Flat battery after.........

[Realist]

Hi all,

My turn so......

Background, purchased a Fiat Starblazer XL 2009 in March 20th lockdown 23rd thanks, anyway.

Not used the van for any distance only two local runs to give it some fresh air and also added a A frame to my misses car to take with us, adding this as I don’t know if it’s a factor.

Solar panel on roof that keeps two batteries charged and does the trick.

Today for the very first time we drove from South Wales to Vanbitz and pulling in to the reception I turned off the key to talk to the warden and after 5 mins turned the key, nowt sounded like a flat battery and after three turns it finally started sluggishly.

Left it run on the pitch for 10 mins and now the batteries are fully charged from the panel but not turned over the engine as yet saving that for tomorrow to get the van into Vanbitz workshop.

Now, been told that towing a car may be a factor but what I find strange is no lights on the dash and I would presume that the alternator would of charged the battery on the trip down anyway.

So any ideas why no turn over sounding like a flat battery?


Thanks all.

 

[chaser]

Sounds like an earth on starter to me but Eddie should sort it.
You are in the right place

 

[Realist]

I’ll ask him tomorrow, eddievanbitz my hero lol.

 

[gus-lopez]

Earth what Chaser suggested.

 

[HugoBNB]

Sorry to hear you have a problem but, as above, you have had it in the best place to get it sorted! Great team at Vanbitz.

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[ManTheVan]

Do keep us updated.

 

[The Dotties]

I’ll ask him tomorrow, eddievanbitz my hero lol.

Creeping wont get you a further discount!

 

[pappajohn]

Towing won't make any difference. If it was a tow car wiring fault it would blow fuses.

 

[peterc10]

Left it run on the pitch for 10 mins and now the batteries are fully charged from the panel but not turned over the engine as yet saving that for tomorrow to get the van into Vanbitz workshop.

It will take a lot longer than 10 minutes to charge up batteries from an idling engine. 10 hours maybe just for the starter battery. Your panel is just showing the charging voltage from the alternator and/or the solar panel, not the standing voltage of the battery. To get that you need to switch off the engine and solar panel and leave the battery to settle for half an hour or so

 

[TheBig1]

It sounds like either an earth strap fault of the battery is old and has lost capacity. As vehicle batteries age, they slowly sulphate and although they appear to charge (quickly) they no longer have the ability to store as much energy. A 75 a/h battery may read healthy on the voltage side but may only have a capacity of 10 a/h after a few years use. Especially if sat on charge for months or left discharged.

The first indication of this may be failing to turn the engine over despite appearing charged. Another red flag is going from apparently flat to fully charged way too quickly

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[Realist]

Well growler and stop tracker fitted with a bill that made me gulp, anyway..... did ask if they had time to see if it was a strap but they didn’t look at it said they don’t have the tools.

Anyway, i still have warranty on it although I’ve never received any paperwork, details etc and for a free 6 months warranty I’ve now got 2 months left the rest was taken while parked up through Covid will give the dealer a call and see what’s up.

Leaving for home tomorrow morning and see if at the other end it does the same, but baffled why no dash light?

Thanks all, will read up on straps and earth ASAP and most probs get a new battery.

Best wishes.

 

[Phil 748]

Hi we had similar symptoms with a Citroen C8, had it checked a garage they thought that was the battery charged could find nothing wrong checked out the alternator all good, then while driving down to Spain stopped at services, and what happens looks like battery flat, got a mechanic out, starter motor nackered got it replaced never had the problem again

 

[Realist]

My last MoHo old ford transit based had similar problems and it turned out to be the starter motor (lazy starter).

After a new one was installed yes no issues.

Warrenty here we come.

 

[DavidG58]

My simple take on this would be if all the tow car lights work correctly when you check them tomorrow including brake while indicating, the tow car can be blamed or discounted

presume all lights were ok when you set off

 

[Realist]

Tow car not connected only via frame using wireless lights on rear of car.

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[Realist]

Well purchased a battery tester and it says.

Battery Test
Battery: Good
Measure: 660CCA
Volts: 13.45V
Int R: 4.09mOhm

Grounding Test
Results: Ok
4.14mOhm
The grounding resistance of the engine or chassis is within limits.

Starter Test
Results: Ok
Battery: 13.49V
Min Volts: 11.35V
Volts Drop: Normal

Alternator test
Results: Low charge
At 3000 rpm
No Load Test
Min >13.8V: 13.01V
Check for loose belt and the alternator.

Alternator test
At 2000 rpm
Loading test:
Min > 12.8V: 12.29V
Check for loose belt and the alternator.

So battery looks like it’s ok but not getting any charge from the alternator and only the solar panel is keeping it topped up.

So while my drive down was ok all my lights etc was using up my battery and when I tried to start it the battery was not fully charged from the alternator, hence the flat battery.

So, belt or alternator but no lights are showing on dash?

 

[poppycamper]

Hi all,

My turn so......

Background, purchased a Fiat Starblazer XL 2009 in March 20th lockdown 23rd thanks, anyway.

Not used the van for any distance only two local runs to give it some fresh air and also added a A frame to my misses car to take with us, adding this as I don’t know if it’s a factor.

Solar panel on roof that keeps two batteries charged and does the trick.

Today for the very first time we drove from South Wales to Vanbitz and pulling in to the reception I turned off the key to talk to the warden and after 5 mins turned the key, nowt sounded like a flat battery and after three turns it finally started sluggishly.

Left it run on the pitch for 10 mins and now the batteries are fully charged from the panel but not turned over the engine as yet saving that for tomorrow to get the van into Vanbitz workshop.

Now, been told that towing a car may be a factor but what I find strange is no lights on the dash and I would presume that the alternator would of charged the battery on the trip down anyway.

So any ideas why no turn over sounding like a flat battery?


Thanks all.

Nope think you all wrong.... Sounds like a case similar to "dog to the vets" syndrome..... you know the one where dogs quite happily wanders along to vets UNTIL he gets to front door... realises where he is going and has a refusal.... He ain't goin any further.....
Well this is a case of "Moho to Eddies" syndrome.... I ain't going in there to have him messing with my bits. Thanks very much.

 

[Realist]

Still thinking along the lines of bad earth from alternator myself.

 

[peterc10]

Nope think you all wrong.... Sounds like a case similar to "dog to the vets" syndrome..... you know the one where dogs quite happily wanders along to vets UNTIL he gets to front door... realises where he is going and has a refusal.... He ain't goin any further.....
Well this is a case of "Moho to Eddies" syndrome.... I ain't going in there to have him messing with my bits. Thanks very much.

I think his wife stopped him offering that service some time ago. .....

 

[eddie]

Sorry that the guys didn't have the time to help you on the Saturday when you came in, as you saw, we only have a skeleton staff in on Staurdays to cover the actual work booked. Don't understand the "not the right tools" bit I will ask in the workshops tomorrow, "what tool are they missing lol" but each to their own, they are great technicians and not necessarily communicators or people people which is why they are only "front of house" on Saturdays

I have had two "A" framed cars and I would get flat batteries with both of them when towing, the first I investigated everything, and in the end not being able to find anything and a trip abroad looming (it was ignored in France and Spain a few years ago) I fitted a quick release terminal on the negative terminal

It cured the problem and I lost the will to keep investigating lol

The current car? towed it home brand new, battery too flat to start, next day fitted a quick release battery terminal and the problem has gone!

Takes about 15 seconds to open the bonnet, flick the lever and lift off the terminal

Simples!

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[Realist]

Hi eddievanbitz, It’s ok bud they was busy and I’m pleased the alarms fitted and works a treat.

 

[Realist]

Recommendation: VanBitz.

Had a growler, remote engine stop and loop fitted with extra doors covered and by god it’s bloody loud and those blue LEDs are BRIGHT.

Worth every penny for piece of mind.

Not had time yet to read manual but wish I had cherp when alarm is active or disabled plus shame it’s not part of the original van key remote.

No complains, no false alarms and guys did a great job.

 

[eddie]

Recommendation: VanBitz.

Had a growler, remote engine stop and loop fitted with extra doors covered and by god it’s bloody loud and those blue LEDs are BRIGHT.

Worth every penny for piece of mind.

Not had time yet to read manual but wish I had cherp when alarm is active or disabled plus shame it’s not part of the original van key remote.

No complains, no false alarms and guys did a great job.

The van remote is woefully insecure, any aftermarket alarm that is turned on and off with it is vulnerable

Cheap alarms easily plugged into the OBDP flogged as "great" for the user whereas they are easy to install, plugs in and cheap no need for sophisticated radio keys and decoders

Your Growler has a 16 digit alpha numeric code (hard enough to guess the lottery without adding the alphabet in as well) and it only ever uses one of the Billions of codes once, then deletes it so cannot be copied or cloned

Out of curiosity does you central locking lock your caravan door?

 

[Realist]

Lock doors yes and flashes indicators and when I press the blue key fob the indicator lights flash again along with the blue leds.