Battery isolator for modern box - Citroen relay

[Polos Mum]

Morning clever people. I have a 2018 Citroen relay box - which is losing battery charge if not used regularly. Fair enough as I know this happens.

In my old lorry I had an isolator switch added - little red key that turned the battery off so whatever was draining it couldn't. Really simple and worked perfectly.

Apparently in modern vans this won't work as the battery is under the passenger footwell (so not accessible) and even if I wanted that faff then with the battery off the central locking won't work (the passenger side door doesn't have a key hole so you can't lock manually).

I can't be the only person who doesn't use their box twice a week so please do share your suggestions for either isolation or working out what is draining it

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lady Jane]

Interesting question. I have never heard of small lorries losing battery charge (certainly doesn't mean they don't), but I can see the simple fix won't work. I will be watching for other replies. Have you had a mechanic investigate the cause of the battery drain? How old is the battery?

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks - I did replace the battery in case it was that but new battery was flat in 3 weeks when we got back from summer holidays. I haven't had a mechanic start looking yet, I naively assumed by £20 red key option would be best.

It's a relatively simple conversion with no living (just tack area) but I guess there's the fan and internal lights etc. all of which appear off but maybe not !

 

[meleeka]

you could add a solar panel so the battery keeps charging. It’s obviously not a big draw if it takes 3 weeks to go flat.

 

[Boulty]

I DID have one fitted on a 2003 Movano after going through 3 batteries in a few months but it never worked properly. Turned out in the end (about 3 mechanics later!) that my issue was not battery drain but the starter motor. (plus knackered glow plugs but mainly the starter motor). Once I'd had that changed it never failed to start again no matter how cold it was or how long it had been stood. The difference in how it sounded when it started was so marked I couldn't understand how none of the mechanics who'd first looked at it hadn't suggested that as the problem in the first place (it used to always turn over for ages before starting but with the new part it started more or less instantly)

 

[jnb]

I DID have one fitted on a 2003 Movano after going through 3 batteries in a few months but it never worked properly. Turned out in the end (about 3 mechanics later!) that my issue was not battery drain but the starter motor. (plus knackered glow plugs but mainly the starter motor). Once I'd had that changed it never failed to start again no matter how cold it was or how long it had been stood. The difference in how it sounded when it started was so marked I couldn't understand how none of the mechanics who'd first looked at it hadn't suggested that as the problem in the first place (it used to always turn over for ages before starting but with the new part it started more or less instantly)

Ditto, mine was the alternator needed reconditioning. Once done, voila, no starting issues (although I kept my isolator, useful thing tbh as my alarm was draining the battery)

 

[alsxx]

My box is a 2013 citroen relay and I did replace the battery it came with, as like you after a couple of weeks it was dead. But, since then it's been absolutely fine and starts no issue even if left for a few weeks. Could it be something else causing the issue?

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks all, It's had a thorough service and nobody has mentioned anything else.

When it's run it starts absolutely fine, even the next day when it's cold - which I assumed means key other things are OK - but I have the mechanical knowledge of a peanut so I will get it checked over again for that specific issue

 

[cold_feet]

My Renault Master has got the battery in the footwell and it is fitted with an isolator. A real pain though, as the cover does not sit properly. But it does stop battery drain.

 

[Polos Mum]

My Renault Master has got the battery in the footwell and it is fitted with an isolator. A real pain though, as the cover does not sit properly. But it does stop battery drain.

Thanks so much, how do you lock it after you have isolated the battery?

 

[Cowpony]

On mine the isolator is accessible from the outside, so I remote lock, then switch off the isolator. Is your jockey door on the remote locking system? If not, I'd remote lock and go out through there. Always seems a bit daft to have remote locking when the jockey door and ramp arent, but on mine it's probably left over from its previous life.

 

[cold_feet]

Thanks so much, how do you lock it after you have isolated the battery?

With the key. It is parked behind good security at the yard, cctv and secure gates. When I’m out and about the isolated is off so I can use the electronic locking and so the alarm is activated. I’m not sure what I would do if I did not have secure longer term parking.

 

[catembi]

My Renault Master does this! Battery in the floor. New battery, new alternator, still does it. I have to charge it if it’s not going out every week. Starts brilliantly if charged. I have a trickle charger but think I need a bigger one. When I was telling someone about it, they asked straight away if I had a camera in it and I have. Next year I am going to get an isolator as I hate having to keep charging the wretched thing! ?

 

[Polos Mum]

With the key. It is parked behind good security at the yard, cctv and secure gates. When I’m out and about the isolated is off so I can use the electronic locking and so the alarm is activated. I’m not sure what I would do if I did not have secure longer term parking.

Thanks - sadly that won't work for me as there is only a physical lock on the drivers side so the central locking is the only way to lock the passenger door. I tried locking it with me in with the central locking then getting out - sadly that unlocks both doors !!

 

[Polos Mum]

On mine the isolator is accessible from the outside, so I remote lock, then switch off the isolator. Is your jockey door on the remote locking system? If not, I'd remote lock and go out through there. Always seems a bit daft to have remote locking when the jockey door and ramp arent, but on mine it's probably left over from its previous life.

Sadly mine doesn't have a cut through so although the back jockey door isn't on the central locking I've no way of getting from cab to horse area !!

 

[Polos Mum]

you could add a solar panel so the battery keeps charging. It’s obviously not a big draw if it takes 3 weeks to go flat.

Great plan - would that work if packed in a barn? not sure if it would get enough sunlight

 

[cold_feet]

We also keep a battery pack with jump leads in the cab. But of course we need to access the battery in the footwell to use it ??‍

Thanks - sadly that won't work for me as there is only a physical lock on the drivers side so the central locking is the only way to lock the passenger door. I tried locking it with me in with the central locking then getting out - sadly that unlocks both doors !!

There is no physical lock on my passenger door either, but it does have a locking button on the inside. Either I lock from the inside before locking the driver door, or the old fashioned push down the button and hold the handle out while shutting that door.

 

[cold_feet]

Great plan - would that work if packed in a barn? not sure if it would get enough sunlight

Can’t see how it would wok in a barn.
We have a solar trickle charger, but that doesn’t seem to do the trick.

 

[Goldenstar]

The easiest way to solve this is a solar trickle charger that goes to the lighter socket .

 

[Polos Mum]

We also keep a battery pack with jump leads in the cab. But of course we need to access the battery in the footwell to use it ??‍

There is no physical lock on my passenger door either, but it does have a locking button on the inside. Either I lock from the inside before locking the driver door, or the old fashioned push down the button and hold the handle out while shutting that door.

Thanks - there's no button in the inside passenger door - so frustrating !

There are terminals under the bonnet for jump starting - that is easy - but just a faff every time. I might see if there's any way to fit the isolator to the jump terminals in the front then leave the bonnet catch open all the time. Assuming nobody would try and nick the engine !!

 

[Polos Mum]

When I was telling someone about it, they asked straight away if I had a camera in it and I have.

MIne does have a camera - might be a plan to ask the garage for their needle in a haystack search for the offending charge drainer there !

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If you have a problem & would find it very difficult to fit a immobiliser then a solar panel charger would probably do the job. just put the solar paney in your windscreen & plug it into the power point or cigarette lighter & it should keep your battery topped up. Below is a link to numerous solar chargers.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394016788651?hash=item5bbd3b10ab:g:Ed4AAOSw7lliSxgt&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA8IcmwY9ugb+uX+gLAF8Z7rvSmsfWTV8BnuSFrNp6z5Ct//FlaMPX1A03FsRyQLN75sUXNg7LjK+drfS/SzDqaC6Y/JCeSgSBD0FjmkEyWSi42ok/fElr3taI7RRHuRTo5F9tQxj8ufuQqG7jp18wckQVB65cxoT1JIhgASLMtN/5rqDUHnIguirIHjAMA5yJE7v2u1MFtxzKE8LRNMxLRyNB/I1A+6Q5GM2Bh3uRf7BSQ32BpbL4OIt/oGxF2mpS2tPqQ2nCHio99TZHR4ac6LCTtPSUph5m6s3yN1ef9AMrCaYg3ssdceMbH/0x9mwwPw==|tkp:BFBMyoPNpe9g

I have a 7.5 ton box & I had the same problem but it was something else that was the problem. I had my mechanic check everything on his meter & my ignition circuit was the problem. A new ignition & cable was fitted & all was good. Find a good mechanic with a meter & he should be able to sort it..

 

[PeterNatt]

Modern vehicles have numerous micro-chips scattered around them that realy on a continuous battery suppply. If the battery supply fails then they can loose their memmory and it becomes a nightmare to find which chip it is and then reconfigure them.

My advice would be to get a specialist mobile auto electrical technician in to check out your vehicle and find out what is draining the battery. It could well be faulty cabling insulation causing a leak to earth or a component doing the same.

Best of luck.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would not bother with the above jaded does not cover my feeling about auto electricians and horses boxes .

 

[Bob notacob]

On many modern vehicles ,you cant just fit a new battery .The vehicle must be plugged into a reader and told that it has a new battery .If this is not done ,the alternator will not charge the new battery properly. The battery then goes flat . Many good batteries and alternators get scrapped because people don't know this.

 

[Murphyisanumpty]

I feel your pain…. Mine is plugged in on a trickle charger. Only any good if you can park it at home/somewhere with an extension cord.

 

[First Frost]

I have a 2011 Citroen Relay box and haven't had a problem with the battery draining even if left for a month.
You don't have a tracker fitted do you? My friend also has a relay and she has a tracker fitted that very quickly drains the battery.

 

[GreyDot]

MIne does have a camera - might be a plan to ask the garage for their needle in a haystack search for the offending charge drainer there !

I have a Peugeot Boxer and an isolator fitted for this exact reason - it's the camera in the back, the reversing camera and the lights in the horse compartment which are the culprit.
I am lucky that I have can just use the key to lock the doors, would be very annoying if I couldn't!

 

[Tracking_up]

I had that for a while on my Peugeot Boxer, and an isolator was suggested, but I insisted that the electrical problem was located and rectified, which it was. That cost me a grand to get to the bottom of the problem, but I thought the isolator was a poor 'workaround' in my circumstances. I thought it best to resolve the electrical problem, which was quite extreme - a new battery was being drained flat within a week or so....

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks all - looks like it's not as uncommon as I thought. I don't think £1k on finding which particular gadget is running would be viable for me.

Maybe isolator and leaving the passenger door unlocked is the way forward - I could park it up against a wall so nobody could access that door - no idea why it doesn't have a button on the inside - a tiny detail I never thought to check when buying !