Clutha

Agreed, a slight movement in an ‘eye’ connector stopped mine. Just moving it slightly was enough to get a start.

Brilliant, I had lost total electrical power somehow due to a stuck starter solenoid. No battery disconnects done. I’m just back in after another play around & I think I’ve inadvertently followed your advice by going round all with ignition on & off. Eureka! All is well Thanks for the very swift advice!

I have a situation currently where only the drivers door window will open & close, (either in stages if required or automatically from fully open or closed). The other 3 will not open at all no matter what position the small square auto/manual switch is in. I seem to remember a post some months ago regarding a similar issue. Do the guru’s have advice?

What OBD reader works on an AH10 2002 2.4 automatic?

Ford Pop side valve was my weapon of choice then, vacuum wipers, no water pump, rod brakes. character building 😎

More info re leisure battery charging. Multi Stage Automatic Leisure Battery Chargers | 12 Volt Planet.pdf

Further research, Recharging: Deep Cycle: Slower to recharge due to their design and intended use. Starter: Designed to be quickly recharged by the vehicle's alternator. From, 12voltplanet.co.uk

Update. The new leisure battery is lead acid. Enclosed instructions minimal. The advice given re differences in leisure/engine batteries was from a well known campervan converter near Edinburgh specialising in Alphards who supplied the new one but weren’t up for sorting out Sargent unit. I’ll clarify advice from garage electrician. 8

Seriously, it was back to the early 60’s or more. Toiling away puting sink/hob unit back in realised the old thing hadn’t run for a bit so fired her up, failed! 😳 First time ever! Anyway battery appeared the issue, 11.7v, power pack hooked up, no good, Optimate charger on while I worked inside. At 12.7v tried again, no good, starter not engaging, faint clicks from under bonnet, had a poke around cables, noted clear area round starter solenoid, remembered old school faults and fetched two hammers, one rubber mallet, that didn’t work but standard metal one did the trick. She fired up like her usual self & idled beautifully. Canny beat the old ways!

Suffice to say imho the best advice is in your leisure battery instructions. Having purchased a special charger for my motorbikes (gel batteries) many years ago due to working offshore, & had no issues, I’ll look into its suitability for van. Lead acid appears to be getting superseded. Prior to my ‘incident ’ I happened to be returning to the van at a Halfords & two of their staff were checking an engine battery for someone, they checked mine too, engine battery good, leisure battery less so, thus my attempt to boost it. Lesson learned 🙄

Due to leisure battery not achieving max charge while on campsite hook up or after long runs. I tried the charger via control unit 13amp outlet while hooked up to domestic supply. Almost instant smoke issued from Sargent unit. I took van to garage referred to & their opinion was Sargent unit may have had internal component issue. All wiring was checked out & no issues found, new Sargent ordered, fitted & all seems well. I had replaced leisure battery too. I’ll relay its charging instructions asap. I’m alerting members to electricians advice as the garage specialise in campervan repairs & maintenance. I was not aware of the major differences re starting & leisure batteries.

I was at the garage getting a new Sargent EC155 power unit fitted. The original had overheated & melted a multi connector + cable while trying to charge the leisure battery via van 13amp socket & mains hookup with a bog standard 12v (maybe Halfords) charger. (More to follow, tea’s out!)

As I’m leaving garage where he’d fitted replacement control unit for 240/12v system. DON’T EVER PUT A BATTERY CHARGER ON A LEISURE BATTERY! It’s a long sad saga so I’m sparing you the details. For Glasgow area owners the business is Prolek in Springburn & I’d recommend them 100%. Luckily for me my neighbours son had worked for them on van conversions & said they were very good.