Jump start option from leisure battery ? Possible failing vehicle battery

[smilie121]

Hi everyone

Done a bit of homework on the forums and otherwise including Dell Massives guides. But still after some guidance.

My main battery on the T6 doesn't appear to be holding a charge for long - similar to what happened with my 2016 Passat's AGM battery which I changed in December. I only use the van about once or twice a fortnight due to lockdown.

Yesterday morning I had to jump it off the Passat, drove for 20 odd minutes and after 2 hours of it being idle, it wouldn't even turn over. Out of options to get a jump off someone else because of where I had parked; I jumped from the leisure battery (positive only) and it started straight away.

The batteries date is 18 / 11 - on a 18 plate van. I wouldn't expect the battery to die so soon??? So hoping its just from lack of use. But was wondering if I could hook up a cable with a momentary push switch to join both batteries should I never be in this situation again.

I have a Voltron DC to DC charger and a Victron Solar charger in the equation as well.

 

[Dellmassive]

batterys have a 3-5yrs lifecycle . . (it sounds like your battery is knackerd?)

BUT if you run them dead flat a few times you can knacker them.

best thing to do is full charge the battery for 24hrs with a smart charger - https://www.t6forum.com/threads/battery-chargers-how-i-did-it.10812/

then get a battery tester, or take it somewhere for a test (like Halfords etc)

or get your own.

https://amzn.to/31rxNbK

....



you can fit a isolator or get a Cyrix relay to connect both batterys . . . but will need to make sure that the cables etc are beefy enough to deal with the massive current a flat battery will draw from a charged one..


++

the next stage is a battery monitor, to see whats going on. - https://www.t6forum.com/threads/battery-monitoring-how-i-done-it.15346/

++

 

[smilie121]

Thanks for the quick reply Dell and behalf of many - thank you for the time and effort in making your guides

I checked the VSR already and it states it is not suitable for Euro 5 or 6 engines due to smart alternator. I was led to believe the Solar would trickle current through to the vehicle battery but when I checked both DC to DC and Solar charger apps via bluetooth - nothing was obvious about this setting.

I think maybe a new battery and save any grief ??? I could always fit a small cover to protect the + on the leisure battery (i removed the cloth tape) and keep the red jump lead in the van - it wasn't difficult to do.

 

[smilie121]

So a new battery by Exide is £105 or I can get a Varta Silver for £114 with a coupon

Varta

Exide

 

[Dellmassive]

have a look here:

Upgrading Starter Battery - how to guide

My van (April 2017 T28) is fitted with a Moll battery. I am experiencing some issues with it not starting after a few days sitting on the drive. Now this could be due to the tracker I have fitted draining it but I doubt it, I'll do some drain current tests before taking the plunge. If I were to...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[Dellmassive]

OOI:

got any more info on this?

I have a Voltron DC to DC charger and a Victron Solar charger in the equation as well.

few pics maybe . . . im interested in your current setup and would like to know more.

 

[smilie121]

What info are you after? I am looking for pictures now for you

 

[Dellmassive]

make, model + pics of this - Voltron DC to DC charger

same here - Victron Solar charger


plus just general install . . pics show the install, gauge of cables, grounds etc etc ...

 

[smilie121]

Apologies, its called Victron, not Voltron

This is the Solar Panel / charger I have

This is the DC-DC Charger charger though I am sure it was 400watt ?? It was £290 including the fitting kit - heavy gauge cables, connectors, fuses etc

As for pictures, its all under the drivers seat so unless I do go ahead and fit heated seat elements (chinese ebay kind) I won't be able to take more pictures

 

[smilie121]

Also meant to say - regarding an upgraded battery - I do not have a VCDS cable nor know anyone who does.

I would like one simply because I want to alter the setting for both main and high beams to be on after installing THQ V3 headlights

 

[smilie121]

This is under the drivers seat. Took the pictures before it was completed to send to the previous owner of the vehicle - as I was sourcing advice.

I installed a Kenwood KSC-SW11 under seat sub woofer to go along with the a speaker and head unit upgrade as per your guide. It is temporarily wedged in place for testing in this photo with a cutting from an old yoga matt the wife bought and used once. The DC-DC charger is also not yet screwed in place. I installed so the heatsink is outwith the seat for better cooling.

If anyone wants to know about the sub, they really are under rated. I have one in my Passat and deliver a fair bit of punch. My swivel bench seat is completely free for storage as well

 

[smilie121]

I have a radio and speakers in the back which when I bought only played audio from the rear head unit. So I made use of audio switch so that you can select what the rear speakers play. Just a case of running speaker cable.








This is the template I made to have the little plate made up - off ebay for £3.99, slightly more at Timpsons

If I get time I will upload some things I have done to the van which may help others.

The audio equipment I got from Absolut5 and must vouch for their after sales. Cheers to both Noel and Jason.

 

[smilie121]

I seem to have salvaged my battery using this technique:

Restoring a Dead AGM Battery That Just Won't Take a Normal Charge

Wanted to a wait a bit before reporting. So far so good. I am going to try and leave it a week to see if it holds. I have this GPS Tracker rated at 250ma drawing power but wouldnt have thought it would have much of an impact.

 

[Dellmassive]

fyi. . .

250mA is a huge power draw when the van is sleeping.

The VW spec is 50mA or below when sleeping.

above 50mA the van will log a fault "quiescent current to high"

so you may be drawing 50mA + 250mA = 300mA.

that will run the battery down very quickly. - is this being run from the starter battery?

if so you need to move it to the AUX battery.

 

[smilie121]

oh !

It is running off the starter battery. I was advised to as the guy said its low draw. Its really buried under the dash too. Had no fault codes come up. I am going to get a hex can cable to do some mods before selling it back on.

Is there somewhere better I could relocate the GPS to? As I don't fancy the ball ache of running a cable from the leisure to under the dash - there are a lot of cables in the drivers step side and it was a like a haemorrhoid from hell to put back

 

[Kevin]

Some of the vans around 2016 had a battery issue. Mine was changed by VW under warranty when it was about a year old.

 

[Dellmassive]

have a look here re fault codes:

VCDS And Carista Fault Codes

I noticed with Carista that it resorts to google to search the fault codes and ironically we seem to get most of the search results pointing at this forum but the codes are just appearing in conversations mentioning those codes so I thought we should create a topic and list the common ones as...

www.t6forum.com

https://www.t6forum.com/threads/vcds-and-carista-fault-codes.14143/post-198169

+++

ABS 00397 - was a front left wheel puncture. (puncture repaired and fault cleared down)

IMMOBILISER 9456128 - was the Ghost imob blocking the engine start (tried starting without putting code in). (code clears down fine)

Battery Regulator 02256 – quiescent current - Battery monitor detecting power drain from starter battery (about above 50mA) (left the Carista plugged in obd2 PORT overnight)

+++


you should be getting fault codes for power drain . . . . ?


can you post a few pics of the starter battery NEG terminal ?

are there any cables or wires going direct to the NEG post of the starter battery? . . . bridging out the power sensor?

 

[Dellmassive]

Some of the vans around 2016 had a battery issue. Mine was changed by VW under warranty when it was about a year old.

Yes, thats to do with the MOLL batterys . .


see here:

T6 Common Faults & Problems - - Check Here First -

As per the title really - T6 Common faults & problems - - Check here first - (ill keep this updated and as current possible, so keep checking back) we have a lot of repeat questions about the same issues again and again, so here is my attempt to group the more common ones into one place...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[Dellmassive]

oh !

It is running off the starter battery. I was advised to as the guy said its low draw. Its really buried under the dash too. Had no fault codes come up. I am going to get a hex can cable to do some mods before selling it back on.

Is there somewhere better I could relocate the GPS to? As I don't fancy the ball ache of running a cable from the leisure to under the dash - there are a lot of cables in the drivers step side and it was a like a haemorrhoid from hell to put back

you can run it off IGN only - so when engine running, to stop battery drain.

running from starter battery will run it flat and kill the battery.

move the feed to the AUX battery . . . or run via power saver . . . ( but that point less as it cut out after a couple of hours as the starter battery voltage drops fairly quick)

 

[smilie121]

Cheers Dell

Am i right in thinking there is a cable behind the fuse box which I could tap into for the GPS ?