Multiple niggles to sort before big trip

[Nettie Osman]

Hi all, apologies as I am not at all technically or mechanically minded. Have been happily pootling around using electric hook up the last couple of summers but am touring France next month and may need to spend the odd night off-grid. Please can you lovely folk help with the following?

1. Do the leisure batteries charge via hook-up, or do I have to take them out to charge? They don’t seem to charge up much on the road although the splitter is connected correctly. They were new last summer.

2. The 12v socket in the living area is tiny, no UK caravan products fit. What can I do?

3. Overnight heating not working - the light works, something clicks when I turn it to the heat setting, but the fan is not blowing on either the hot or cool Ideas? Also does anyone have any idea how to use the timer (see pic)

4. I literally have no idea what the display panel above the cab does! (See pic). All help very gratefully received.

Also does anyone actually use the weird burner things on the cooker or do you all take a gas stove like I do

Many thanks in advance!

Nettie

 

[bxl_lad]

or the 12v socket, you could buy an adapter like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011BVEHYG/?tag=unique09f-21

VW installed these 'Hella' plugs back in those days thinking they'd be the better solution, never happened...

As for the battery charging, sounds like your charger might not be working properly, but about that and the night herater operation i think someone more used to this model will need to comment.

The batteries should indeed charge on hook-up. The Panel above the driver controls the function of the fridge and to monitor temperatures and leisure battery charge state.

 

[Nettie Osman]

or the 12v socket, you could buy an adapter like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011BVEHYG/?tag=unique09f-21

VW installed these 'Hella' plugs back in those days thinking they'd be the better solution, never happened...

As for the battery charging, sounds like your charger might not be working properly, but about that and the night herater operation i think someone more used to this model will need to comment.

The batteries should indeed charge on hook-up. The Panel above the driver controls the function of the fridge and to monitor temperatures and leisure battery charge state.

Thank you, that’s part of the mystery solved! Fridge doesn’t work either so I’m guessing re-gassing needed

 

[Nettie Osman]

And thanks so much for that link, I’ve searched high and low for an adapter

 

[mrcheesbrough]

Lots of useful information on this website - http://www.westfaliat4.info/html/vw_westfalia_t4_transporter_do.html


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[mrcheesbrough]

Your heater could need anything from a thorough service to an out and out replacement. It sounds like there’s life in there yet so potentially an easy fix in the right hands. You may want to find a specialist in Eberspacher heaters to let them take a look. Not cheap to replace so definitely worth getting a professional opinion.


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[Nettie Osman]

Your heater could need anything from a thorough service to an out and out replacement. It sounds like there’s life in there yet so potentially an easy fix in the right hands. You may want to find a specialist in Eberspacher heaters to let them take a look. Not cheap to replace so definitely worth getting a professional opinion.


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Thank you very much!

 

[Nettie Osman]

Lots of useful information on this website - http://www.westfaliat4.info/html/vw_westfalia_t4_transporter_do.html


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Thank you will take a good look

 

[mrcheesbrough]

Your cooker sounds like it has spirit burners, a bit like the Triangia camping cookers that use Meths. Not really easy to replace these with the gas cooker that was also available on the earlier Westfalias as the gas bottle would need housing somewhere. It might be you could reinstate the spirit cooker with a little TLC (assuming you’ve never used it) and a read of some instructions on how it works.


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[2into1]

Try launching your over might heater with the engine running. It often helps get a reluctant one going (I guess because it's feeling 14v rather than 12v from struggling leisure batteries.
Sounds like you could do with the help of a camping savy auto electrician to help you diagnose what is happening with the charger, fridge and heater, as they make camping much much pleasurable but would be expensive to just replace.... As they may not themselves be faulty.

Edit. Try launching the fridge with engine running too.

 

[Nettie Osman]

Thanks very much

 

[cooky73]

Plug in the hook-up and leave it for 3 days if you can to revive the batteries. Plug in charges better than driving it.

 

[Nettie Osman]

Thank you!