Battery in engine always flat

lilla299
lilla299 Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited January 2016 in Motorhomes #1

I have a peugeot boxer auto cruise rhythm 2013. I have it in my drive.  The main battery is always going flat even now there is not enough power to open the doors.  I have checked to see if anything is draining it but can't see anything can anyone help.
 I have only had it for about 6 months.

Comments

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #2

    Not  sure  how  long  you  are  leaving  it  standing  idle,  Lilla.

    My  2012   Jazz  is  just  a  little  smaller  than  your  Rhythm,  but  I  dont  think  there  will  be  THAT  much  difference  in  the  electrical  loading  when  its  standing  and  the  Jazz  is  often  stood  unconnected  for  a  week,  and  kicks 
    up  first  time  ! {  Probably  fail  tomorrow  tho  Happy  }

  • rogher
    rogher Forum Participant Posts: 609
    500 Comments
    edited January 2016 #3

    Was the battery new when you got it?

    How have you checked for drainage?

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #4

    Do you have yor selection switch in the vehicle position instead of the aux position? May not be relevent but all I can think of at the moment...........Cool

  • kenexton
    kenexton Forum Participant Posts: 306
    edited January 2016 #5

    1.Earth leakage discharge?This is more common on older vehicles but an autoelectrician could check for this.2.Is the battery OK -take it to a garage and get them to put a discharge tester across the terminals.If the battery is not holding charge then you
    may have collapsed plates and the battery needs to be replaced-I presume that you have visually checked the electrolyte levels in each cell?.3.Does your cab radio turn off when you turn off the ignition or can you turn it on without the key in?Sometimes the
    cab radio in an MH is wired to allow this -have you inadvertently left it on but muted?4.Have you got a separate alarm and immobiliser on the vehicle because this can pull the battery down over a period if the vehicle is not driven regularly.I have experienced
    all of this list over the years but after these possibilities are exhausted -I give up!

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #6

    Have you an alarm fitted? This and modern electonics on todays vehicles can drain a battery over a period of time, its one reason I leave both my engine and leisure batteries permanently on charge.

    peedee

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #7

    likely to be the immobiliser, alarm and tracker (if you have any or these)....

    and it doesnt take long to drag the battery down, just a few short weeks and dead.....

    there is a process you can go through with a voltmeter and pulling fuses which will identify which circuits are the most 'expensive' juice wise.....

    if your vehicle battery is charged from a hook up, then can you plug in, are you parked at home?

    we have a solar panel on the roof which charges the vehicle and leisure batteries so no flat ones here.

    however, on our first van, we had a flat vehicle battery as i wasnt aware of the current draw from alarms etc.

  • lilla299
    lilla299 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited January 2016 #8

    Thank you for all your comments.  I will take them on board and try.  

    My only question is re linking to mains at home I did this and it charged the leisure battery fully but not the cab one???

  • Grumblewagon
    Grumblewagon Forum Participant Posts: 246
    edited January 2016 #9

    True, the charger only charges the leisure battery.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #10

    If your motorhome is not equipped to charge both batteries from hook up then you can fit a device so that it can be done. I have had to do this on both motorhomes I have owned. Check out
    >Battery Master<
    They are easy to fit.

    peedee

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #11

    mine does both from ehu, solar or alternator....

    if yours doesnt, then a battery master is a simple solution to flat batteries.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #12

    My vehicle battery discharges over two or three weeks to the stage that it requires charging...about 12.3 volts.

    I charge it with a decent Ctek charger placed under the bonnet for a few hours.

    It could be left to float charge all the time but don't like to leave unattended. I often leave the charger connected and just turn off at the mains!

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #13

    Its better left on float. Every charge and discharge of the battery reduces its life. Fit a battery master if you plug in at home. It also means you don't have to worry about flattening the engine battery when on site by running the cab radio which more than likely is powered from it.

    peedee

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #14

    Appreciate your comments. If the vehicle is run everyday as in normal white van service it would get charged, on and off, far more often than my MH engine battery.

    My 2002 Ducato's engine compartment leaks water nearly as bad as the X250 did so I am fairly careful.

    My last battery lasted 8 years which I class as reasonable based on long experience.

    6 of one and half a dozen of the otherLaughing

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #15

    8 years is good, I only got just under 4 years with my first battery, that's when I decided to fit a battery master and the second battery was on its 6th year when I sold it.

    peedee

  • Graydjames
    Graydjames Forum Participant Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited January 2016 #16

    My van always discharges the battery over about three to four weeks but I found that a small solar panel in the windscreen pretty much solved the problem. I take it out for a run in the winter months every couple of weeks and that helps as well - as well
    as keeping the engine regularly turned over. This winter I have had no problems at all but in the colder winters even two weeks might not be enough as the battery has to work so hard to turn over the engine and I have had to get the jump leads on it from my
    car.

    But at least the battery has not gone irreparably flat since I got the solar panel. 

  • HOTORMOMER
    HOTORMOMER Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited January 2016 #17

    Just read the posts about batteries. I have recently bought an AA battery charger & maintainer which is permently connected to the vehicle battery and keeps it in a fully charged condition.The alarm system comes from this so it's replenished automaticly
    as required. Highly recommended.

  • lilla299
    lilla299 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited January 2016 #18

    Thank you. I have since bought a more powerful battery but although Peugeot said there was a problem with the batteries not being powerful enough they said the issue was with Bessacar and would not replace foc.  I have since found out that my unit will charge
    both my batteries when plugged into the mains it has a trickle charger fitted as standard .

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