Dead Engine Battery?

[TOAD on Tour]

After some advice please
I have a 2015 Sonic A Class, which we’ve owned since January and had no issues at all. I had a solar panel fitted in March with included being able to top the engine battery also when parked. We have the van on our drive and I last drive it approx 3 weeks ago returning from a trip to Devon.
I monitor the battery (leisure & engine) readings from the control panel in the van on a regular basis and the leisure batteries are always around 13.1V and the engine battery used to be around 12.6 - 12.7v but over the last week or so noticed it was 12.3V - 12.4V. So today I thought I’d take it for a run and put key in ignition as normal to lower the E&P Hydraulic Legs and it didn’t have enough power to do so and low battery light came on dash. I managed to hook up on electric and raise the legs that way. When I started the engine, it struggled, but did fire up and noticed 2 linked battery lights in red on the Motorhome control panel lit up, not sure what this was, could the leisure batteries have helped the engine battery to start the engine? Anyway, I gave the van a drive for around 30 mins and parked back up at home with engine off and the van has rested for around 10 minutes and the control panel now says the engine battery is 12.5V (Leisure batteries still reading 13.1V) Do you think the battery is on its way out, or already gone? Any pointers greatly received as I can barely change a light bulb!

 

[Figaro]

Do you think the battery is on its way out,

Sounds like it could be but it'd be better to put a battery charger directly on the terminals and charged overnight.
Then check voltage with a multimeter directly on the terminals over a period of days.
Or take it to a garage and they'll test it for you and tell you if it's lost capacity despite showing a good voltage.

 

[RedFrame]

You'd have to isolate the cab battery from any charging systems you have, then take a measurement after an hour or two to get a true idea of where it is, however, from your description, I'd say it was Kaput, or about to be.

This is the problem with B2B etc etc, we had no idea that the Cab battery was on it's way out until, one day, we tried to start it and we just got a Christmas Tree, and loads of errors reported on the OBD. Turned out to be just a properly dead starter bat. (LIfe Lesson: Always park MH so that you can open passenger door to access starter battery easily)

Cheers
Red.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

Sounds like it could be but it'd be better to put a battery charger directly on the terminals and charged overnight.
Then check voltage with a multimeter directly on the terminals over a period of days.
Or take it to a garage and they'll test it for you and tell you if it's lost capacity despite showing a good voltage.

Thanks Figaro. I’ll probably have to take it to a garage and have them take look !

 

[TOAD on Tour]

You'd have to isolate the cab battery from any charging systems you have, then take a measurement after an hour or two to get a true idea of where it is, however, from your description, I'd say it was Kaput, or about to be.

This is the problem with B2B etc etc, we had no idea that the Cab battery was on it's way out until, one day, we tried to start it and we just got a Christmas Tree, and loads of errors reported on the OBD. Turned out to be just a properly dead starter bat.

Cheers
Red.

Thanks Red, this was my thought, that the solar is giving a false reading etc.

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[RedFrame]

Thanks Red, this was my thought, that the solar is giving a false reading etc.

TBH, I wouldn't bother paying a garage to test it. Either test it yourself, or just invest in a new battery for around £100..

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Cheers
Red.

 

[Terry]

You say it's getting charged from the solar. This will give you readings as if on charge or it is on charge. Disconnect your engine battery and take a meter reading in the morning,this will give a accurate reading. Anything close to 12.1 and I would change it. Make sure you get a 900 cc ( cold cranking) starter battery as they used to fit 720 cc and it proved inadequate.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

TBH, I wouldn't bother paying a garage to test it. Either test it yourself, or just invest in a new battery for around £100..

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Cheers
Red.

You say it's getting charged from the solar. This will give you readings as if on charge or it is on charge. Disconnect your engine battery and take a meter reading in the morning,this will give a accurate reading. Anything close to 12.1 and I would change it. Make sure you get a 900 cc ( cold cranking) starter battery as they used to fit 720 cc and it proved inadequate.

Unfortunately I wouldnt have a clue where to start, I may just book it in a garage for an oil/filter change which it is due this year and tell them to check/fit a new battery. Regarding a new battery, would this just be a standard battery for a 3.0 Ducato? Many thanks to all for the super quick replies.

 

[RedFrame]

Unfortunately I wouldnt have a clue where to start, I may just book it in a garage for an oil/filter change which it is due this year and tell them to check/fit a new battery. Regarding a new battery, would this just be a standard battery for a 3.0 Ducato? Many thanks to all for the super quick replies.

That would do the job.. Take Terry 's advice and ask them not to replace like for like but ensure the replacement is 900cc.

If I were closer I'd help you do it, but we're opposite sides of the country...

Cheers
Red.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

That would do the job.. Take Terry 's advice and ask them not to replace like for like but ensure the replacement is 900cc.

If I were closer I'd help you do it, but we're opposite sides of the country...

Cheers
Red.

No worries, your help has been really appreciated

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[TOAD on Tour]

Good morning…..looks like it deffo is the battery. Just gone out to check the reading on the MH control panel and the engine battery reads 11.3V. Thought I’d check it before the sun is out and the solar kicks in! I’ve now plugged in the EHU to hopefully keep enough charge in the battery to get it started and drive it to the garage. Will get it booked in later. Thanks again for the pointers

 

[DavidG58]

Hopefully just a battery and very easily fixed, even if by a garage, exactly as I would ‘solve’ it myself

Given how important starting is and relatively how little they cost it will be £150 or so well spent, at 7 years it’s given good service, we have had two in our 9 years ownership

 

[TOAD on Tour]

Hi All - so I had the van serviced and had new battery fitted on Thursday, I think all is good. Just wanted to see if the following is normal - so this morning (dull drizzly weather so can’t think the solar is doing anything) I unlocked the van with central locking/disabling the alarm etc. checked the engine battery reading from the habitation control panel and engine battery was showing 12.4v, is this because I’ve just disabled the alarm and central locking (van also has a tracker fitted) because I then left it unlocked and went back 15 mins later and the reading was back up and showing 12.7v? I’ve just reserved a multi meter at my local Screwfix for future checks! I think what I’ve just described seems ok, but wanted some advice/confirmation from those far better educated than me!

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi All - so I had the van serviced and had new battery fitted on Thursday, I think all is good. Just wanted to see if the following is normal - so this morning (dull drizzly weather so can’t think the solar is doing anything) I unlocked the van with central locking/disabling the alarm etc. checked the engine battery reading from the habitation control panel and engine battery was showing 12.4v, is this because I’ve just disabled the alarm and central locking (van also has a tracker fitted) because I then left it unlocked and went back 15 mins later and the reading was back up and showing 12.7v? I’ve just reserved a multi meter at my local Screwfix for future checks! I think what I’ve just described seems ok, but wanted some advice/confirmation from those far better educated than me!

Yes that's OK. Our car does the same, when you open a door the computer wakes up and takes 250ma for 8 minutes

 

[autorouter]

In general, voltage is not a very good indicator of the battery state of charge. During charging, even a flat battery will go up to over 13V, and when under load the voltage of even a fully charged battery might drop to below 12V. A battery not being charged and not under load will gradually return to its 'resting voltage' after one or two hours, but sometimes it takes longer. The resting voltage is a reasonable indication of the state of charge. However in a motorhome with constant drain and probably solar charging, it's difficult to get a resting voltage.

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[TOAD on Tour]

Yes that's OK. Our car does the same, when you open a door the computer wakes up and takes 250ma for 8 minutes

Great, thank you for the reassurance!