Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,

I'm a new member and proud owner of a 1990 1.6td high top, having driven it back from Germany with no real problems apart from the leisure batteries.

They do not appear to be charging (1.3 volts) after a couple of days wired upto the mains!! The BBB is buzzing merrily and fridge, water etc working fine on mains.

I note from searching this forum that a fuse/relay may have blown if they have not been used for a while. Or could it be that both batteries are simply dead?

Any help on fault tracing would be gratefully received.

Jim

Might shed some light in it if you put what conversion you have !!!

Have you tried putting a multimeter across the battery terminals when the vehicle is running? This will tell you if the alternator is charging. Should get around 13v. If this is ok and the battery voltage is still low then the battery is at fault.

There is information on the Wiki with regards split charge systems. What conversion do you have as manufacturers vary. Some don't use a relay and require you to select 'touring' via a switch close to or incorporated into the ZIG/Charge or whatever panel they have installed. Others use a relay which senses when the ignition or engine is switched on/running,etc. If it were me I would check the simple things first. The installed mains charger will have a fuse and usually incorporate thermal/overcurrent trips inside or on the panel . The output is usually direct to the leisure battery only via a on-off switch and sometimes another fuse.

Disconnect the leisure battery and put it on charge overnight. Fully charged it should read 12.7V across the terminals (this will prevent the charge system from any further overcurrent). Battery OK then step 2.

Reconnect the battery, switch the engine on and measure the voltage across the terminals, should read 13.4V or higher. Being charged from alternator OK then step 3. If not, look for fuses, relays, 'touring' switch,etc.

Switch engine off and hook the van to the mains, switch on the zig charger and measure again, should read 13.4V.

If the batterys (sounds like you have more than one) were flat as a pancake, then the charge unit may have blown a fuse or the overcurrent /thermal trip inside the charger may have operated, sometimes these automatically reset others require you to pop a small button. You will have to search and try to locate fuses, relays, switches.

If you can post details of the conversion, then someone on here will probably know exactly where you should look and test.

Thanks, the responses are really helpful.

It's a 1990 Westy California high top. I will go through the steps you've suggested this weekend.

In the meantime any further info on location of switches, fuses to check welcome.

Cheers

Jim.

Lot of Westy owners (the posh lot!) and they will sort it, best of luck Jim!