Returned on Monday after a month in New Zealand. Yesterday I finally got a chance to get back in the van, which has been sitting behind the house for all that time. Turned the key and nothing. No dashboard lights, no token attempt at turning over. OK, no problem. I park at the top of a steep hill so we rolled backwards for a crash start. Nope. Wasn't having it. OK, no problem. I'll jump it from the leisure battery. Nope. Got a weak pair of dash lights, which disappeared as soon as I turned the key. Took the leads off the starter battery and touched them together. A tiny spark. As I was now blocking the entrance to the garages I had to quickly jump it from my Audi. I blatted round Epping for ten minutes, reparked but two hours later the van wouldn't start. A very token noise from the starter before silence and two dim dash lights. Now I know that old vehicles don't like to be standing unloved in the cold for all that time and I was expecting that I might need to get a roll on before starting the thing, but a flat leisure batt as well? There was nothing left on and I habitually disconnect the stereo each time I lock up. The batteries were both brand new in April and are decent brand names (Unipart for the starter and Elecsol for the leisure). I try to take the van out at least once a fortnight throughout the year. Is this to be expected or do you think there's something amiss in the system?
A harsh winter can kill a battery but it is very unusual to kill two after a few frosty nights. If your system is not charging you should get a red light on the dash for the generator. How is your leisure battery being charged, maybe worth disconnecting that and take the old girl out for a longer trip.
Take them out and give them both a full charge indoors then see how you get on Sounds like you may have somthing pulling current in the system when parked up
It's on a standard JK relay and my alternator light always goes out once we've started and revved over 1000rpm. The lezzy charges when it's running. I know this because my stereo is "always on" and it was killing the leisure battery, but as soon as we're running the stereo flares back into life (hence me now disconnecting it from the unit). I'll charge the starter from the mains today and see if I can start again. EDIT - Just read paradox's reply. I'll give that a go.
^this. Poss a clock? Lead acid's don't really like the cold (or being run right down). As above, I'd take them both out & give them a good charge, poss check the cells with a hydrometer.
Take a look at Diddymens multimeter thread - shows you how to test for a draw on a battery - http://thelatebay.com/index.php?topic=5352.msg86130#msg86130
Safety point - dont short battery terminals together, if the battery was better charged your hands would have got very hot as the battery would give out a hell of an amount of current.
Sounds odd that both batteries were dead. The relay should be keeping them isolated when standing. Particularly since you have now disconnected the stereo. You stereo should have two power connections one permanent to keep all the station memories and the other switched so its only on when the key is turned. I tested mine with a meter and it draws about 0.7A when switched off with both power leads powered. I wanted to see if I could leave it like this so no key was needed to listen to the stereo - not feasible with that amount of draw. Cold weather may be the cause, it can push a battery that is on the verge of failing over the edge. Either that or you have something draining it, charge it up overnight indoors and put it back in. Connect up the + and insert a meter, start using a high scale 10A and if there is nothing registered use a lower scale to get a more accurate reading. put one probe on the negative connection and connect the other probe to the ground strap and see if there is any significant draw. If there current flowing try disconnecting the split charge relay, if its not the relay try pulling each fuse out one at at a time to see if the draw stops.
It could be that a slip ring brush is sticking up resulting in a lack of charging and the charging light being out as well.
Ive had a similar issue with my battery, the leisure battery is fine but I have to turn the engine over every 5 days or so or use the power pack that I was bought for xmas as Mrs M got fed of me jumping it off the Peugeot...Give it a good trickle charge and see how it goes...
I'd say it's not uncommon for this to happen after a cold snap and a rest of 4 weeks. Winter can kill a battery quite quickly. Try a charge but if the battery is that flat it's probably now well and truly dead. Also check the drain but chances are it isn't that if this hasn't happened in the past.
Thanks for all the advice. Due to not having the time to take it out, I charged my starter battery in situ with my trusty Optimate III. As it's a bike charger it's slow but beautifully reliable and sure enough after three days we're back to full. I've shoved the lezzy on charge now so hopefully we'll be tip top on Monday. Then I can see where things are.
