Date:         Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:01:47 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New battery drained...waaaaaaaaa :-(
Comments: To: PB <pbrattan@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAOBs5F5q_UgqbGA2oKO8Q1TzqQxgudybY2rc2yH9RyAJUCJ-BQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Two things come to mind. First, you mention an auxiliary battery, so your alternator has to charge two batteries. The stereo and dash cigarette lighter should be on this circuit, and the aux battery isolated, so that shouldn't drain your starting battery. 

That leads me to #2: you are not driving enough to charge both batteries up, or your alternator is not putting out enough voltage under load.  Have the alternator output tested at any good shop, and you might want to put a trickle charger on each battery (just alternate charging them) to get them up to full charge.  If you are not driving much, then plan on "manually" charging your batteries this way while the van is not being used every month or so. 

No driving equals no charging. Short trips equal max draw with minimal recharge. You can kill a battery in a year or two this way.  

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of PB
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2017 2:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: New battery drained...waaaaaaaaa :-(

Just got a brand new 36 month free replacement battery on Jan. 2. Due to recent bad weather, I drove it fairly short distances 2 days in a row, didn't drive it for about 2 weeks, and now the battery's dead again.  I can't see that any lights were left on, and the stereo kill switch is turned off. I did notice, however that the second time I drove it,  it was a little harder to start so I checked the battery voltage.  I don't remember exactly what it showed, but it was less than 12 volts, and although the van started, it didn't start as easily as it should. At that time, I noticed that I had an unused plug connected to the aux battery, and there was a blue light on around the plug.  I promptly disconnected it when I noticed it. I also made sure that the dash cig lighter plug was not pushed in.

When I first got my van, I didn't know there was a stereo kill switch, so the stereo was drawing current, and it killed the battery.  Got a new battery then, and that battery lasted nearly 10 years without any issues at all.

What could be drawing current this time?  Or is it just not charging while I drive?
Patti
90 Westy Automatic
Los Angeles

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