battery being drained

[keynsham1]

USB charger sockets that are permanently connected will drain the battery if you have any?

[Shinnster]

I don't have any of those Installed yet, but thats good to know! Thank you

[Robsey]

Before going completely crazy, obvious things first.

Is it "only" the blower motor coming on?
Or do you have other stuff on too?

Like a heated rear window demister
Front windscreen wash and wipe.
Rear screen wash and wipe.

If it is the blower motor only, then it is probably a wiring issue.
Pulling fuse 13 should kill the fan.
If it does not, then the fan power is being fed from somewhere else.

If you have "other" stuff on too, as listed above.
Then it could be the relief relay - printed with a number 18 or 100.

See my fuse box image below



Pulling the relay should stop everything.
If it does not, then it is time to call the cavalry in.
There is something badly wrong with the wiring.

I haven't heard of it on these vans, but the relay could fail with the X relay stuck in the energised position.

A quick test would be to turn on the ignition and then crank the engine... the X relay should only energise with ignition on, but NOT cranking.
Again, test your front wipers whilst doing this.

If things do not behave as expected. that could simply be a matter of swapping the relay for a known good item.

Note also my previous comment about the high / low beam flasher switch.

[Smiffo]

What does the relief relay do, Rob?

[Robsey]

I have updated my post above.

The relief relay cuts power to all high power consumers when cranking. - see my list above.

This allows as much battery power as possible to be available to spin up the starter motor and to run the engine.

Once running, the alternator then provides the added ooomph to run the blower motor, wipers and heated rear window.

As such, if VW had thought about it properly, they could have used the blue charge wire to control the relay, so it is only energised whilst the engine is running.

Just like they do for a split charge relay.

[Smiffo]

I have updated my post above.

The relief relay cuts power to all high power consumers when cranking. - see my list above.

This allows as much battery power as possible to be available to spin up the starter motor and to run the engine.

Once running, the alternator then provides the added ooomph to run the blower motor, wipers and heated rear window.

 

[Shinnster]

Before going completely crazy, obvious things first.

Is it "only" the blower motor coming on?
Or do you have other stuff on too?

Like a heated rear window demister
Front windscreen wash and wipe.
Rear screen wash and wipe.

If it is the blower motor only, then it is probably a wiring issue.
Pulling fuse 13 should kill the fan.
If it does not, then the fan power is being fed from somewhere else.

If you have "other" stuff on too, as listed above.
Then it could be the relief relay - printed with a number 18 or 100.

See my fuse box image below



Pulling the relay should stop everything.
If it does not, then it is time to call the cavalry in.
There is something badly wrong with the wiring.

I haven't heard of it on these vans, but the relay could fail with the X relay stuck in the energised position.

A quick test would be to turn on the ignition and then crank the engine... the X relay should only energise with ignition on, but NOT cranking.
Again, test your front wipers whilst doing this.

If things do not behave as expected. that could simply be a matter of swapping the relay for a known good item.

Note also my previous comment about the high / low beam flasher switch.

thanks for the added reply.
the main beam flasher switch isnt on, but the windscreen wipers also work without the key in. i will test the others on the list tomorrow, and pull that relay out to see if they then stop.
if it does stop, i just need to get a working relay, that correct?
 

[Robsey]

It would seem like the most obvious solution.

Relay stuck on.
It would be a No 18 or No 100.

[Ralf85]

Hiya

So somebody before you has been tinkering.

I know and have used a local West London car electrician to sort things out on my camper. He's the guy local garages go to when they cannot sort a problem out. He's so very thorough and always finds and fixes the problem. He comes to you and he charges reasonable rates. I'll send you a pm with his details.

[Shinnster]

I pulled out relay 18. no power to anything with key off.
put the relay back in and i have power to the wipers, heater blower and rear screen demister .
i'll try a new relay first, if that fails I'll give that guy a call Ralf, thanks for the number

E D I T: before i buy a new relay, is there a way to test this one is stuck open with a multi meter? or any other way?

i have a feeling this all started when i switched my indicators to led and had to change a relay for that. thats all i've really done to the electrical side of the van.

[Robsey]

With the relay out of the van -
You will see four male spade connectors.
Two are normal 6.3mm (1/4") spades,
Two are bigger 9.4mm (3/8") spades.

If you have a test meter, check for continuity between the two big spades.
With no voltage across the two smaller pins, there should be infinite ohms (open circuit) between the two big pins.

When 12 volts is connected to the "86" (small pin) and ground to the "85" (small pin), the relay should click.

I am guessing that yours will not click as it is in the closed / energised state.

-----------
QUICK TEST!!

If it is a fusebox or wiring fault, with the key out...
The relay should click as soon as you plug it back in.

If the relay does "NOT" click, the fuse box is okay, and the relay is at fault.

[Shinnster]

just an update... been busy getting the van ready for its MOT... which it passed
the relay didn't click when it was taken out and put back in so a new one has been ordered.
hopefully this will fix the issue, if not... its time to ring the auto electrician guy!

[Robsey]

Congratulations on the pass.
It is always nice to get another year's ticket after all your hard work.

[Shinnster]

just an update on this issue.
went an saw an auto electrician and he diagnosed the issue to be a faulty ignition switch.
new one ordered so will fit it and report back if its fixed the issue. fingers crossed!

E D I T: forgot to say i did try a new relay but that didnt fix

[Shinnster]

New ignition switch fitted and the issue has gone
onto the next job!