Ducato flat battery

greylag
greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
Name Dropper
edited February 2017 in Motorhomes #1

I'm not the first and won't be the last,  but.......

I went to turn the engine over and not a drop of charge in it.  I went to take the battery off and immediately got stuck, I undid the front terminal and when I went to do the rear one, I came up against a metal plate with lots of terminal nuts and connections.  Slacken the battery terminal and the plate with the connectors lifts up slightly, but shows no sign of moving out of the way.

I can't charge battery in place because I can't open the filler holes to release the gas, as the two holes towards the rear of the battery are covered by the plate.

Any info appreciated.

Comments

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited February 2017 #2

    I have just spoken to my brother and he says that he never opens the distilled water filler plugs he just connects charger and that's it.

    Also I have just read Halfords 'How to charge battery' and nowhere does it say the filler cap's have to be loosened.

    Am I just old fashioned?

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #3

    Not  Old  Fashioned,  GL,  just  not  used  to  dealing

    with  these  more  modern  batteries  !!   Some  of  'em

    don't  have  any  "removable" plugs  at  all,  others  just

    have  a  form  of  'vent'  system.  By  and  large  it's

    probably  best  to  just  check  that  connections  are 

    tight  &  clean  and  keep  the  charger  leads  away  from

    those  other  connectors.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #4

    You don't slacken/remove the caps when the vehicle's alternator is charging your battery  wink in fact  you needn't have removed either cable.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #5

    Not sure if this is the answer. My Rhythm has 2 leisure batteries under the front seats. These are automatically charged when hooked to the mains.  The vehicle battery is under the passenger footwell and difficult to access.  However on my  van electric clock I can change "habitation charge" to "vehicle charge" by changing one of the press buttons. Have you looked at your manual to see if this can be done. I only found out when the rescue man cam to sort out my vehicle flat battery!!

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited February 2017 #6

    Thanks for that.....seems modern batteries do not need my old fashioned ways.  Just retrieved the manual from the van, does not explain if the hook up charges the engine battery, but does explain how to jump the engine.  Only connect the positive to battery and negative to earth.

    Tomorrow purchase jump leads.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #7

    Positive to positive on each battery and negative of jumper to a decent  earth point on the jumpee. Connect the leads with both engines off  before you start the jumper. wink And don't  buy cheap wink

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited February 2017 #8

    Thanks!

  • margaretandkeith
    margaretandkeith Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited February 2017 #9

    greylag - the reason you can't move the plate upward may be that there are probably two small screws still holding it down.

    The screws are possibly at the point marked A on the picture.

    Hope this helps

  • peegeenine
    peegeenine Forum Participant Posts: 548
    edited February 2017 #10

    Don't know what year your Ducato is, but if it is an X250 there is a terminal under the bonnet specifically for jump starting. It can be found on the N/S under a black plastic cover with a + sign on it. The jump battery + connects to this and the negative clips on to the engine earth.
    Before making any connections make sure you have the van keys in your pocket. When connections are made the central locking may activate and you won't be the first to lock yourself out.

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
    500 Comments
    edited February 2017 #11

    I had similar problem and didnt top up the rear two cells, result they gassed off until they were dry,  had to have a new battery.

    Poor design by Fiat , they could have made it a bit easier to top up the whole battery. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #12

    But most batteries these days are maintenance free and aren't intended to be topped up with water.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited February 2017 #13

    I've probably wrecked the battery then!

    2005 Ducato, no sign of charging point.

    Left charger on overnight, will go back to knackered battery, not holding much hope.......

    So perhaps I am not as out of touch as I was beginning to think....

    rayjsj......spot on, what a stupid layout.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited February 2017 #14

    Well...I have just been to the van, fully expecting a warm (boiled) battery, only to find a cold battery.  I then started the engine with no problem.  So I have left it connected until this afternoon to replace what was used to start it up.

    I live in hope the battery will be OK, but I plan to have the van serviced before any more use and will have the battery expertly checked.

    It is still a stupid design.

    Many thanks for the interest.

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