flat batterys

rocker · Post by **rocker** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:18 pm

Hi All,
We have owned the Bongo a couple of months now and had two new batts fitted when purchased. one starter and one in the factory kitchen cube.
Went out tonight to start it and both batts were flat. Cant find anything left on, but would of thought only one would have run down unless the charging relay had stuck closed. Has anyone come across this before and where abouts is the split charging relay located so I can check it out.
Cheers,
Rocker.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:24 pm

Welcome to the madhouse.
Can't help with the split charging query but check you fluorescent interior lamp for brightness. My battery kept going flat, for no apparent reason, and somebody posted that they had the same problem - it turned out that both our lamps were dim and a new tube cured the discharge problem.

bighairypict · Post by **bighairypict** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:47 pm

Well done for making it to two months

I managed it in two hours

Playing with the roof and other electrics with the engine off did it for me

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:32 am

Welcome rocker

That's right franco, i remember that...something to do with extra resistance i think.

I recall somebody having a trickle drain from an inoperative (not just dimly lit) fluorescent tube once too,replacement of the tube cured it if i remember correctly...

Rhod · Post by **Rhod** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:43 pm

Hi Rocker
Are you talking about a Mazda factory fitted kitchen cube? The reset switch (low charge) on mine comes on after a few days sitting idle - but it's still on the battery it came with & a replacement will happen in the spring, which I'm hoping will cure it.

I seem to recall someone posting a few months ago that they'd discovered that the leisure battery charge monitor in the Mazda Kitchen Cube drew a significant amount of current & was running his battery down. He was planning (or had done) putting a heavy duty switch in main leisure battery circuit so that it could be entirely isolated form the charge monitor. I'll probably do this, but need to find a switch to mount on the outside of the cube, since the rear cabin lights run off the LB.

If you're not talking about a Mazda kitchen, then ignore all the above

Rhod

rocker · Post by **rocker** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:23 pm

Hi All
Thats right Rhod, a factory fitted cube. I think the split charging monitor /relay might be on the blink because after we went for a run and then parked up, the charge light was still on. So I have put a switch in line to see which battery runs down.Does anyone know if the starter battery gets charge also when on mains?

Rocker.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:09 pm

We have the cube but it as been modified so don't
know if they are all the same but if on mains only
the cube battery gets charged on ours.
The battery in the cube gets charged even if it is
switched off but it needs to be on for the rear
lights to work interior ones that is, so it tends
to be left on.

crazy uncle gray g · Post by **crazy uncle gray g** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:23 pm

I am not really hot on the techie side of electrics, but I have had my Mazda with non modified cube for 3 years with no problems at all, so in my opinion to have 2 new batteries fitted and they both go flat within weeks you have definitely got a major fault / drain somewhere. You could probably mess for weeks and not get to the bottom of it (I know I could ) get a good auto electrician to take a gander, it will probably be cheaper in the long run.

But Hey, best of luck to you.
CrAzY

Rhod · Post by **Rhod** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:11 am

Rocker said

after we went for a run and then parked up, the charge light was still on

If you mean the red charge warning light on the front of the cube itself, then this will not go off until you reset it by pressing it, since it's also the reset switch. If, like mine, the switch cover is missing & the bulb is exposed, then you need a fairly small flat screwdriver to push the switch, which is inside, beside the bulb.

It does seem odd that both batteries have run down at the same time - how long had the van been standing?

rocker · Post by **rocker** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:30 pm

No Rhod, the little red charge light on the box inside the cube. The van had been stood about a week. Come to think of it the fully charged light has never come on either.

Rocker.

crazy uncle gray g · Post by **crazy uncle gray g** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:16 am

Rocker, have you taken a look at the members fact sheets/ kitchen. It may give you a little more information about reset etc

Rhod · Post by **Rhod** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:42 pm

Rocker
The red charge light inside the cube doesn't stay on once the engine's switched off on mine - even when the external red light is on.

I've never seen the "fully charged" light come on yet - putting this down to the obviously feeble state of my battery!

Rhod

crazy uncle gray g · Post by **crazy uncle gray g** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:00 pm

Rhod wrote:
I've never seen the "fully charged" light come on yet - putting this down to the obviously feeble state of my battery!

Rhod

Rhod, if you are talking about the external red light

, that only comes on when the battery is in a state of discharge.
In which case you would need to run your engine for about 10 mins and then press reset.

This mainly happens when running the fridge without hook up for long periods, obviously with hook up do as you please $\:D/$

Rhod · Post by **Rhod** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:07 pm

Crazy
No, I mean the the light marked "fully charged" on the charger unit inside the cube. Does this come on on yours? The external red light comes on if the van's left standing for a couple of days - but it IS on the Jap battery it came with, so should be sorted when it's changed.

crazy uncle gray g · Post by **crazy uncle gray g** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:30 pm

I`ll take a ganders tonight, and report back