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Post by snobbyafghan on Jun 3, 2009 8:36:11 GMT
Hi Ant,
We haven't been able to use the van since Christmas for various reasons. I have started it up a few times but not had it out for a run. Now the battery is flat. The leisure battery is fine.
Bearing in mind the more complicated electrics compared to a car, is there any reason why I shouldn't just do a jump-start?
It's a Dimension 2.
Cheers,
Doug
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Post by ant on Jun 4, 2009 8:40:05 GMT
Hi Doug.
I always jump start the modern vehicles without the doner vehicle running, the "ECU" on most modern vehicles is prone to damage from electrical spikes given off from a running alternator so if posible start it without the vehicle running. If the dead battery is so flat that the jump start doesn't work with a non running doner vehicle, connect the two batteries with your jump leads, start the doner vehicle but don't turn the ignition on the dead vehicle, leave them connected, have a cup of tea, come back turn off the doner vehicle and try starting the dead one. By now the dead battery will have had some charge put in it by the doner alternator and will probably start ok.
Ant
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Post by snobbyafghan on Jun 4, 2009 9:12:58 GMT
Thanks Ant, I'll try that.
Doug
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Post by snobbyafghan on Jun 8, 2009 18:02:53 GMT
Ant
I've just had my first chance to have a go and failed miserably. There was no response from the Dimension when I tried to start it and the reason may have been because I'm not even sure if I had the batteries connected properly. I couldn't definitely identify the negative terminal on the Dimension battery. The positive has a flip-up lid and is obvious to find but I could not find he negative at all. The battery nis totally encased so it's not obvious and the handbook doesn't help.
Can you tell me where it is?
Sorry for the stupid question.
Doug
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Post by Derek on Jun 8, 2009 18:43:17 GMT
Hi Doug
You don't need to know where the negative is. The Berlingo handbook says to connect the donor battery positive to the discharged battery positive and then the donor battery negative to the vehicle bodywork (my Suzuki Jimney manual suggests the engine hook).
I think this is partly to prevent the possibility of connecting pos to neg which can be exciting
Derek
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Post by snobbyafghan on Jun 8, 2009 19:21:43 GMT
Derek
In a way, that's bad news 'cos that's what I did and got no response from the Dimension at all. What to do now?
Doug
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Post by Derek on Jun 8, 2009 19:46:08 GMT
Have you got any power when you turn on the ignition? Interior lights, sidelights etc.
Derek
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Post by snobbyafghan on Jun 8, 2009 19:49:19 GMT
No - nothing
Doug
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Post by snobbyafghan on Jun 8, 2009 19:54:22 GMT
I've just been to check that there is nothing on (there isn't) but I notice the interior lights are working OK and the remote control unlocks the doors OK so there is some juice in the battery. Maybe the problem isn't the battery after all?
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Post by Derek on Jun 8, 2009 21:09:18 GMT
You should get ignition lights when you switch on. Normally they dim when you try to crank the engine. Could be another problem though, may be a garage job
Derek
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Post by yamaha on Jun 8, 2009 22:54:03 GMT
Doug - try connecting the donor vehicle up again, as you did, engine off - donor positive to Dimension positive, and donor negative to Dimension chassis somewhere - make sure it's connected to bright metal, and leave it connected like that while you have a cup of tea - the flat battery should then take some charge from the full one.
After half an hour or so, try your Dimension ignition and lights - if then OK, try starting it again.
If this fails, do you have AA Home Start, or similar - they should pinpoint the problem.
Mike
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Post by ant on Jun 9, 2009 8:11:12 GMT
Doug.
have you got an alarm fitted? sometimes the alarm immobiliser will kick in when the battery has been discharged, you need to set and unset the alarm before trying to start the engine.
Derek is right that you should have ignition lights on even if the battery is too flat to start the engine the lights should come on with a doner vehicle connected.
If a battery has failed completely ( cells damaged by frost or have sulphated causing an internal short), then it wont take a charge and will not have enough power to activate the vehicles "ECU" If this is suspected then replace the vehicle battery before any damage occurs to the "ECU" due to the shorting battery ( ECU's power source).
To jump start the vehicle you don't need to find the battery at all, under the bonnet of the Relay2 you will find a square plastic box on the right hand side, attached to it is a smaller box with a "+" on it, flip the lid up and you see the positive battery jump start terminal, put the negative lead to any part of the chassis or engine ( metal bits obviously).
Ant
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Post by ant on Jun 9, 2009 8:15:12 GMT
Just read your second post again Doug, I think you've found the jump start terminal already, the battery is under the cab floor in the middle not under the bonnet which may explain why you can't find the neg' terminal!
Ant
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Post by snobbyafghan on Jun 9, 2009 8:56:06 GMT
Thanks everyone. I took the incompetent's way this morning and called Home Start. I expect they'll try and sell me a new battery (it seems to be a company policy) but I'll resist.
Interesting point about the alarm, Ant - that could be it.
Also the battery.....doh.! In fairness to me - I couldn't see anything in the hand-book that mentioned that the battery was under the floor - the only mention I can see of the battery is where it shows you where to attach the jump leads and it doesn't make it clear that this isn't the actual battery. I blame it on the French (it is a Citroen....!)
Doug
Doug
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