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Boas Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2016 Posts: 34
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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Some new information. Thick blue cable from Stinger fuse heads out rear of aux bat compartment and feeds amplifier. Photo to follow. _________________ 1987 Vanagon Weekender
2450 cc GoWesty engine
GoWesty EFI |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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Ok, I think that explains why both batteries drained flat when you left the outside lights on. It also means that red fuse is burned out.
Mark
Boas wrote: |
OK, switched out fuses and door light came on.
Now switching the red fuse back in and will reconnect aux negative terminal. |
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Boas Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2016 Posts: 34
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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Here's image of amplifier.
Red input at top is blue cable from Stinger...
_________________ 1987 Vanagon Weekender
2450 cc GoWesty engine
GoWesty EFI |
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Boas Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2016 Posts: 34
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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OK, so,
1. Do I still need to use blue 15 fuse in slot 3 and try the radio, or is that moot now?
2. I can replace that red fuse with a new one
3. I'll charge the aux batt
4. Anything else I should do to fix the situation? So future dumb move doesn't drain both aux and started batt? _________________ 1987 Vanagon Weekender
2450 cc GoWesty engine
GoWesty EFI |
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Boas Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2016 Posts: 34
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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Note: reconnected neg post on aux batt. Installed new red fuse in slot 3. Door light working.
Still wondering about Q 4, above. _________________ 1987 Vanagon Weekender
2450 cc GoWesty engine
GoWesty EFI |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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I'd say there are at least 2 problems that led to the dead aux battery. So more investigation is needed to resolve things completely. Next is to figure out why the aux battery seems not to be getting a charge from the alternator. Do you have a voltmeter for testing?
Mark |
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Boas Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2016 Posts: 34
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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I do, but I think I've run out of time today. Going on a long (non-road) trip tomorrow, back in 10 days and back at it. Hope I am lucky enough to find you active on the forum then! _________________ 1987 Vanagon Weekender
2450 cc GoWesty engine
GoWesty EFI |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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No worries, we'll get back to it when you return. I would unhook the aux battery negative while the van is parked when you are gone. |
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Boas Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2016 Posts: 34
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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OK, great. Will do. _________________ 1987 Vanagon Weekender
2450 cc GoWesty engine
GoWesty EFI |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17009 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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Without heavy cabling you won't be able to jump start the engine off the auxiliary battery. When properly connected, the two batteries do recharge when the engine is running. When the engine is off, the batteries should be isolated with the stock setup. So if you use an external battery charger, only the battery the charger is connected to will charge. You'd want the items that you use while stationary to get power from the auxiliary battery. This prevents running down the starter battery.
I would recommend disconnecting the auxiliary battery while you charge it back to life and then sort out the previous owners wiring job. You will get it sorted. There are a few options other than stock, but sort what you have first. _________________ ☮️ |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16473 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Paulbeard Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015 Posts: 2604 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 8:25 am Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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dobryan wrote: |
FWIW You can use regular jumper cables when needed to connect the two batteries for starting if your starting battery goes dead again. |
👍🏻 Exactly. Used it myself for that very thing as well as working out a bad/weak ground strap connection (using the seat belt bolt on the pedestal from the - terminal). _________________ Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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wyldryce wrote: |
The "stinger " appears only to be a fused lead off the positive terminal for a stereo or amp. If charging the aux battery up doesn't bring the stereo back online, checking that fuse would be a worthwhile step. |
yes, it looks like a high amp connector to me - could be a fuse hidden inside tho
I did not see the silver cube in his pics but it is indeed the stock battery separator
OP will need to trace all the wiring - the PO did not provide any documentation of what was done, did they?
the OP will want to carefully draw out and save his notes on the connections - everybody thinks they will recall what they did, but they don't
I have seen a lot worse PO moron infestations so do not despair just get to it _________________ .... |
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snowsyncro Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2009 Posts: 1557 Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 5:29 am Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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Paulbeard wrote: |
dobryan wrote: |
FWIW You can use regular jumper cables when needed to connect the two batteries for starting if your starting battery goes dead again. |
👍🏻 Exactly. Used it myself for that very thing as well as working out a bad/weak ground strap connection (using the seat belt bolt on the pedestal from the - terminal). |
But that won’t help if both batteries have died.
RonC |
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Gizmoman Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2011 Posts: 1554 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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You could also wire up a relay to the "key in ignition" wire that turns off the lights when you pull the key out. I did this for the stereo (and also installed an on-on switch so I could run the stereo without the key). Also, I believe Go Westy sells a kit that provides a "lights on - engine off" warning buzzer. _________________ 82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale). |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16473 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:24 am Post subject: Re: Left lights on. Battery died... and so did aux battery? |
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snowsyncro wrote: |
Paulbeard wrote: |
dobryan wrote: |
FWIW You can use regular jumper cables when needed to connect the two batteries for starting if your starting battery goes dead again. |
👍🏻 Exactly. Used it myself for that very thing as well as working out a bad/weak ground strap connection (using the seat belt bolt on the pedestal from the - terminal). |
But that won’t help if both batteries have died.
RonC |
Correct. (Just letting the OP know that although the combiner wiring is not enough to start the vehicle it can be done via regular jumper cables.) _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
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