Starter Battery issue.

[AFM]

Hello. I am a new owner of a 2024 6.1 and concerned that my battery discharges to a very low level if the van is left for about a week. I would not want to leave it at an airport car park for any longer than that. Please could someone advise me what is the buzzing sound when the door is opened and when the engine is switched off. That sound continues for about a minute and it's not the fan. Could that be the cause of the battery drain please? I have no leisure battery or any other after market components added to the vehicle. I would appreciate your advice.
Many thanks.
Regards. Alan

 

[roadtripper]

Welcome to the forum Alan.

In a modern vehicle just because the engine isn't running doesn't mean the vehicle is switched off as such, most of the electronics never actually off just go into deep sleep.

First thing to check is is the battery and charging actually OK. Do you know the vans history, for instance has it been sat long enough to drain the start battery as it only takes a couple of the incidents to do damage.

You will have a smart alternator and start/stop and this can be used as a basic health check. After a good drive of around 30 minutes if you park up the start/stop system should stop the engine itself. If it doesn't that generally means that something isn't right and the battery may not be charging well - if the revs are raised and there is a hot smell then the reason it's not stopping is it's regenerating the DPF.

Other checks is so you have anything plugged into the 12v sockets as that are generally not ignition switched - even a USB power converter can draw quite a bit of charge off when plugged in 24/7 - or have you had things like a tracker or dash cam installed?

 

[manfrotto]

My van (2022 T6.1) makes some noises for a short time after the engines is switched off as well. It is just audible - Pretty sure it is normal. and the van just doing all the shutdown stuff.
Every time the doors are opened the van "wakes up" and uses power. Also things like coming home lights use power, but if the van is left locked and not touched the battery shouldn't discharge in a week. If it does maybe get the battery tested.

 

[roadtripper]

A good chunk of the noise in mine is the ventilation system closing up and moving the distribution flaps to recirculation positions - most vehicles do this so that strong wind gusts don't set off the ultrasonic alarm sensors. It's particularly loud in my 6.1