Leisure battery & Spare wheel

[bubble]

Hi, we have just purchased a new to us 1997 , Hymer B544. Having cleaned and polished it, checked everything works. we have not found the leisure battery. where is it hidden please. Also if a spare wheel is fitted where would it go, does not appear to have one. Looked for a carrier underneath but can’t seem to find anything. Sorry to ask stupid questions but you all have good experience and are all so helpful, it’s great. Well worth the joining fee. The site is a credit to all of you who run it ,and all those who keep it so interesting with your daily chats. Thanks.

 

[pw9crab]

Hi leisure battery’s under front seats

 

[bubble]

Can’t see it how would you get to it,

 

[jtp890]

May have a cover plate.
Jim

 

[Stealaway]

Can’t see it how would you get to it,

Remove the seat? Not all vans have a spare wheel only a puncture repair kit

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[TUCANO]

On a 97 plated B584 that l owned the leisure batteries were both under the front seats and access was via a flap at the front of the seat.
I keep my spare wheel and tyre in an outside underfloor locker on the 06 B584 l presently own, it weighs 25 kgs.
Norman.

 

[Lenny HB]

If the Elektroblock (12v distribution unit) is under the driver's seat (LHD) the battery is probably behind it and a second battery will be under the other seat. Normally a van of that age I would expect to have a spare wheel I would expect it to be in the double floor or if a single floor under the floor with a plug in the floor you remove to wind it down.

 

[bubble]

Ok, thanks will start looking , it’s RHD so will look under passenger seat first , for the battery . Main battery in the bonnet. we have carpets down so will lift them to see if there is a flap, for the spare wheel,but can’t see a spare wheel so need one.

 

[Lenny HB]

we have carpets down so will lift them to see if there is a flap, for the spare wheel,but can’t see a spare wheel so need one.

More likely to be accessed via one of the external lockers.

 

[Northernraider]

I've got the 654 and both my leisure batteries are in an outside locker directly behind the passenger seat. My spare wheel is between the double floor behind the waste water tank and accessed through the rear locker under my bed.
I'd have thought your spare wheel would be underslung on that model

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[bubble]

Thanks for your replies need to get down on my knees (how on earth will I get up) and investigate.

 

[bubble]

Ok, found a spare wheel it was in a locker that runs the whole length of the back of the van, it was at the point that you can’t reach but has a pulley system to assist it’s removal, very clever really. However we have not found the leisure battery, I know you are all chuckling at this but we really can’t find it. Been tugging for 30 years so not completely stupid but just a little bit as it’s not in any locker or under the front seats can’t see any other hidden areas under the van, so we are at a loss. Does anybody have a 1997 Hymer b5444 and could enlighten our plight.

 

[Spriddler]

The previous owner used to have one. Can't they tell you?

 

[pw9crab]

Hi the only other place I can think of under the long seat is there a trap boor I had one in Hymer 680 leisure battery’s there under floor

 

[JeanLuc]

If yours has a double floor, the habitation battery(ies) should be in a locker on the left hand side, accessed by a door in the outside bodywork. If it has a single floor (and in 1997 probably did) the battery(ies) should be either under the front seat (or seats if 2 batteries) or in a battery tray that is recessed into the floor. This would be accessed via a trap beneath a settee.

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[bubble]

Hi, the person who owned it died, so we purchased from his wife who had never done anything with the van other than enjoy it, that’s why we have had so many questions. She did not know how anything worked and Hymer book only in German which we don’t understand. So sorry to be such a pain. We have now worked out everything but still can’t find that battery. We checked all previous suggestions with no luck.sorry it is a single floor version.carpets taken up , no trap doors.

 

[JeanLuc]

Have you lifted the seat on the settee(s) too?

Worth looking in the resources section as there are manuals for many standard motorhome fitments. Here is a link to a Hymer manual for 2005; obviously not ideal for you but some things may be the same or similar.
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/resources/hymer-instruction-manual-for-2005-models.124/

 

[andy63]

Dont know your van..but if i was in that situiation id start at the distribution board and try and trace the wires back from there... got to take you to the battery if you can trace them..
Andy

 

[bubble]

Ok looked at the brochure ours is fiat based and on the 2005 model it’s in an under floor storage area on the front left hand side. Our definitely does not have this so back to square one, thanks anyway.

 

[Spriddler]

Hi, the person who owned it died, so we purchased from his wife who had never done anything with the van other than enjoy it, that’s why we have had so many questions.

Understood. I really was intending to be helpful, not facetious.
Don't fret about asking questions. It would be pretty boring on here if everyone knew everything. (Although some do, I believe )

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[Neil Bedwin]

A quick search turns up ....'I have a 1997 LHD Hymer B544. The leisure battery is to the right of the passenger seat, under a hatch in the floor situated below the wooden structure housing all the electrics etc.'
or
'Leisure battery probably under floor hatch to right of front passenger seat, if same as 1997 Fiat Ducato based Classic model'
or
'On my RHD 2000 B584 it's under the drivers seat. Be aware if it is under the front seats it will be a "gel" type and smaller than a lot of other batteries to allow it to fit.'

Hope this helps....

 

[bubble]

Ok we have a large wooden structure next to the drivers seat RHD , do you think it could be in there, at quick glance I would say not a chance but I have looked everywhere else. Nothing at all under either seat but fixed rubber mats, tried to shift unstick them but can’t move them. There is no floor hatches in the van at all. Everything moved whilst cleaning , all carpets up rubber mats moved if they move. Still no trace, but thanks for your ideas.

 

[JeanLuc]

No, I think you are referring to the ‘passenger’ storage box. Often, and certainly in later models, the Elektrobloc (EBL) is in there. That is the 12v charging and distribution control unit. Yours is probably an EBL 99. There is an instruction manual for it in the Resources section.
The battery location remains a mystery. Can you actually see into the box sections below the front seats? That would be the most likely location but the batteries will be quite low down. Alternatively, get under the van and see if you can identify a deep plastic tray protruding down from the wooden floor pan. If there is one, that may be a battery tray and you should find an access panel above it.
One final thought. Is there just one battery in the engine bay? Not a normal location for a leisure battery but we seem to be exhausting all likely options.

 

[bubble]

Ok, yes the small thin cabinet has the electro bloc in it and not big enough to have a leisure battery in it, we have been under the van , there is no boxes or anything big enough to hold a battery even a very small one, but we must have one just got to find it. Thanks for your help.

 

[TheBig1]

where are you, maybe another set of eyes on the problem will help

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[bubble]

We are in suffolk

 

[TheBig1]

We are in suffolk

can you be more specific? nearest big town?

if another member is local, they may be willing to help

can you lean under the van and take some photos with your phone? post them on here and we will be able to help at a distance

 

[TUCANO]

Running out of ideas here, couldnt be in the water heater cupboard could it !!

 

[bubble]

No had my head right down in the cupboard definitely not in there. But a great idea thanks.

 

[TUCANO]

Wouldn't understand WHY but, overhead lockers

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