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Who's an idiot? I'm an idiot!
Drove down to the Swindon office yesterday for the Christmas do (yep, 'those offices' next to 'those woods'). Journey was rubbish, aimed to get here for half nine, got here at about eleven
Left the van in the carpark overnight, and on leaving the pub at about half ten saw on my phone an email from security saying my lights were on. Guh. So, I walked back to the office and switched them off. They were a bit dim, but not super dim.
So, will the van start later? The only redeeming feature is that the journey down was four and a bit hours on the motorway, so the battery would have been fairly tippy-topped up. However, it's -4, and the preheaters are going to need to do a far bit of preheating.
I'm saying yes
I don't see why you'd want to try. It's only going to damage the battery further.
Give them 10 mins on a booster/jump leads first ....
So sub 0 deg and lights on for 12 hours... I'm a no.
I'm going no!
That's not going to start
No chance!
Nope.
Edit - although good luck, hope it's a yes! 🙂
No
I think, if you're lucky, you'll get one go at it. But in this weather; mostly no I reckon.
Good to see that the majority opinion aligns with mine. Stupid van, it's supposed to have a lights-on buzzer but it's, clearly, a bit flakey.
Apparently reception might have a jumpstart box whatsit, so that might avoid an AA callout.
Not if you'd left the main dipped beam on, very unlikely.
Fingers crossed for you ..... but no, I don't think it'll start.
I'm saying no.
It's a no from me I'm afraid. I'm out.
Mayby.
Im a solid no, but if i could get a booster pack from somewhere i wouldnt even try until i had connected that up. It may save you from killing your battery completely!
Ah, stop telling him to not try and kill his battery. I want to be the coolest on the internet today cos I'm the only one saying yes!....
No chance. If the lights have dimmed it's not happening in this weather.
+1 for jump starter pack and not trying without one.
The lithium ones are pretty small now so can live in the glove box/ under seat.
So, I've been to reception, and 'the engineering guys' have a booster, which they're trying to find, so assuming they can find it I'll give that a go.
I hope it's charged when they find it .....
Oh yes it will!
Oh no it won't!
I hope it’s charged when they find it …..
Well, indeed.
Oh yes it will!
Oh no it won’t!
I think the the booster is ITS BEHIND YOU!
😂
Not a chance I'm afraid.
most vehicles - not a chance.
i know my land rover would - ive done it regularly due to lack of aforementioned buzzer - although the power to the headlights is killed when i take the keys out and only the led sidelights remain on ..... those could sit for about a week without issue.
Depends on the type of lights and battery… I’m guessing you’re not running led and lithium.
most vehicles – not a chance.
Depends on the type of lights and battery… I’m guessing you’re not running led and lithium.
'54 plate T5 1.9 TDi
Somewhat ironically, the headlights on it are absolutely crap.
Do the T5s have two batteries like Transits do?
No, one battery and halogens on old T5s.
Were they standard H4 halogens or have you fitted Nightbreaker2millionmegabulbs?
It's a NO from me.
for a large part of the time left on it will have been daylight so the lights won't have been as bright, that could be a factor to your advantage.
It’s a T5 probably wouldn’t have started anyway.
Stupid van, it’s supposed to have a lights-on buzzer but it’s, clearly, a bit flakey.
Yes, silly van. When it's dark, a good way to tell if you've left your lights on without a buzzer is if, y'know, it's dark, except for near the van. 😉
Staying positive, It's a yes from me.
STW demands that you at least try to turn it over before you stick the booster on it, otherwise your question will never be properly answered. If it damages your battery doing so, that's a small price to pay.
Were they standard H4 halogens
Affirmatory
Yes, silly van. When it’s dark, a good way to tell if you’ve left your lights on without a buzzer is if, y’know, it’s dark, except for near the van. 😉
It was dark when I got in the van, it was bright and sunny when I got out of it four hours later, smarty pants.
It’s a T5 probably wouldn’t have started anyway.
Gotta say, despite it's various maladies over the years, it's always started fine.
’54 plate T5 1.9 TDi
doesn't really help you, but my 05 plate T5 2.5TDi has a lights left on buzzer...
It was dark when I got in the van, it was bright and sunny when I got out of it four hours later, smarty pants.
🤣Sorry. Fair play.
for a large part of the time left on it will have been daylight so the lights won’t have been as bright, that could be a factor to your advantage.
cant tell if serious or not 😀
It was dark when I got in the van, it was bright and sunny when I got out of it four hours later, smarty pants.
Well, you think it was. Oddly enough it was still night behind it🤷♂️
My T5 had a buzzer, but would only work if you exited through the drivers door.
Lost count of the number of times I killed the battery because I left via the side door and didn't look back at the van.
so, DID IT START??
(I bet it did...)
Googling suggests a 750Ah battery in your van so presuming you left sidelights on you should have half the battery left, that's a 50/50 chance. If it's your dipped lights on then you're screwed 😆
Yes it did I guess. Done same on T4 fired up straight away.
You can get light wiring looms which helps boost brightness of lights beyond candle power on transporters.
It wouldn't have been dipped beam on all that time, would it?
I think every car I've owned has either turned the lights off completely when ignition is switched off and light switch left in 'headlight' position, or have switched to the sidelights, rather than the dipped beam.
Not saying that means it will definitely start, but don't think it's as bad a scenario as first thought.
so, DID IT START??
Not tried yet...
I think I speak for us all and would like to know if it started or your waiting on the AA to show up
It was dark when I got in the van, it was bright and sunny when I got out of it four hours later, smarty pants.
So why were the lights still on?
With any luck, the preheater would have failed to start due to low battery voltage, so there is a chance. As soon as you turn the ignition on, turn off the fans/radio so nothing competes with the starter.
Googling suggests a 750Ah battery in your van
Momentary cranking amps perhaps, but not Ah. 75Ah or 110 perhaps.
Not tried yet…
Give yourself a fighting chance by letting the glowplugs run a full cycle till the light goes off, then flick the keys off and back on to get them on again, wait a few secs and then crank (the glowplug light should still be on when you start). If it doesn't fire up straight away but sounds like it has battery power, try again from the start, ensuring the glowplug light is on when cranking
EDIT and make sure foot is on clutch to reduce any drivetrain drag from the gearbox (even if its in neutral)
So, drum roll please....
...
...
It started! With a little help from a battery pack wotsit courtesy of the facilities folks at work.
To be honest, given how easily and quickly it fired, only about 30 seconds after they attached the little battery pack, I think it might have done it on its own, but I guess we'll never know.
Anyhoo, time to hit the M5 and M6, wish me luck.
doesn’t really help you, but my 05 plate T5 2.5TDi has a lights left on buzzer…
I've had a fair few VAG group cars. on a decent portion of them the buzzer appeared to be discretionary.
OP check you door electrical connectors mine all looked fine until i pulled the put off and saw all the pins had coroded to blue dust
It started! With a little help from a battery pack wotsit
So we're never going to know if it would have started unassisted 🤔🙁
I bet it would've 😁
My T5 has a lights left on buzzer…but only a sensor connected to the drivers door activates it. So if I fart around getting bike stuff out the back then exit from the side door it’s very easy to leave the lights on.
Thats good 🙂
dont envy you the drive though
I’ve had to call out the AA 3 times now to get my 69 plate Caddy started… Seems being sat in the van listening to the radio, sidelights on (not main beams, it has auto lights which only goes to mains when the engine is running), can kill the tiny batter in it in around 20mins to the point where it won’t start!!!
Considering my job, it’s really bloody annoying…
Glad you got yours started, enjoy the drive home!
So you cheated!
I once got a call that I left my work van interior lights on. Only a short walk to work but still inconvenient.
Got there and peered through the gates, looked fine to me. Unlocked the yard and went in to check it...clever van had automatically turned them off so I could have stayed in front of the telly!
for a large part of the time left on it will have been daylight so the lights won’t have been as bright, that could be a factor to your advantage.
Well it made me laugh!
Sad times, I was rooting for the van starting on it's own.
I know I would have tried it without the booster 😀
I’m guessing you’re not running led and lithium.
Do IC cars have lithium batteries?
Also mugged by T5 side door non-buzzer
#disappointed
Massive build up, then deflating result. Used an external battery pack and didn't actually test if it would start on its own or not!
Good battery pack would have started that fine, should've tested first just out of interest
For those T5 owners wanting to avoid the lights on / buzzer issues, I retro fitted an auto headlight switch to mine. Plug and play - replace the switch unit and route a light sensor onto the dash. It's been great - especially since my usual parking arrangement means I often jump out of the passenger side.
Here's a link to a reputable UK supplier - I got mine for just over half that from the great electronics emporium Aliexpress.
https://travelinlite-transporters.co.uk/products/t5-t5-1-auto-headlights-switch-module-upgrade
BLOODY HELL! I was sooo looking forward to feeling really smug, and telling all my family and friends just how orsumz I am......
Now what am I going to fill the rest of the day with!
To resort to cheating after such a build up is bang out of order IMO, TBF, TBH.
After all the suspense, the answer is...
but I guess we’ll never know
Meh
I’ve had to call out the AA 3 times now to get my 69 plate Caddy started…
Considering my job, it’s really bloody annoying…
RAC patrol man?
suggests a 750Ah battery in your van so presuming you left sidelights on you should have half the battery left, that’s a 50/50 chance.
Why only half a chance? Isn't another name for sidelights "parking lights", the idea being that you leave them on when parking in an unlit road overnight?
Which certainly at one time was a legal requirement, I don't know if it still is. Parking lights wouldn't be much use of they flatten a healthy battery.
VW parking lights are driver side only, normally a lower wattage bulb in headlight.
Really thought this was a great drama initially.
Good back story, the protagonist was fairly likeable, each instalment only added to the suspense, but alas, the ending was well shit. 😐
So we’re never going to know if it would have started unassisted 🤔🙁
Could he repeat the experiment please....
I thought VAG parking lights depended on which side you left the indicator stalk…?
They do, yes. So can be passenger side only… if you’re on the wrong side of the road… or on your hols.
With a little help from a battery pack wotsit
Wise.
I’ve had a fair few VAG group cars. on a decent portion of them the buzzer appeared to be discretionary.
Most of the recent VAG cars here have had their lights just left in 'auto' all the time.
Most of the recent VAG cars here have had their lights just left in ‘auto’ all the time.
'Auto' ?? The OP's vehicle is a 18 year old T5. The only thing 'auto' on those are the internal water features.
I think it might have done it on its own, but I guess we’ll never know.
Better not wrecking the battery any further though...
So we’re never going to know if it would have started unassisted 🤔🙁
Well I for one demand my money back! This was probably all a scam in the first place designed to separate vulnerable forumites from our cash. There probably was no van, light or battery. For all I know there may not even be a Swindon!