Battery or meter problem?

[Bustup15]

Battery or a meter problem?

Spent a few days away wild camping. Leisure batteries running low by the Monday as expected as there wasn't much sun.

Drove back 50 miles or so and on arriving checked the battery monitors and was surprised to see not only the leisure batteries but the cab engine battery with the red alert lit and only showing 1 LED.

Put it onto electric hookup and after a few minutes both batteries showing max voltage. Left on hookup overnight, heating etc on.

Following morning on disconnecting the hook up leisure battery banks were full but engine still showing the fault even with engine running. No fault lights in the dashboard.

It was bitterly cold last night but the engine turned over and fired first time.

It's going into a fiat Professional tomorrow to be checked what are your thoughts, faulty gauge?

 

[Blue Knight]

It sounds to me as if there's an issue with the meter when it's monitoring the engine battery.

Even if the starter battery was knackered (It doesn't sound like it to me) then it would still read OK after a 50-mile drive.

Is there any way you can remove the gauge so that you can get a multimeter on the points and then cross reference it with a reading from the actual starter battery.

 

[PeteH]

Fuse?. If it`s reading OK on EHU. But not when the Alternator is supplying. there could be a fuse in that part of the system which has failed?. If your Alternator was failing (or failed) you should have an Indication on the dash.

 

[Ditcha]

We have the same control panel never had your problem but I have attached a copy of the manual if its any help

 

[Bustup15]

Update on the above issue - just got vehicle back from a Fiat Professional dealer.

Outcome - not a Fiat issue they say its down to Dethleffs as its n after factory fit.

Fuse holder, fuse and outoing wiring totally burnt out! Whats the point of a fuse if it doesn't protect the system?

To cap it all got a bill for £115 from the Fiat dealer and found a smashed lamp at rear which of course the dealer totally denies any knowledge of.

All in all not a good weekend and now need to resolve the wiring - to clarify the vehicle is 6 months old and done 5k

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Diabalo]

It could be a poorly made terminal or the fuse wasn't seated correctly resulting in a lot of heat.

 

[pappajohn]

to clarify the vehicle is 6 months old and done 5k

Why isn't the dealer sorting this... Its under warrenty.

 

[Bustup15]

Why isn't the dealer sorting this... Its under warrenty.

I first spoke to Fiat about the issue and they suggested to get it to a Professional dealer to investigate, compounded by the fact that its a self import. I've emailed the dealer over the weekend and am waiting for a response.

 

[Lenny HB]

Sent a copy of the Fiat invoice to your dealer you should get it refunded. On our first van we had a fault that was down to Hymer cost £350 for Fiat dealer to fix, Hymer refunded me.

 

[Vipar]

Good luck with your claim against the dealer. One consultation is that you were not asleep in the van. if the fuse did not protect you God knows what could have happened. I would push that point to strengthen your case.???

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Blue Knight]

If that's where you live (address on invoice) then you have a nice house depicted via Street view.

'Security' is not a dirty word so you should remove the invoice address details from the forum.

 

[Bustup15]

If that's where you live (address on invoice) then you have a nice house depicted via Street view.

'Security' is not a dirty word so you should remove the invoice address details from the forum.

Cheers for that good news, thanks for the prompt!

 

[Bustup15]

I suspect this was the cause of the issue. Oops.csnt load video will edit and try later but essentially the terminal is able to rotate slightly on the outgoing end that burnt out!

Also it looks like a 60a fuse was fitted if you look at the remaining terminal - is that normal?

 

[Bustup15]

Video ofLoose Cable Connection loose cable

 

[pappajohn]

Video ofLoose Cable Connection loose cable

100% definate cause.

This was loose terminal screws.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bustup15]

The original installed unit was by Dietz but I can't see an identical one on line anywhere - I need the complete unit. I'm positive that the dealer/Dethleffs will repair replace but they seem to be only a few quid so I may source one if they confirm it will not affect warranty to speed things up.

When looking on line there seems to be a number of resettable trips for a bit more money. What's the thoughts on using one of these rather than a replaceable fuse?

Similar to these but others half the cost

Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles & More | eBay

Buy & sell electronics, cars, clothes, collectibles & more on eBay, the world's online marketplace. Top brands, low prices & free shipping on many items.

rover.ebay.com

 

[PeteH]

Also it looks like a 60a fuse was fitted if you look at the remaining terminal - is that normal?

Could be. What is the cable size?. LOOKS about 4mm/sq in the pic?. So maybe will carry up to 50A?.

Similar fuse holders are on Flea bay at about 4quid each