Leisure battery faults aren't always obvious. Voltage can look normal, the van can appear to be charging, and without the right diagnostic equipment it's easy to miss a battery that's deteriorating in a dangerous way. That's exactly what happened with this VW T6 campervan — and it's a situation more common than people realise.
The Vehicle
This striking yellow VW T6 California-style campervan came to us having already visited two other garages. On both occasions, the owner was told the leisure batteries were fine and it was safe to continue using hookup. The charging fault, they were told, wasn't serious.
The Problem
The owner had noticed the leisure batteries weren't charging correctly, but had been reassured twice that there was nothing to worry about. When the van arrived with us, we ran a full diagnosis — and the picture was very different.
The leisure batteries had deteriorated to a dangerous state. When attempting to take a charge — whether driving or on hookup — they were overheating and emitting poisonous gas directly into the living space of the van. This is not a minor inconvenience. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas build-up inside a sealed living space is a serious safety hazard.
The fault had been missed twice, most likely because basic voltage checks won't reveal a battery in this condition. Proper diagnosis requires load testing and an understanding of how the battery behaves under charge, not just at rest.
The Fix
We removed the failed batteries and replaced them with a Fogstar Drift 105Ah LiFePO4 lithium battery — a well-proven, properly specified unit for leisure vehicle use. Lithium batteries of this type are far more stable, charge efficiently, and don't off-gas in the way that degraded AGM or lead-acid batteries can.
The van is now charging correctly, the system is performing as it should, and most importantly, it's safe to use.
What This Means for Campervan Owners
This job is a reminder that campervan electrical diagnosis requires specialist knowledge and equipment. A general garage may check voltage and declare a battery fine — but a battery that's failing under load, or one that's in a dangerous stage of degradation, won't show its problems at rest.
If your leisure batteries aren't charging properly, if you're getting unexpected power loss, or if something simply doesn't feel right — get a specialist opinion. The consequences of ignoring a failing leisure battery can be serious.
Common warning signs include:
- Batteries not holding charge as long as they used to
- Slow or incomplete charging on hookup or while driving
- Swelling or heat around the battery compartment
- Any unusual smell in the living space while charging
Book a Diagnosis
We're Scotland's only Victron Approved Installer for leisure vehicles, based in Callander, Perthshire — 45 minutes from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. We carry out campervan electrical diagnosis and lithium battery upgrades across Scotland, working on campervans, motorhomes, caravans, and specialist vehicles.
If you're concerned about your leisure batteries or want to upgrade to a safer, more capable lithium system, get in touch. Call us on 07852 945087 or email info@keltiecampers.co.uk.
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