Whirring noise when leisure battery reconnected

[cornishgold]

We are new to vw's and have only had our Devon Eurovette a couple of days. We haven't taxed it yet so havn't been for a proper run in it. We were told by the vendor that he hadn't checked any of the electrical or gas appliances in the camper and that the leisure battery would need a charge. We charged it up and were very careful to note which wires were connected to which terminals. However as the last was connected a whirring noise started under the dash somewhere, even though the ignition was off. Each time we tried to connect it up the noise has started again, as if a pump or fan was working. We have left the leisure battery unconnected now as we don't want to cause a problem or run the battery down again. The battery was making a connection to the camper electrical appliances when it was connected. However should the leisure battery be connecting with anything under the dash ?
Any help would be most appreciated as I have spent ages looking through the forum archives and Wki but I am just getting more confused. We will be getting a manual eventually so we know our way round the engine etc. a bit more.

[Hacksawbob]

The only thing I can think of that would be in the dash is the heater fan. It shouldn't be wired to the leisure battery but you never no what rewiring has been done. there is a three way heater fan switch make sure its in the off position (to the left) .One thing that can run without ignition on is the main radiator fan but that's really quite an impressive noise when it goes off! again it shouldn't be connected to the leisure. It would be a good idea to trace any wires that come off the battery and see where they go esp if there is one that goes up to the front.

[CovKid]

Some sort of mechanical timer for separate onboard heating? Any extra switches on the dash?

[Oldiebut goodie]

Coolant auxiliary heaters are usually wired to the vehicle heater fan - maybe there is a Webasto or Eberspacher heater plumbed in?

[cornishgold]

Thanks for the replies.
The heater fan was definately on off. There don't seem to be any extra switches on the dash, as far as I can see. Not sure if there is any auxillary heater fan fitted. As it is absolutely pouring here today at the moment it's not really the weather for going outside to start poking about !! Hopefully it might dry up tomorrow and we will take up alll the mats and try and trace the wiring to the dash. There are definately some wires from the leisure battery taped down to the floor going towards the dash. It has had some sort of alarm fitted at some time as there is a movement sensor wired in to the roof at the rear, however I think the alarm has probably been disconnected. It is obviously going to take some time to try and sort all the electrics out.
I will get back to the forum after having a better look.
Cheers

[scottbott]

what about the radio powering up mine makes a whirring noise for a couple of seconds when it is reconnected to the battery

[cornishgold]

Just logged on to report progress now that there is a break in the torrential gales and rain here and we have been out to reassess our buzzing, whirring problem!!
Yes Scottbott you are right. It does seem to be coming from the radio. I had an idea that the wires going from the leisure battery to the dash might be to the radio. Not having had a camper before is this normal practise or just on the T25 because of the ignition switch not having an accessory position ? The Kenwood radio cd has a removable faceplate. The faceplate had been removed shortly after the vehicle was delivered to us and we haven't put it on again until today. When the battery was reconnected and faceplate reconnected the radio had been left switched on and after a short while of buzzing and whirring, it stopped making a noise after it had sorted itself out !!
Sounds so stupid on our part, but have'nt had a removeable faceplate radio cd before, as our other vehicle and one before, is an old Landrover Discovery with the original radio tape player !!
Thanks for all the suggestions. Anyway it's made me read up on split relays etc. and the electrickery which always causes us a total phobia. So isn't a bad thing and may come in useful, as I am sure there will be more problems with all the old wiring and extras added at some point in this vehicles long life.
Cheers