Replacing leisure batteries

iowflute said:
8 months on are these batteries performing well?
I've just bought a 2006 Cali and the batteries are not charging at all even after 24hrs on hook up. Any suggestions for who to fit them? I live on the Isle of Wight but can get to anywhere within reason.
Click to expand...

Yes all going well, no issues since changing them.

I did it myself, took me about half an hour to so both.
The back one is super easy, just take out the bed base board and undo the fastner to the hatch below the wardrobe.
Front one is a little more complicated - slide front nearside seat all the way forward and then undo the allen bolts at the back and this gives just enough movement to lift the leisre battery out and refit - even easier if someone else holds the seat on the tilt for you. IMHO its a simple job and not worth paying the garage to do for you.
 
That's great news thank you. A friend of mine tested them today and the one at the back is dead so I'm guessing the other is too. Being female I'm not going to try it myself!! but glad to hear its not difficult (for a man!) Interestingly I see my profile says I'm a man! Cali not on order but here.
 
iowflute said:
That's great news thank you. A friend of mine tested them today and the one at the back is dead so I'm guessing the other is too. Being female I'm not going to try it myself!! but glad to hear its not difficult (for a man!) Interestingly I see my profile says I'm a man! Cali not on order but here.
Click to expand...

Your profile says what you put in it....update it ;)
 
Gavinskii said:
I replaced mine in the summer for 100 Amp AGM batteries
£169 the pair delivered! They fit perfectly :thumb
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Deal-Pair...-Deep-Cycle-/111602658003?hash=item19fc096ad3
Click to expand...

I'm also in need of replacing my leisure batteries now, looking at your link it states the batteries are 90 amps not 100, and they're nearly 30mm longer the the OEM Varta ones so I wanted to check they were the same batteries?
I'm dying to get these ordered but would be happier doing so knowing they'll fit!
 
Freeley said:
I'm also in need of replacing my leisure batteries now, looking at your link it states the batteries are 90 amps not 100, and they're nearly 30mm longer the the OEM Varta ones so I wanted to check they were the same batteries?
I'm dying to get these ordered but would be happier doing so knowing they'll fit!
Click to expand...
Hi Freeley, I have just double checked my eBay purchases from last year and here is the description - lifted direct from my ebay history "Deal Pair 2x 12V Xplorer 100 AH AGM Leisure Batteries UItra Deep Cycle". I therefore reckon they must have loaded different items against old links. Perhaps you can search through their listing and update this thread with the correct link for the 100 AH and correct size. I am sure they still sell them. Though with stirlings woes, possibly the price may have risen....
 
@Gavinskii I've waded through over 20 pages on their website and there are a couple of alternatives there like this one:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Low-Hei...3Af30912e315c0aa4911a7e041fff80962%7Ciid%3A15

And this one http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Low-Hei...%3Af307905b15c0a866e3e19bfefff7ae63%7Ciid%3A5

I'm doing this via tapatalk on my phone so not sure if the links will work but basically they are both described as being suitable for VW T5 and 100aH, they're not available as a deal pair but would only be slightly more expensive at about £180.
Both of them are slightly longer than the cali batteries but without looking I don't know how much wriggle room there is in there, will check when I'm back from hols tomorrow.
Perhaps you could include all of the item description from your batteries?

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From my experience the same dimensions are pretty important especially when fitting the rear under cupboard one. It's a pita as the opening is pretty tight. Getting to the battery under the front passenger seat is awkward too. I helped an auto electrician replace ours by holding the seat out of the way. If you disconnect seat sensors then you might need a VW reset for airbag. Bit of a faf actually. Remember the battery hold down plates are pretty important and if battery is too large, they won't fit.
 
As Hugo says the dimensions are important as you can see below there is a little slack on the front one. Also the AmpHour capacity is more important than the cranking amps as they are not used for starting.
Its okay to disconnect the seat as long as to don't turn the ignition on until its reconnected.
IMG_3923.jpg IMG_3931.jpg
 
My local Caravan dealer sells these batteries. That size is £105.
So the eBay link works out very good, as that price is delivered

Freeley said:
@Gavinskii I've waded through over 20 pages on their website and there are a couple of alternatives there like this one:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Low-Height-90-AH-Xplorer-Campervan-Dual-Purpose-Leisure-Battery-Fits-VW-T5-/171073012016?epid=1988302203&hash=item27d4bf0130:g:y1oAAMXQKAtRJN1b&_trkparms=pageci%3Aa5fa7ddb-5ca7-11e7-a224-74dbd180d954%7Cparentrq%3Af30912e315c0aa4911a7e041fff80962%7Ciid%3A15

And this one http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Low-Height-100-AH-Xplorer-Campervan-Dual-Purpose-Leisure-Battery-Fits-VWs-/112299035220?epid=556458015&hash=item1a258b4a54:g:y1oAAMXQKAtRJN1b&_trkparms=pageci%3A6afeb33d-5ca7-11e7-b44b-74dbd180e7e8%7Cparentrq%3Af307905b15c0a866e3e19bfefff7ae63%7Ciid%3A5

I'm doing this via tapatalk on my phone so not sure if the links will work but basically they are both described as being suitable for VW T5 and 100aH, they're not available as a deal pair but would only be slightly more expensive at about £180.
Both of them are slightly longer than the cali batteries but without looking I don't know how much wriggle room there is in there, will check when I'm back from hols tomorrow.
Perhaps you could include all of the item description from your batteries?

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Click to expand...
 
I've checked the rear battery compartment and despite it being a tight fit it looks like the slightly longer battery should fit ok. The one I'm struggling with is the battery under the passenger seat - I've turned the seat sideways and slid it forward but I'm unsure what bolts etc need undoing to enable me to tilt the seat up? Can't check the battery length on this one until I've done it.

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Freeley said:
I've checked the rear battery compartment and despite it being a tight fit it looks like the slightly longer battery should fit ok. The one I'm struggling with is the battery under the passenger seat - I've turned the seat sideways and slid it forward but I'm unsure what bolts etc need undoing to enable me to tilt the seat up? Can't check the battery length on this one until I've done it.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Slide the seat right back with the seat back wound forward and you will see 2 nuts at the front of the exposed runners, undo those, then slide right forward and find 2 bolts at the rear of the runners undo those. Slide back a bit then swivel the seat so its pointing out the door and then push it away from you to get underneath the seat and undo the plugs if you want to remove the seat altogether.
If you just measuring, have someone kneel on the drivers seat and pull the seat headrest towards them whilst you get under to measure etc.
 
Remove seat.
4 bolts done.
 
Thanks @Loz and @soulstyledevon. Just need to order the batteries and get it done.
We've come home from holiday 2 nights early today due to terrible weather in Cornwall and had the batteries give out on us on the 4th night. At Treen (our 2nd site) we had hook up so crisis averted and they've recovered but I want to get then changed before our 2 week euro trip in September.

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Sorry about the trip.
We are off to Cornwall tomorrow for a week. Hoping the weather improves.
 
soulstyledevon said:
Sorry about the trip.
We are off to Cornwall tomorrow for a week. Hoping the weather improves.
Click to expand...
I think you've timed it just right it looks much better from the weekend onwards, typical of our luck!

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I've spent absolutely ages looking at the Alpha Batteries site over the last couple of days, and I've come to the conclusion that the pair of batteries that Gavinskii included the link for are the ones to go for, even if they 90AH now rather than 100AH.
They have a 5 year warranty rather than either 2 or 4 looking at the alternatives, and they're slightly cheaper.
I'm going to ring Alpha Batteries in the morning to see what they say first.
 
Spoke to Alpha Batteries this morning and they confirmed that the 100AH batteries in Gavinskii's link have been replaced by the 90AH versions.
They seem to be the ones to go for for those of us in need of replacements, I'll order ours tonight when I get home.

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Finally got round to fitting the new batteries today. I followed loz's instructions mostly (although I found I had more room tipping the seat forward by facing it towards the windscreen).
The one under the seat took longer than the rear one but only about half an hour in total.
The new batteries were a perfect fit with no movement afterwards. Everything seems to be working and I've got them hooked up to the mains, so I'm looking forward to our next weekend away to see how they perform!


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Hi all, just searched and found this this thread, getting ready for a trip down south next week, haven't had any need for using my fridge for over 6 months, plugged in my fridge and noticed it wouldn't work, checked outlet and found I have 7.4 volts, left on mains hook up for 24 hours thinking it would charge battery but still only 7.4 volts, I am assuming battery is defunct (2 1/2 years old) as it is now Saturday and we leave Monday morning need to get a quick replacement, searched and found a 70ah one at Halfords for £69.00 which sounds cheap and looks right size to fit, is there any reason nobody has suggested the bog standard Halfords one before ? Bear in mind I only need to power fridge while actually driving, don't need leisure battery at site as we go on mains hook up and use fridge on 230v when on site.

http://www.halfords.com/camping-lei...ectrical-power/halfords-leisure-battery-70-ah
 
The battery in your link is not the right size. It won't fit under the seat.
You need 315x175 mm height 190 mm.
I recommend Varta F21 or LA80 (AGM 80 Ah)
 
Emil Silenhag said:
The battery in your link is not the right size. It won't fit under the seat.
You need 315x175 mm height 190 mm.
I recommend Varta F21 or LA80 (AGM 80 Ah)
Click to expand...
Ha ha, yes I realise that now I've lifted the seat and measured properly. Thanks for the info.
 
Looking after your leasure batteries. If you have two inside should only be replaced as a pair. Make sure you use correct , I agree and would fit approved batteries. Remembering once a month to plug in for 12 hours , myself I plug in a battery tender. And leave on all the time , now I've added a solar panel even on a dull day it will still. Produce an output to fully charge each day to keep it topped up once charged it turns off. And float charges
My charger. Records battery data. For both. Leasure battery's 24/7. If I could work out how to upload a file it would show , as a point. I ran my fridge at setting 4 and left my TVs on standby and on average over the week the batteries were fully charges. From 6:30 to 9am every day just consider if you let them run flat they in most cases damage is done. As I know. I buy a new battery every year for my motor bike
 
Freeley said:
I've spent absolutely ages looking at the Alpha Batteries site over the last couple of days, and I've come to the conclusion that the pair of batteries that Gavinskii included the link for are the ones to go for, even if they 90AH now rather than 100AH.
They have a 5 year warranty rather than either 2 or 4 looking at the alternatives, and they're slightly cheaper.
I'm going to ring Alpha Batteries in the morning to see what they say first.
Click to expand...
Spoke to Alpha batteries, very helpful guy, ended up buying this one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Xplor...ar-Warranty-/171662256345?hash=item27f7de28d9
 
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