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Can't start my Cali

P

Paul Merone 62

Messages
22
Location
Cumbria
Vehicle
T6 Ocean 204 4Motion
Hi. I am just about to set off on a 4 day trip and my Cali won't start. Zero response when I turn the ignition. I don't think it's a battery problem as it started ok yesterday. Also I popped the roof earlier today to give it an airing. The roof is currently stuck in the up position.
I'm very new to this vehicle. I'm thinking maybe a blown fuse. Can anybody please help me
 
Does the dash light up?
Any relay clicking when you turn the key?
Did you leave the keys in the ignition after popping the roof?
What year of Cali?
 
Have you breakdown such as VW assist. As a starting point they are only a phone call away
 
you need ignition on to lower the roof. as said did you leave this on when you upped the roof ? this would have left the drls on and maybe the radio and flattened it. don't you have one of those booster starters ? a neighbour with jump leads ? any lights on at all ? do the drls light up with ignition on ?
 
You say your roof is stuck ‘up’. Assuming you’ve got the ignition key in and switched ‘on’ (without necessarily starting the van), this suggests you’ve got no juice left in the leisure batteries. When moving the roof up and down there is a big draw on the leisure batteries (30 - 40 Amps I believe). Normally, when we open/close the roof, and we’re not on a site hook up, we run the engine to lessen the impact.

That doesn’t explain why the engines not starting though. The only deduction I could make is that the alternator is not charging the starter battery, and as such, it won’t also charge the leisure batteries. The most common fault here is that the cube fuse on the positive terminal on the starter battery has blown. Try searching ‘cube fuse’ on the forum more info.
 
Hawthorn37 said:
You say your roof is stuck ‘up’. Assuming you’ve got the ignition key in and switched ‘on’ (without necessarily starting the van), this suggests you’ve got no juice left in the leisure batteries. When moving the roof up and down there is a big draw on the leisure batteries (30 - 40 Amps I believe). Normally, when we open/close the roof, and we’re not on a site hook up, we run the engine to lessen the impact.

That doesn’t explain why the engines not starting though. The only deduction I could make is that the alternator is not charging the starter battery, and as such, it won’t also charge the leisure batteries. The most common fault here is that the cube fuse on the positive terminal on the starter battery has blown. Try searching ‘cube fuse’ on the forum more info.
Click to expand...
My understanding is the roof runs on the engine battery. That combined with potentially leaving the keys in the ignition after you have turned the key to 'on' after raising the roof, will leave the DRL's on and flatten the engine battery.
If it is dark and the headlight switch is on 'auto' then the sidelights stay on until the key is removed from the ignition altogether.
 
Drpps said:
My understanding is the roof runs on the engine battery. That combined with potentially leaving the keys in the ignition after you have turned the key to 'on' after raising the roof, will leave the DRL's on and flatten the engine battery.
If it is dark and the headlight switch is on 'auto' then the sidelights stay on until the key is removed from the ignition altogether.
Click to expand...
Incorrect. The Leisure Batteries power the roof hydraulic pump. Ignition On is a safety feature to ensure that the person operating the roof has the Ignition keys, rather than a 5yr old playing with the Control Panel.

If the Ignition was left On, after roof opening, thus flattening the engine battery then there may not be sufficient Ignition Power to allow activation of the roof system.
 
Drpps said:
My understanding is the roof runs on the engine battery. That combined with potentially leaving the keys in the ignition after you have turned the key to 'on' after raising the roof, will leave the DRL's on and flatten the engine battery.
If it is dark and the headlight switch is on 'auto' then the sidelights stay on until the key is removed from the ignition altogether.
Click to expand...
Nope, the roof pump is definitely from the leisure batteries.

Having the keys in may, as you say, add to the list of items to discharge the starter battery, like the exterior lights, infotainment, vent fan. And having the side door open (as you do when playing!) will help drain the leisure batteries with accom. lights (anything behind the front seats basically).
 
Doesn't this engine battery/leisure battery depend on the age of the Cali? Mine's 2005 and I've always understood the roof runs off the engine battery.
 
BikerGran said:
Doesn't this engine battery/leisure battery depend on the age of the Cali? Mine's 2005 and I've always understood the roof runs off the engine battery.
Click to expand...
No. If you check the Leisure Battery voltage while raising the roof you'll see the voltage drop as the pump activates. No such change on the engine battery voltage.
 
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