Flat Battery: Cold weather or something else?

[Mick and Ruth]

Morning folks: Please bear with me as I want to give all facts to help with any advice as looking for help from the more technically minded folk than me(not hard) re battery issue:

I bought the van brand new in 2019 and 12 months later battery was dead RAC turned out and put replacement in. The technician said they use poor quality cheap batteries to get them out and he put replacement in for me under warranty. Two months later battery dead?? RAC came out tested said it was a faulty battery and replaced no quibbles. This was 2 years ago and since then done about 22k on current battery travelling around Europe.

Returned from a 6 week trip to Ireland 4 weeks ago whilst over there I had the EM40 fuse box replaced and battery was tested and technician said it was fine. (Van being used constantly)

Came back had major service, hab check and MOT etc done all good, and put her into lock up as not heading to Spain till January. I was intending to take van out for a run every 1-2 weeks. The vehicle has 100A Solar panel, leisure battery and works on Auto Trails smart system swopping between batteries for whichever needs it.(However low winter sun and Ice on solar panel wouldnt help) On Friday in early hours get text from App saying "alert re battery" it was very cold temps last week and the lock up is in countryside.

Got to van Friday morning- vehicle battery (on App) was saying 11.8 and on leisure 10.4, tried to turn over nothing at all then vehicle battery level on app dropped off the scale.
The temp was -4 and -5 in the van all over the weekend, and didn't come above 0. Due to waiting times for recovery on Friday (I have Fiat extended Mopar cover) I agreed to meet them yesterday at the van to save me hanging about all day in cold as they were inundated.

Technician arrived tested battery and readings below: first test was Frozen Battery second reading 20 mins later after running engine battery was charging OK. Took vehicle home and left plugged in on EHU overnight and copy of app (Do not know how reliable figures are) Ive put below but not surprising as on EHU..
My mechanical and electrical skills and knowledge are poor I do not mind admitting it: so would you be surprised a 2 year old battery failing in these cold conditions? or do I need to be concerned there is an underlying problem and trying to get it in and electrics inspected before heading to Spain. Thanks in advance.

 

[scotzsue]

No idea sorry but hope someone with more knowledge will be a long soon

 

[Nanniemate]

My van didn't want to start yesterday tried ot one and so not to drain it put on ehu
The car wouldn't start either
So that's waiting for warmer weather
Charging or new battery
The new works vehicle fired up no problem

I'll look at the car when it stops raining ......March 2024

Hope you get it sorted

 

[headlight]

Mick and Ruth how cold was it where you were

 

[Mick and Ruth]

-6

Mick and Ruth how cold was it where you were

View attachment 840525

-6 tops for 2-5 days that’s why I’m unsure if I have underlying problem.

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[headlight]

-6

-6 tops for 2-5 days I think I need to get it looked at

At -6c I find it hard to believe that the battery was frozen.
Also if a battery's electrolyte freezes the battery is normally irreparably damaged.
Also at the voltages you reported, assuming those voltages are correct, then your leisure battery at 10.4v has had it and your starter battery at 11.8v is also in trouble.
And to answer your earlier question yes it is possible for a battery to fail at 2 years old.
Last year my starter battery failed at 13 months old and it had a 4 year warranty.
Nothing to do with temperature, it just failed.

 

[Jev88]

Sounds like a dying battery to me.
I would have the on board charger output tested and the feed from alternator to battery (and regulator)? Could be wrong voltages and so 'cooking' or under charging the battery all the time, shortening it's life.

 

[DBK]

I agree with headlight, both sets of batteries sound as if they have had it. Batteries in good health don't mind a bit of frost. However, you need to check if there is any current drain first just to ensure the batteries are not being drained by something. If you have an alarm this could be one cause but there may be a fault somewhere. A mobile vehicle electrician could do it but you will need to charge all the batteries up first at home.

 

[Puddleduck]

Our van starter battery failed at 3 years.

I've had car batteries fail at 2 years, even good quality expensive ones.

 

[busbuddy]

What power is your van using whilst parked up....if you are burning through batteries I would look at solving the drain on the batteries when the van is parked

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[two]

Battery capacity declines irrecoverably with time. The rate of decline depends on the degree of 'exercise' it is subjected to. High rates of discharge (inverter-type use) or deep discharges (nearly flattening) are the kind of things that do most damage. Cold weather increases the rate of decline (I believe that call-outs for flat batteries increase significantly in Winter).
It's best to keep them topped-up, using a smart charger. A smart charger will vary the charge depending on the state of the battery (that's why it's called smart). In winter the battery has less reserve available, which is when you need it (sadly), so keeping it charged can be a regular activity. Leaving a battery in a discharged state will kill it, especially in Winter.
I think you're going to need new batteries. They sound to be beyond being useful, except in Summer when there is little demand on them. I could be wrong, though. Get them tested first!

 

[Mick and Ruth]

At -6c I find it hard to believe that the battery was frozen.
Also if a battery's electrolyte freezes the battery is normally irreparably damaged.
Also at the voltages you reported, assuming those voltages are correct, then your leisure battery at 10.4v has had it and your starter battery at 11.8v is also in trouble.
And to answer your earlier question yes it is possible for a battery to fail at 2 years old.
Last year my starter battery failed at 13 months old and it had a 4 year warranty.
Nothing to do with temperature, it just failed.

Thank you

 

[Mick and Ruth]

Sounds like a dying battery to me.
I would have the on board charger output tested and the feed from alternator to battery (and regulator)? Could be wrong voltages and so 'cooking' or under charging the battery all the time, shortening it's life.

Thank you ! I will try and speak to an auto electrician tomorrow as I’m still learning

 

[Mick and Ruth]

Sounds like a dying battery to me.
I would have the on board charger output tested and the feed from alternator to battery (and regulator)? Could be wrong voltages and so 'cooking' or under charging the battery all the time, shortening it's life.

Thank you ! I will try and speak to an auto electrician tomorrow as I’m still learningj

Battery capacity declines irrecoverably with time. The rate of decline depends on the degree of 'exercise' it is subjected to. High rates of discharge (inverter-type use) or deep discharges (nearly flattening) are the kind of things that do most damage. Cold weather increases the rate of decline (I believe that call-outs for flat batteries increase significantly in Winter).
It's best to keep them topped-up, using a smart charger. A smart charger will vary the charge depending on the state of the battery (that's why it's called smart). In winter the battery has less reserve available, which is when you need it (sadly), so keeping it charged can be a regular activity. Leaving a battery in a discharged state will kill it, especially in Winter.
I think you're going to need new batteries. They sound to be beyond being useful, except in Summer when there is little demand on them. I could be wrong, though. Get them tested first!

thank you !