parking heater on 1. We eat and it was so cold and windy outside that we decide to all sleep downstairs and close the top. I proceed to do it carefully, again with the engine on. We only open a side window because the kids are lightly dressed at this point. I have my head in the opening and check that everything goes down nicely inside as usual. I always keep the button pushed until the motors stop by themselves. No problem (I thought).
We proceed to go to sleep in our sleeping bags. It starts good, I have a full tank, battery was indicating 100% charge on arrival. Was probably at 80% at the point with many lights used while setting up camp. But the heater stopped during the night, I would say a couple hours after that. I tried to restart the heater several times and it would start, blow the usual cold air at first but stop after a few minutes before hot air could arrive. We woke up in a very cold and damp van, fortunately the sun was out.
That is when I wen't out and realised the pop-up top was not fully closed on the left hand side (driver side for us). It was 5 cm above the roof, very symetrical from front to back. The mechanism was clear and I could open the top and close it again perfectly. No apparent damage to anything. What a relief!
I have to add that from the beginning our outside temperature sensor doesn't work. I only just discovered thanks to you guys the hidden menu and I have errors 6000 - 6001. I wonder if that could be linked ?
So we drove 300 kms back and I left the van sitting for 3 days, console off, and the battery was still 100% charged. I put the fridge on and it works although it seems to not keep the right temperature. For instance set to 3°C the compressor starts when my thermometer indicates 10°C inside (in the panier) and stops at 6°C...
The heater seems to be working fine... all that on battery without being charged...
I am puzzled and not being to able to count on the fridge and heater is a big problem. Any idea ? Could it be the famous earth shunt problem ?
Any help is appreciated!
We have made our first cold weather trip with our 2007 Cali. During that trip several problems occurred in a puzzling way (to me).
First we made a stop at family member's place. So the van was parked on a flat surface, outside and with only the fridge on. We were not leaving or sleeping in it. After a day we realised that the fridge was not cold, actually warmer than outside, even if the console and button light indicated it was on. I didn't note the battery status but it was draining quite significantly. (nothing was plugged in and it was locked). It was Christmas time so we just put ice packs in the fridge and left for our next destination.
We drove 350 kms and parked the van for 3 days with 100% battery displayed. Console off, nothing plugged in.
After 3 days it was -1.5°C when I started the van. Console indicated low battery (again didn't pay too much attention cause I guessed it was cold related) and that went up after some time running the engine. I put the fridge on with cold stuff in and then parked the van for the day. In the evening the fridge was obviously not making any cold, although due to the fresh external temp, that was hard to tell.
We then drove 40 kms to a remote camp site where we set camp in the dark (unfortunately we were late with 2 tired and hungry kids). So I open the roof with the engine on, no problem. I put the parking heater on 1. We eat and it was so cold and windy outside that we decide to all sleep downstairs and close the top. I proceed to do it carefully, again with the engine on. We only open a side window because the kids are lightly dressed at this point. I have my head in the opening and check that everything goes down nicely inside as usual. I always keep the button pushed until the motors stop by themselves. No problem (I thought).
We proceed to go to sleep in our sleeping bags. It starts good, I have a full tank, battery was indicating 100% charge on arrival. Was probably at 80% at the point with many lights used while setting up camp. But the heater stopped during the night, I would say a couple hours after that. I tried to restart the heater several times and it would start, blow the usual cold air at first but stop after a few minutes before hot air could arrive. We woke up in a very cold and damp van, fortunately the sun was out.
That is when I wen't out and realised the pop-up top was not fully closed on the left hand side (driver side for us). It was 5 cm above the roof, very symetrical from front to back. The mechanism was clear and I could open the top and close it again perfectly. No apparent damage to anything. What a relief!
I have to add that from the beginning our outside temperature sensor doesn't work. I only just discovered thanks to you guys the hidden menu and I have errors 6000 - 6001. I wonder if that could be linked ?
So we drove 300 kms back and I left the van sitting for 3 days, console off, and the battery was still 100% charged. I put the fridge on and it works although it seems to not keep the right temperature. For instance set to 3°C the compressor starts when my thermometer indicates 10°C inside (in the panier) and stops at 6°C...
The heater seems to be working fine... all that on battery without being charged...
I am puzzled and not being to able to count on the fridge and heater is a big problem. Any idea ? Could it be the famous earth shunt problem ?
Any help is appreciated!
