Leisure Batteries not charging - Driving or from Hook-up

Jamie_W1821993 · Aug 30, 2022

Hey All,

New to the California's so please forgive any dumb questions in advance. 2008 model and currently in France and the leisure batteries won't charge from driving or a hook up. Looked on some of the previous threads and have ordered a new cube fuse 75A that sits between the rear battery and positive terminal as the metal strip was blown. Have checked every other fuse individually under the passenger seat, by the front panel and by the engine. nothing else is blown.

When hooked up all other electrics work such as the fridge etc.

Will this cube fuse just be the issue or could it be another issue? Looking to resolve the issue before we wild camp! Not sure if worth noting but the batteries were charging fine before its MOT i got a few weeks ago...

Thanks,

James

Stu@rt · Aug 30, 2022

Jamie_W1821993 said:
Hey All,

New to the California's so please forgive any dumb questions in advance. 2008 model and currently in France and the leisure batteries won't charge from driving or a hook up. Looked on some of the previous threads and have ordered a new cube fuse 75A that sits between the rear battery and positive terminal as the metal strip was blown. Have checked every other fuse individually under the passenger seat, by the front panel and by the engine. nothing else is blown.

When hooked up all other electrics work such as the fridge etc.

Will this cube fuse just be the issue or could it be another issue? Looking to resolve the issue before we wild camp! Not sure if worth noting but the batteries were charging fine before its MOT i got a few weeks ago...

Thanks,

James

This from @WelshGas yesterday, on another but similar thread. If neither battery is charging sounds like you need to check the fuse under the passenger seat too.

T6 ocean battery health

Hello all, I’m just wondering about the health of my leisure battery’s. I’ve been to Scotland for 2 days/ 1 night. Circa 300 mile round trip. Before leaving I charged my batteries on the mains to 100%. I minimised my usage as I was on a site without electric. all I had on was the fridge on...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

WelshGas · Aug 30, 2022

Jamie_W1821993 said:
Hey All,

New to the California's so please forgive any dumb questions in advance. 2008 model and currently in France and the leisure batteries won't charge from driving or a hook up. Looked on some of the previous threads and have ordered a new cube fuse 75A that sits between the rear battery and positive terminal as the metal strip was blown. Have checked every other fuse individually under the passenger seat, by the front panel and by the engine. nothing else is blown.

When hooked up all other electrics work such as the fridge etc.

Will this cube fuse just be the issue or could it be another issue? Looking to resolve the issue before we wild camp! Not sure if worth noting but the batteries were charging fine before its MOT i got a few weeks ago...

Thanks,

James

As above.
If the Cube fuse has blown then you are running on only 1 Leisure battery.
If the 80 amp fuse is blown you will have no charging from the alternator.
As regards charging on EHU. When on EHU is the Mains socket on the end of the kitchen unit live?
If not, check the campsite EHU socket and your EHU lead. Try another socket and/or another lead.
If the mains socket is working then check the mains kettle type plug that plugs into the mains charger is properly plugged in. On your vehicle the charger should be below the fridge, access via a cutout on the L wall, L lower kitchen cupboard.

Wildcamper · Aug 30, 2022

If the fuse is blown then one question to ask is: why? Just replacing without knowing the cause risks just blowing the new fuse.

Jamie_W1821993 · Aug 30, 2022

@WelshGas @Stu@rt

Thanks for the reply. I have checked the 80Amp front passenger fuse and this is fine. The rear cube fuse is blown however i'm not getting either leisure batteries to charge? The mains 3 pin UK plug port at the end of the kitchen unit works when on EHU.

Checked the kettle type plug under the fridge and all seems correct and attached properly.

Im just wondering if the cube fuse would result in neither leisure battery not to charge?

Jamie_W1821993 · Aug 30, 2022

the control panel flashes as if needing to reset the time constantly even with EHU. Fridge light seems to be turning off now.

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WelshGas · Aug 30, 2022

Jamie_W1821993 said:
@WelshGas @Stu@rt

Thanks for the reply. I have checked the 80Amp front passenger fuse and this is fine. The rear cube fuse is blown however i'm not getting either leisure batteries to charge? The mains 3 pin UK plug port at the end of the kitchen unit works when on EHU.

Checked the kettle type plug under the fridge and all seems correct and attached properly.

Im just wondering if the cube fuse would result in neither leisure battery not to charge?

Just the Cube fuse blowing wouldn’t cause Charging to stop.
The Control Panel maybe having a hissy fit.
Do this.

Check Control Panel Diagnostics.

Control Panel Off and wait 30 secs

Control Panel On

Press and Hold R lower button and then press Control Knob for 5 secs.

New Hidden Menu . Scroll to VW Diagnostics.

If there are any codes shown, take note and then Reset/Clear.

Return to Main Menu.

Switch Off Control Panel using L lower button. Wait 30 secs and Switch On.

Try Roof/Heater or Fridge

MattBW · Aug 31, 2022

Jamie_W1821993 said:
@WelshGas @Stu@rt

Thanks for the reply. I have checked the 80Amp front passenger fuse and this is fine. The rear cube fuse is blown however i'm not getting either leisure batteries to charge? The mains 3 pin UK plug port at the end of the kitchen unit works when on EHU.

Checked the kettle type plug under the fridge and all seems correct and attached properly.

Im just wondering if the cube fuse would result in neither leisure battery not to charge?

Unless there has been a fundamental change in the connection then I don't believe it should, usually with that fuse gone people notice a reduction in capacity (as the connection is on the passenger seat battery) rather than a lack of charging altogether but its not out of the question. However they are connected in parallel so it could be possible if there is a weird connection that connects negative to one battery and positive to another (don't believe this should be the case?)

What does the voltages of both batteries individually look like with a volt meter? Have you also checked the green 30a fuses?

MattBW · Aug 31, 2022

Oh and how old are the batteries? Only other thing I can think of is this https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...rging-riddle-me-this.31457/page-2#post-533688

Jamie_W1821993 · Aug 31, 2022

Thanks for all your help! @WelshGas got it spot on with the control panel. I reset it and its now giving proper readings. My rear cube fuse is still blown so although the panel is saying 100% battery i'm guessing that cant be correct as the rear battery must not be being utislied/charged.

The batteries are less than a year old replaced at the same time so I was sure it wouldnt be their degradation over time.

yossarian · Aug 31, 2022

There are some gottchas replacing the cube fuse, one is that the batteries need to be at a similar state of charge, another that the disconnected cable is live.

Have a look around it's been covered before.

WelshGas · Aug 31, 2022

Jamie_W1821993 said:
Thanks for all your help! @WelshGas got it spot on with the control panel. I reset it and its now giving proper readings. My rear cube fuse is still blown so although the panel is saying 100% battery i'm guessing that cant be correct as the rear battery must not be being utislied/charged.

The batteries are less than a year old replaced at the same time so I was sure it wouldnt be their degradation over time.

The % reading is a rather iffy calculation based on power consumption. The Control Panel doesn’t know that only one battery is connected and you will find the voltage, which is accurate, will fall more quickly as will the % with only 1 battery.

I would suggest charging the rear leisure battery separately. Charge the front battery via the EHU charger, replace the cube fuse and then reconnect the rear leisure battery.

Jamie_W1821993 · Sep 1, 2022

Thanks @WelshGas.

Would it be an issue if i just reconnected the rear leisure battery as normal and charged through the EHU? Currently in France in campsites and not sure how i would charge the rear on its own?

WelshGas · Sep 1, 2022

Jamie_W1821993 said:
Thanks @WelshGas.

Would it be an issue if i just reconnected the rear leisure battery as normal and charged through the EHU? Currently in France in campsites and not sure how i would charge the rear on its own?

It depends on the voltage of the rear leisure battery compared to the voltage of the front battery. A large difference would/could blow the new cube fuse. If you can check the voltages with a multimeter and they are similar then just fit a new cube fuse.

What you could do is swap the two batteries around, but not fit the new cube fuse, keep the blown one in circuit. The front battery will then be charged by the EHU. Once it is showing 12.7+ volts then fit the new cube fuse to put the rear battery in circuit.

Alternatively. Disconnect the red + tve lead on the front leisure battery and carefully insulate it in a thick rubber glove or similar, and fit a new cube fuse. The rear battery should then be charged while on EHU and then reconnect the front battery when the Control Panel voltage shows 12.7+volts.

yossarian · Sep 1, 2022

Jamie_W1821993 said:
Thanks @WelshGas.

Would it be an issue if i just reconnected the rear leisure battery as normal and charged through the EHU? Currently in France in campsites and not sure how i would charge the rear on its own?

You could disconnect the (charged) front battery, connect the rear battery and charge on ehu, then reconnect the front one.

The problem you're trying to solve is that connecting a fully charged and flat battery in parallel will result in a very high current, blowing fuses and potentially damaging your eyes and both batteries.