Learning a lesson

Had been away for a few days in our 98 Duetto and arrived home around noon. Bright sunlight so I didn't notice that the headlights had been left on. No idea how that happened, I must have caught the switch when reversing. Over 9 hours later one of our neighbours came to the door to inform us that we had left the lights on. The result was a flat battery. I had to remove the battery to charge it indoors, which was a bit like keyhole surgery, trying to loosen the nut holding the battery clamp. The battery then had to be tipped on end and negotiated around the various wiring looms in the vicinity. Not easy and I hope I dont have to do it again. Unfortunately, there is no alarm to let you know if the lights have been left on, as there is on more modern vehicles. Oh well, I will just have to remember to check in future...........

Hi there,

At least your neighbour didn't say "Oh I saw them on last night but I thought you must have left them like that!"

I jump-started the van from the leisure battery (another reason, apart from cost, to have an ordinary lead-acid traction battery as a leisure battery) and went for a shopping trip.

Sorted and luckily the battery wasn't damaged! 

"Petal" actually has a warning buzzer that activates if I open the driver's door and the lights are on; however, on the occasion above I had exited via the sliding door!

I'm amazed that your Transit doesn't have a similar system.  It is possible that the buzzer is US or maybe there is a blown fuse in the system. 

Best regards,

Hi. Thanks for the info. I just assumed there was no buzzer but will now investigate further. Battery is now fully charged so more fun and games (in reverse!) to fit it back.

Last weekend whilst we were at Whitby muttly decided to crawl on to the drivers seat from the foot well, yes he is thick. I didn't think much of it until I opened the back door to take him out next morning. Management muttered from under the covers "the vans buzzing". It was the lights on buzzer because muttly has knocked the light switch as he climbed on to the seat. I turned the lights off, fortunately only side lights, and went out walking for the day. By the time we got back in the evening the van started so  the starter  battery must be in reasonable condition and recovered.
You can jump start from the leisure battery as a get you going but it isn't meant to give out a big load like jump starting. Connect the batteries together and go and have a brew then try starting the engine. This was a common trick with the Land Rover using my winch battery.

Hi Dave

Love the muttly emoticon!

Our little mousehound went one better. We both got out of the van on arrival at a site and closed the doors. The dog stood on her hind legs to see what was happening (nosy little git!) and must have hit the locking button on the dash with her paw.

Needless to say both sets of keys were inside the van!!  

Your post has just reminded me (thanks) to get a spare Hab door key cut so I can hide it somewhere under the van. Lightning does sometimes strike twice!!

Hope this is useful.

Dave

janian wrote:The battery then had to be tipped on end

Please try to avoid this at all costs with lead-acid batteries. The vast majority are not designed to be tipped on end and, if it does not leak acid immediately, what ~may~ happen is that the gas vent assembly can partially fill with acid, which gets ejected later through the vent tube (or vent hole if no tube is fitted) when the battery is next charged. Typically this will then run down the side of the battery and sit between it and the battery tray, causing it (and possibly the inner wing underneath) to corrode.

Even if you don't cause it to leak acid, tipping a battery up also tends to disturb the layer of plate fragments that drop off and fall to the bottom of the cell. Disturbing this layer probably won't do any good for the long-term life of the battery.

If there is wiring in the way, it is best to disconnect and move the wiring so that the battery will lift out. From memory, the relay/fuse box above the vehicle battery on a Mk.5 Transit can be unshipped from its mount and moved out of the way, allowing much easier access to the battery.

Thanks for all the tips and doggy stories. With regard to tipping the battery on end, it was probably at a 35 degree ish angle so hopefully no damage done. I did discover that the relay box slides upwards from its mounting so that helped. I checked the handbook and there should be a warning buzzer when the lights are left on so next time the van is in for a service I will get them to investigate. In the meantime I have given strict instructions to her ladyship to remind me to check the lights in future. It would then be her fault next time..............................