Flat battery for newbie

[BingaBonga]

I recently bought a converted Mazda bongo.
It has a leisure battery fitted.
This morning, I came to start it and the starter battery had insufficient charge.
The central locking motor on the side door ran when I closed it, but the locks didn't pop down. The radio had some lights on also.
On the dashboard there is a flashing blue light which indicates the alarm.

Which battery will these be running on?

I don't think anything was left on (apart from the alarm) although there are some buttons on the dashboard which aren't documented in the manual.

What's the best way to diagnose the issue? Also for emergencies I was thinking of buying a portable jump starter, can you recommend one?

Thinking of getting this: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5282555

Finally, will the batteries charge if I hook up to the mains?


Here are some photos here. On the dashboard there is a small circular switch with an led in it. What is this?

https://goo.gl/photos/mVGqYpTsp6onWjJZA

https://goo.gl/photos/VU9cZgVpVVN6cPhF9

https://goo.gl/photos/d5onqoFGsHJYbGwV9


https://goo.gl/photos/G9R4g2vkeGbNbkrK8

[billymansell]

When you say you came to start it and there was insufficient charge do you mean insufficient charge to start the engine or insufficient charge to power devices conected to the leisure battey?

If it won't start then the issue should be with the starter battery as the leisure battery should be isolated from ignition at that point although I've had a faulty split charge relay that meant both batteries were constantly connected which would eventually flatten both batteries.

[BingaBonga]

Thanks for the reply!

It was the starter battery.

I haven't yet checked the other devices directly.

I'm wondering if it's as simple as I don't understand some of the undocumented switches do.

Do you know what the circular switch with the red led next to the starting wheel is for?

What diagnostic steps would you recommend?
I'm going to buy a multimeter so I can check the charge on each battery.

We were supposed to be going away this weekend. If I jump start the bongo, will batteries charge off a hookup?

[MalcW]

Hi, can't help with the batteries, but the circular switch that you refer to sounds like the one I've got for the rear fog light.

[g8dhe]

The small circular switch with a LED is normally the rear fog lamp switch, this is added on import as its an MoT requirement in the EU but not in Japan.

As to the battery, first check that no one has disconnected the Sound Warning System - lots of people seem to be irritated by bleeps! - open the drivers door and turn the sidelights on, you should get a bleep as a warning that the lights are on and door is open. If you don't then a good chance someone has disconnected the alarm!

As to what is powered by the LB and what isn't the only way to be sure is to turn everything on, internal lights, radio, plug into power sockets, then disconnect the -ve of the LB, those that stop working are on the LB - if they continue working then there on the SB!

[mikeonb4c]

Sorry to hear of your woes. Have you tried contacting the person you bought the Bongo from to see if they can shed any light? I wouldnt expect alarm etc to be running from the leisure battery. You need to do some tests (after charging the starter battery). For example, disconnect the starter battery and see what then does and doesnt work/light up. Personally (for now and until i knew what was going on) i would fit a terminal clamp to the starter battery that allowed me to disable it when parked up. Something like this, for example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331668860262

I'd buy a multimeter also, so i could test voltages across both batteries with engine on and off and with appliances on and off, so i could begin to understand if the starter battery is being isolated from the starter battery when engine is off, as should be happening if the voltage sensing relay is doing its job properly.

And yes, i'd try and understand what the various switches on the camper conversion are doing (not looked at your pics so am guessing here!)

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[BingaBonga]

Ta for all the advice.

The alarm for left on lights is working.

And head lights are also working.

I'm off to buy a multi meter and an emergency jump start kit.

[Bob]

Hi, welcome aboard.

Good,info,on fog light switch, remember you will likely need headlights on for it to work.

To get out of trouble you can jump start from the LB, assuming it's charged. Just use red lead to join positive terminals.

Might save the cost of the booster, but if buying one make sure it's big enough. You don't say if it's diesel or petrol.

Edit: Looks like a fairly thin -ve lead from LB so I'd use both jump leads, maybe connect LB to an earth point.

[mitchelln]

It could just be the starter battery is knackered rather than a drain problem. If it's 5 years old or more then it's probably at the end of its life. Bongos do tend to sit around more than daily drive vehicles, which doesn't do the battery much good.

Those Li-Ion type jump starters can be got much cheaper on Amazon. Ironically, you can often get them Click and Collect to Argos/Sainsbury £90 is too much. I paid less than half that for mine and they are a frequent item on Amazon deals.

Make sure you get a diesel rated one if the have that engine type.

They all work by basically quickly adding enough charge to the flat battery to get you going. So as Bob says, you can simply use the LB to get you out of trouble (assuming you keep it charged!).

[BingaBonga]

It's a diesel

[BingaBonga]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01BEZ ... HZ34P0GFZ2

Or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suaoki-Starter ... B014QXOJA8


?

[mikeonb4c]

And remember, starter batteries (or any battery) don't like being run flat and it degrades their long term performance, so you need to be avoiding repeats. Isolating it when not in use is a good short term solution.

[mitchelln]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01BEZ ... HZ34P0GFZ2

Or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suaoki-Starter ... B014QXOJA8


?

They would certainty do the job. £30 saved!

A 500A one would do as well. They are around £50.
DBPOWER 500A Peak 12000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DLRGY8A

[Northern Bongolow]

these little jump packs can in my opinion be dangerous so be careful. the leads on these kits are way to short, particularly the negative lead, you do NOT want to connect both the leads to the battery to be started, unless there is something in the design of the internals of these jump packs that prevents sparks .
the battery in a bongo is up front and finding a good ground round the engine is not really possible as the cables are too short.
they work really well but are they safe. discuss.

heres how to do it right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI1o2hNy2hE

[g8dhe]

Also be aware that these starter packs have varying quality components and capacities! I know three people personally who have bought them one failed to work when needed the first time and the other two failed to charge and start vehicles after there first use. None were particularly cheap either.....