battery issues

[pd1709]

Hi there, Im new to this forum and hope someone can help me. Basically I had the charge and sediment lights come on, and after travelling back home in the dark one night with lights and heaters on, the lights started to get dim as I approached home, and on trying to start the van again it was dead. I googled the problem and everything pointed to the alternator. I got hold of another used one, had a mate fit it for me, jump started it and it fired up. We checked the voltage at the battery and it was only giving out 5 or 6 volts. We checked the leisure battery out and this was even lower, so it appears both batterys were flat. I have a switch that turns the leisure battery on, and upon checking realised that it was on. I turned the van off and tryed to start it again 5 minutes later and it was flat again. My mate suggested trickle charging the leisure battery til its fully charged and then try jump starting the main battery again and checking the voltages.

Do you think this would work, or have i been given a faulty alternator, or is my main battery on its way out?..Any help would be appreciated

Cheers Phil

[al & chris]

Does sound like alternator if only showing that reading when running. Have you also checked fuses.

[M 80NGO]

Are the battery earth to ground connections clean tight and covered with a dob of grease ? with the engine running you should be seeing between 13.6 and 14.4ish volts, also check the wiring from the alternator to ensure its not damaged.