Leisure battery not working

[buntytw26]

Hello folks

Bought van a few weeks ago form Bill in Fife. Not his I might add but he was selling on behalf of previous clients.

Anyway, now that I think about it I don't recall any of the internal things working when the van is parked up. My dad has been tarting it up a bit and we went to try the sink water pump tonight and nothing. The pump works when out of the van however. None of the lights work either.

Bill said the leisure battery charges as you drive so apart from the run to the scottish bash then home to aberdeen, and a few trips locally we have been from Aberdeen to Glasgow and back too. Surely that would be enough to charge up the battery?

Any ideas what might be wrong? I'll obviously be a bit miffed if it never worked and I don't have time to go back to Fife either and would rather not have to either.

I have a battery charger I could use but I'm still guessing that no charge in it now does not bode well. Please give me some good news??

[westonwarrior]

Are the electrics switched or with a control pannel?
Have you checked what charge is in the leisure battery?
There must be a fuse somewhere in the circuit have you checked that?
Is there a hook up point and does it work with that plugged in?

[buntytw26]

Oooooo so many questions! I'll see tomorrow. Will try things out when I see my dad again and will take the battery charger. I've emailed Bill so a wee bit stuck until he replies. I hate not knowing what I'm doing and not feeling I've got local bods to support!

[buntytw26]

Right I checked both fuse boxes and none of them have blown.

I get power to the front 12v cig lighter but not the rear one. The roof light on the inside of the van works fine. The radio works when ignition off.

I am 100% not technically minded so it looks like an expensive trip to the auto electrician then! I doubt it worked when I bought it and certainly I was not shown anything working from the 12v socket before I drove away.

Nae a happy camper at all!

[buntytw26]

A very nice chap, Wayne, from Halfords fixed my problem . The cig lighter had been disconnected from behind the side panel. Had to remove the kitchen unit to trace the fauly but all in took and hour to check the leisure battery, try a new one, change a couple of fuses for good measure and lift the carpet a wee bit.

Wayne is not my all time hero as I'd been quoted £72 plus VAt for an auto electrician to look at it on Saturday. Phew...........more beer tokens saved

[bigdaddycain]

Result!

[bigdaddycain]

Hang on a minute! Did you say somebody from HALFORDS FIXED the problem? Flippin eck i'm moving to Aberdeen!

[buntytw26]

Yes indeed! Dont wan to blow his cover so we'll call Wayne Willie instead.
Willie has been very helpful. He only works sundays and Monday's. He has changed a light bulb in my Audi, fitted my new stereo in the bongo, always has a friendly hello and then tonight fixed my wonky 12v thingie.

Here's the best bit, ssshhhhh, he did it all for free! Please don't tell in case he gets into trouble. With service like that I'll go back time again. If only more staff were not as friendly!

Well done Willie - hands off he's all mine

[francophile1947]

Well done Willie - hands off he's all mine

Can't help thinking there'll be some interesting replies to that