T6.1 battery issues when left standing

[DarranKing68]

Hi

My T6.1 recently had the starter battery replaced as it was dead. The AA confirmed it to be the battery and fitted a new one. Three months on and I am getting a low battery warning when I start the van after it’s been standing for about a week.

A drive seems to recharge it and the warning goes away, however. If it’s left standing for a week then I get it again.

I am assuming this is not the norm, this is my first van, my previous Skoda Superb did not have this issue when left standing.

Do I need to plug a trickle charge from a dashboard solar panel for instance, is that possible ?

 

[Dellmassive]

how long is it getting left for?

how long is driven in an average week?

 

[DarranKing68]

how long is it getting left for?

how long is driven in an average week?

In a week a couple of short journeys, I use the van for fishing only so most journeys are a few miles tops. I try and give it a run when I get the battery low message, like today I did a 60 mile round trip.

It is not always used so could stand for two weeks or more if I’m not fishing or have a need to go anywhere. This is why I think I need to help it in some way

 

[Bav]

Unfortunately, this is the new norm - modern vehicles have so many components and systems drawing power, even when they're sat apparently dormant, that the starter battery is quickly drained.

 

[Dellmassive]

In a week a couple of short journeys, I use the van for fishing only so most journeys are a few miles tops. I try and give it a run when I get the battery low message, like today I did a 60 mile round trip.

It is not always used so could stand for two weeks or more if I’m not fishing or have a need to go anywhere. This is why I think I need to help it in some way

Thats your issue....

It's just not being driven enough to keep the battery charged.

Have a look here...

Thread '[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --'

25 Nov 2020

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --

Right so its that time of year again . . . . . . . . Winter & (Lockdown 2020)




The van might be layed up not being used, which will lead to a flat battery in around 3 weeks.

The cold weather doesn't help the battery's either.






This Thread is about using "what you have" to "back charge" the starter battery...

lets look at some options. . . . . . . .

1# Connect a 240v/EHU charger to the starter battery and leave it connected, that's fine if you have a drive way etc, have a look for the...

• Dellmassive
• battery drain dellmassive how to guide vehicle battery
• Replies: 108
• Forum: Electrics, Lighting, ICE, Security

• 

 

[Dellmassive]

And here...

Post in thread '[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -'

27 Jul 2019

Here we go..

Solar charging the Starter batter via a 50w small foldable panel...

Folds away into the door pocket when not in use.

A small simple easy solution.

It's a 50w mono foldable panel with a 10a PWM controller, hacked onto a 12v socket.

Pics...

• Dellmassive

• 

 

[DarranKing68]

Thanks @Dellmassive

As I don’t have anything in the van no leisure battery, or any fit out in the back it’s purely the van, I am guessing a 100w would be enough even in winter, in my T6.1 I guess it would plug into the lighter socket in the cup holder where the USB ports are as this is the only place I have a socket.

 

[FWhite]

I must say that we are lucky for this with the T6.1. I never had a diesel so easy to start in winter, even with the meager EFB 70 Ah original Exide that I got. The Vito, with a much bigger one, was a real pain, and forget about start/stop.
Even easier to start than the small 1600 Renault.
I had the T6.1 "sleeping" outside a couple of weeks during winter break, maybe never reaching as high as 0 C ( and often - 10) , and still starting afterwards easy, with a couple of years old battery. If your battery is any good, with the solar panel trick you should be safe like in a iron tank.

 

[manfrotto]

In a week a couple of short journeys, I use the van for fishing only so most journeys are a few miles tops. I try and give it a run when I get the battery low message, like today I did a 60 mile round trip.

It is not always used so could stand for two weeks or more if I’m not fishing or have a need to go anywhere. This is why I think I need to help it in some way

How do you get on with DPF regens if you are only doing short trips?

 

[DarranKing68]

How do you get on with DPF regens if you are only doing short trips?

I do longer trips occasionally but not yet had any issue with DPF. Never did on my last two cars either and they had the same usage.