Vehicle Battery Not Charging on EHU – 2020 VW California Ocean T6.1 4Motion

[DeclanW]

I’m hoping someone might be able to shed some light on an issue I’m having with my 2020 VW California T6.1 4Motion.

When connected to electric hook-up (EHU), the leisure batteries are charging normally, and the overhead display shows the “EHU connected” icon as expected. However, the vehicle battery is not being charged — even after extended periods on hook-up.

Has anyone experienced this before on a T6.1?

I’d really appreciate any suggestions on:

• What might be causing this issue
• Things I could check or try to help identify the root cause
• Whether this is something that needs dealer diagnostics or can be resolved independently

Having read related issues on this forum, I have checked all fuses, including the 100A fuses in Fuse box A beneath the vehicle battery and cannot see any issues. There is mention of an 80A fuse near the split charge relay beneath the passenger seat but I cannot find/locate it?

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice!

Cheers,
Declan

 

[Robbiemanso]

The vehicle battery does not charge when on electric hook up, only when engine is running. Hook up only charges the leisure batteries. The split charge relay allows all batteries to charge when engine is running only.
Hope this helps!

 

[DeclanW]

Hi Robbie, thanks for your reply. This was indeed the initial response from my dealership when I spoke to them. This seemed to be contradicted by my T6.1 California manual together with some technical documents and posts on this forum. I therefore contacted VW Customer services and their technical department confirmed that the vehicle battery should be charged while on EHU. I appreciate that this will not be true for all versions of the California. In fact, I think there was a poll recently trying to establish which versions supported charging of the Vehicle battery while on EHU. Of course I am happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Please give us more detail why you think vehicle battery is not charged when on EHU.How did you measure, after how long waiting ?
It will only charge vehicle battery after leisure batteries at 100% and with low current of 1or 2 amps.

 

[DeclanW]

I measured the vehicle battery voltage, using an multimeter, over a period of two days. Prior to connecting the EHU, the Vehicle battery was showing 12.7V and the Leisure battery was 13V ( measuring the battery under the passenger seat). Having connected the EHU and monitored the vehicle battery voltage over the two days and it was showing between 12.7V and 12.5V.

I presumed that I would expect to see this climb to over 13V during this time? Is this a reasonable assumption?

Should I expect to see a spike in voltage at the vehicle battery even when only receiving a trickle charge or 1A or 2A?

Having initially connected the EHU, the Leisure battery was showing 14V (measured 30 minutes after hooking-up)

The only draw on the vehicle battery during this period, as far as I am aware, would have been locking/unlocking the vehicle and opening/closing the drivers door.

Hope that this helps.

 

[WelshGas]

I measured the vehicle battery voltage, using an multimeter, over a period of two days. Prior to connecting the EHU, the Vehicle battery was showing 12.7V and the Leisure battery was 13V ( measuring the battery under the passenger seat). Having connected the EHU and monitored the vehicle battery voltage over the two days and it was showing between 12.7V and 12.5V.

I presumed that I would expect to see this climb to over 13V during this time? Is this a reasonable assumption?

Should I expect to see a spike in voltage at the vehicle battery even when only receiving a trickle charge or 1A or 2A?

Having initially connected the EHU, the Leisure battery was showing 14V (measured 30 minutes after hooking-up)

The only draw on the vehicle battery during this period, as far as I am aware, would have been locking/unlocking the vehicle and opening/closing the drivers door.

Hope that this helps.

Until the Leisure Battery voltage, on EHU drops to Float charge , 13.4 v or thereabouts then the Leisure Batteries are being charged and the Starter battery will not be charged.
You need to wait longer until the Leisure battery voltage drops and then check the Starter battery.

 

[DeclanW]

Many thanks WelshGas, much appreciated. Will do that and let you know how I get on.

 

[sidepod]

Would such an “intelligent “ vehicle not prioritise starter battery if it was discharged?

 

[WelshGas]

Would such an “intelligent “ vehicle not prioritise starter battery if it was discharged?

No.
Even previous versions would not charge a flat engine battery . You would need to charge it specifically.
On my T5.1 the engine battery voltage, on EHU, never rose above 13.4v even after 72hrs on EHU, and didn't start rising until the Leisure Batteries charging voltage dropped to Float charge of 13.4 v.

 

[sidepod]

Just for the absence of any doubt.
With/without hook-up. After a couple of hundred miles last weekend, no max charge used.

 

[DeclanW]

Thanks sidepod, that's very useful.

While on hook-up my leisure batteries are reading 13.5V (float charge) and the vehicle battery is still only showing 12.5V, so I do appear to have an issue somewhere in the EHU charging circuit.

I have spoken to my dealership and am awaiting a call back to confirm a plan of action, as I'm not confident in carrying out any further analysis/repair. I do at least feel better informed, so thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond.

 

[Jude]

Hi Robbie, thanks for your reply. This was indeed the initial response from my dealership when I spoke to them. This seemed to be contradicted by my T6.1 California manual together with some technical documents and posts on this forum. I therefore contacted VW Customer services and their technical department confirmed that the vehicle battery should be charged while on EHU. I appreciate that this will not be true for all versions of the California. In fact, I think there was a poll recently trying to establish which versions supported charging of the Vehicle battery while on EHU. Of course I am happy to be proved wrong.

My Grand California only charges the starter/engine battery when driving. The leisure battery charges on EHU and while driving.

 

[B J G]

On a T6 (seem to recall T6,1 Owners saying this didn't happen on theirs) with a USB plug in adapter with voltage indication in the dash socket it went from normal 11.6V (ignition on but engine not started) up to over 12V as soon as External power was switched on.
Dash socket was engine battery supplied power.

 

[Califan61]

Hi Robbie, thanks for your reply. This was indeed the initial response from my dealership when I spoke to them. This seemed to be contradicted by my T6.1 California manual together with some technical documents and posts on this forum. I therefore contacted VW Customer services and their technical department confirmed that the vehicle battery should be charged while on EHU. I appreciate that this will not be true for all versions of the California. In fact, I think there was a poll recently trying to establish which versions supported charging of the Vehicle battery while on EHU. Of course I am happy to be proved wrong.

I have a 2024 Cali Ocean and it doesn't charge on EHU although the handbook does mention it should. I too raised it to the dealer and they said it was working correctly. I have a battery monitor directly connected to the starter battery and chassis and no matter how long it is left on it doesn't charge the starter battery. I have been using a smart charger plugged into the van sockets to top up if I'm not using the van but I don't like the external lead so want a neat internal solution. I have a few electrical drains that don't give me as long between charges as normal (electronic rodent repellent, dashcam etc). I also put my Cali in the garage so solar is not an option for storage. I'm considering connecting some form of charger under the passenger seat next to the front leisure battery as I believe all the relevant connections are under there for the starter battery at the habitation relay. There are guides on the forum showing examples of this.

 

[Califan61]

Please give us more detail why you think vehicle battery is not charged when on EHU.How did you measure, after how long waiting ?
It will only charge vehicle battery after leisure batteries at 100% and with low current of 1or 2 amps.

I thought the leisure batteries only charged to 100% when using the max charge button while the engine is running?

 

[Roger Boeken]

I thought the leisure batteries only charged to 100% when using the max charge button while the engine is running?

While driving you need max charge, yes, EHU they will always charge 100%..