Electrical problems.

[binka]

Coming back from Devon last week the cigarette lighter stopped working halfway home, I realised as the SatNav died.

Got home and thought it was probably a fuse. Never checked to see if other stuff was working but I'm sure the fridge must have been as was still cold when we got back. I changed the fuse and the cigarette lighter was working, I plugged the sat nav charger in and there was a green light on the charger which there hadn't been previously.

Went away again on Sunday, plugged the Satnav in as we were pulling out the drive, green light on the charger lead was on. Turned the SatNav on, it switched itself off and the charger now didn't have a light on. Carried on and got to the campsite cursing what I thought must be a fault with the satnav lead. Changed the fuse and still not working, realised now that nothing else was working either, fridge won't work on the leisure battery, internal lights not working nor the tap pump. Put van onto hook up and still nothing's working.

Any ideas what it might be?
Thanks.

[1664]

Unless someone has made a few wiring 'alterations' these would be two seperate issues. I assume you replaced vehicle fuse No3 in the glovebox (counting from the left) which is responsible for cigarette lighter, radio and van door courtesy lights? Has it blown again?

The fridge will (should) only work with the engine running anyway. Do you have a Zig unit fitted and if so any sign of life at the LED's?

[armyphil]

Try the fuses on the b pillar they are behind the drivers seat on a LHD

[1664]

It's a RHD Phil

[binka]

Should have said - the cigarette lighter isn't in the dashboard, its behind the drivers seat near the leisure battery. The fuse for it is one of the 4 fuses by the battery. The radio does have a fuse in the glovebox but radio is working fine.

Fridge wasn't working when engine was running.

I don't know what a zig unit is so I'm guessing I don't have one.

[1664]

Should have said - the cigarette lighter isn't in the dashboard, its behind the drivers seat near the leisure battery. The fuse for it is one of the 4 fuses by the battery. The radio does have a fuse in the glovebox but radio is working fine.

Fridge wasn't working when engine was running.

I don't know what a zig unit is so I'm guessing I don't have one.

Ah, ok then. Are the 4 fuses in a 'bank' or block fed by one cable and has that cable got a fuse in it? The leisure battery is the one under the passenger seat yes?

[binka]

Its behind the driver's seat in my van. There are 4 fuses in a perspex case, all these fuses have been changed and are fine. Should there be another fuse somewhere on a cable then, I haven't seen one but can do some more investigating?

[1664]

Its behind the driver's seat in my van. There are 4 fuses in a perspex case, all these fuses have been changed and are fine. Should there be another fuse somewhere on a cable then, I haven't seen one but can do some more investigating?

Oh sorry, just noticed it's a diesel. Is there a cable from the battery to the perspex case? The battery is actually charged isn't it? Your split charge may have failed resulting in the battery going flat in which case nothing will work until it's charged again. Also explain the fridge not working. Can you check the battery condition?

[binka]

I can ask hubby to check the battery, he has some sort of widget for that. If it was the battery though wouldn't it have worked on hook up though?

[1664]

Not without the elusive and mysterious Zig unit.......

Check the battery, I'll be back on later but have some important busines to attend to right now

[binka]

You were right, battery is reading 2volts. I take it I need a new one? This one's only a year old!

[armyphil]

Give it a good charge or possibly the zig isn't charging the leisure batt??

[binka]

I don't think I have a zig, whatever one is! Will take it out and try charging it. Thanks.

Have just had a fun weekend stumbling about in the dark, bloody emergency lamp wasn't working either. I was having to use the flashlight function on my phone and then couldn't charge the phone up!

[Hacksawbob]

What conversion do you have is it a DIY? Diesel has the main starting battery in the back on the RH side of the engine bay. It might well feed the relay at your leisure battery under the seat, check at the starter battery for a fuse going to the leisure battery relay. The relay itself may have died, Either that or there may be a short somewhere in the cable (not good, but less likely). To test for a short disconnect both earth leads from the batteries and test for continuity (beepy setting on your volt meter) between the positive on each battery and somewhere on the bodywork.

[1664]

I very much doubt you need a new battery - far more likely the split charge has gone t!ts up. There should be a relay 'somewhere' that connects the leisure battery when the engine is running. Traditionally it will be next to or at least very close to either of the batteries. From the sound of it, yours has the fridge connected in tandem OR you have two relays (one for split charge, one for fridge) sharing the same trigger/control wire. Either the relay has failed or the control wire has - you need to find them. A camera is probably going to come in handy at some point here.

Charge the battery up independantly for now and you'll find everything suddenly starts working again - except the fridge....