Dead battery on boxer

by MARKPRYKE123 Sun Sep 13, 2015 2:10 pm

Hi guys main battery on boxer symphony keeps draining after a few day nothing left at all charger battery starts fine go back few days later and completely drain not even a dash board light battery it that old it has only just started to do this any help would Great thanks

Mark

by Backtrax Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:35 pm

I have had the same problem this week. I am pretty sure it is due o the radio having gone off 'automatically' rather than me switching it off. I think in this state the radio is still drawing current. Charge up battery then manually switch radio on then off. Then see if battery is ok after a few days.
Of coarse the problem could be many other things but give that a whirl and let us know how you get on.

by MARKPRYKE123 Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:40 pm

It not the radio as I don't leave that in the camper when I. Parked up

by Bulletguy Sun Sep 13, 2015 9:04 pm

If old (you didn't say how old!) it could well be due for replacement! Worthwhile running your van to a good auto electrician and get it tested. If a cell has gone down then you need a new battery.

by fisherman3 Sun Sep 13, 2015 9:32 pm

it is very likely the alarm.they can really flatten a battery,especialy if not a lot of running has been done.g

by MARKPRYKE123 Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:53 am

Battery only 18 mouths old just can't suss what draining it only has just started to do it I don't use the alarm as it parked in me back garden

by peugeotboxer Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:16 am

Hi

You may not use the alarm but it will still be continuously draining the battery.
I use a small 'briefcase' style fold up solar panel plugged into the cigarette socket and lay it on the dashboard.
A small trickle charge keeps the battery topped up.

PB

by MARKPRYKE123 Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:33 am

Yeah I tried that but still drain battery even with solar charger battery going completely empty not even a dash bored light come on I tested battery and it d good

by peugeotboxer Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:46 am

Hmmmm

How about a multimeter across the battery?
That will show if the vehicle itself is drawing from the battery

PB

by chrisvesey Mon Sep 14, 2015 12:27 pm

Hi,
Possibly...due to a relay fault the fridge is remaining connected to the vehicle battery when the engine is off. Try charging up the battery then when you reconnect it can you get a spark at the battery terminals when you touch the terminal, better to put a meter set to amps in series with either terminal and its connection and see if there is a discharge. You say that you take the radio out but if you mean take the faceplate off it still draws current for the memory,
Chris

by Peter Brown Mon Sep 14, 2015 12:39 pm

chrisvesey wrote:Hi,
Possibly...due to a relay fault the fridge is remaining connected to the vehicle battery when the engine is off. Try charging up the battery then when you reconnect it can you get a spark at the battery terminals when you touch the terminal, better to put a meter set to amps in series with either terminal and its connection and see if there is a discharge. You say that you take the radio out but if you mean take the faceplate off it still draws current for the memory,
Chris

DO NOT use a standard multimeter. the maz current range will be 10 amps and, for example, the fridge takes 20 amps.

by brodco Mon Sep 14, 2015 1:24 pm

Hi

peugeotboxer wrote:Hmmmm

How about a multimeter across the battery?
That will show if the vehicle itself is drawing from the battery

PB

PB - I know what you mean but I think you might like to re-phrase that a bit. A meter across the battery on Amps is likely to destroy the meter (if it’s a low cost one anyway)!

Peter Brown wrote:DO NOT use a standard multimeter. the maz current range will be 10 amps and, for example, the fridge takes 20 amps.

The fuse is 20A but I think the fridge only takes about 6A so well within the capabilities of most meters. I agree you do have to be careful, it’s very easy to blow up a meter on amps. I usually forget to switch back to volts before checking the battery voltage. shrugg

If you think you may have a high curent short a tip is to connect a 12V bulb where you would have put the meter. It it lights up brightly you have a short, when the short is removed it'll glow dimly or not at all (depending on the circuit you're connecting it to).

In my view the best way to tackle this sort of problem is definitely to measure the current. It only takes seconds and it’ll:

A) Tell you if it is a discharging problem as opposed to a duff battery (it’s not unknown for a battery a few months old to fail).
B) Tell you what the discharge current is so that you can make a guess as to the cause.
C) You can disconnect thing and it’ll tell you instantly if you’ve fixed the problem.
D) Perhaps most importantly it could save you hours (or even days) chasing a fault you haven’t got.

Brod.

by peugeotboxer Mon Sep 14, 2015 1:33 pm

brodco wrote:Hi

peugeotboxer wrote:Hmmmm

How about a multimeter across the battery?
That will show if the vehicle itself is drawing from the battery

PB

PB - I know what you mean but I think you might like to re-phrase that a bit. A meter across the battery on Amps is likely to destroy the meter (if it’s a low cost one anyway)!

Peter Brown wrote:DO NOT use a standard multimeter. the maz current range will be 10 amps and, for example, the fridge takes 20 amps.

Thanks Brod, I didn't phrase that very well.

PB

by DaveKilroy Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:01 pm

Like the alarm - If your van has a tracker fitted it is likely to draw charge.

Re the solar panel - if you are connecting this through a cigarette lighter - have you made sure that it is actually charging the battery ? I am not an electrician however I believe the circuit is only 'open' on the 2* 12v sockets when the ignition is switched on unless you have changed it to wire it directly.

If you are charging directly I also suspect you need to somehow regulate the feed to the battery otherwise you may be damaging it if you overcharge it.

by Bulletguy Mon Sep 14, 2015 5:22 pm

Mark

Everyone is shooting in the dark here! It could be one of many things!!

I strongly advise you take your van and get a good reputable auto electrician to look it over. Most areas will have a number of auto electricians but once you find one who really 'knows his stuff' you won't have any regrets. There are many in my area....but just one who is head and shoulders above the rest and gets repeat business due to his reputation.

Finally, as the battery is only 18 months old it must surely still be under warranty so why not go back to where you bought it from? They should replace it, but it's doubtful they'd have anyone who could locate your problem. You need the type of auto electrician i've already mentioned.

by mikethebike Mon Sep 14, 2015 5:46 pm

Hi , If you want some help we need to know a battery voltage reading.
Off charge and with the engine running.
If you have flattened that battery a few times, ie less than 9 volts it may be beyond recovery.

Regards

Micky

by MARKPRYKE123 Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:15 pm

Battery is reading 12.4 when charged think it fridge that is the problem still drawing current even tho switched off have taken the fridge fuse out above battery will report back in a few days thanks guys

by mikethebike Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:28 pm

Hi. A relay stops current flowing from battery when engine is not charging.
12.4 v is only 50% charged.
What is voltage when engine running.?
Failing that you could disconnect battery and check if voltage drops when disconnected.
I assume you are not confident to read the current draw from the battery with a meter ,when the engine is off and EHU is disconnected.This would give an indication if something is still connected.

Hope this helps

Micky

by MARKPRYKE123 Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:51 pm

Well pulled fuse from fridge and no battery drain so I've changed the relay to see if that was at fult will check again in few days to see if has worked

by MARKPRYKE123 Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:52 pm

Update changed relay all seems good thanks guys for all your in put love this site

by alanwheeler Sun Sep 27, 2015 10:38 am

Hi, I had a similar problem which turned out to be a rusty bolt that holds the earth strap to the engine which is underneath. It had rusted but still made a poor connection which restricted the charging of the battery. We connected a new earth strap to a convenient point on the top of the engine and the problem was solved.

by mikethebike Sun Sep 27, 2015 4:36 pm

That's a common problem. Water comes from the screen down over the air filter and that chassis strap.

Micky

Dead battery on boxer

Dead battery on boxer

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Dead battery on boxer

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