# Camper has died **Source:** https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/camper-has-died.59172/ **Posts:** 11 --- ### S — 2025-07-24T11:18:14+0200 (Jul 24, 2025) Went to charge our hybrid T7 this morning, after a few minutes the vehicle alarm went off, which I cancelled. Then, the keys no longer do anything to the vehicle, its locked shut, totally dead. had to call out VW assistance for later on this afternoon. --- ### — 2025-07-24T12:06:02+0200 (Jul 24, 2025) I assume you've seen this thread. ![vwcaliforniaclub.com](images/metalogo.png) ### [Battery management issues VW New California T7](https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/battery-management-issues-vw-new-california-t7.57626/) Hi everyone, As an owner of a VW New California Beach Camper eHybrid, i have been experiencing some battery management issues that other owners have been similarly complaining about (both hybrid and non-hybrid models). Concretely: it seems that once parked (whether or not in camping mode), the... ![vwcaliforniaclub.com](images/favicon.png) vwcaliforniaclub.com --- ### S — 2025-07-24T18:24:10+0200 (Jul 24, 2025) > [Corradobrit said:](/goto/post?id=754645) > > I assume you've seen this thread. > > ![vwcaliforniaclub.com](images/metalogo.png) > > ### [Battery management issues VW New California T7](https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/battery-management-issues-vw-new-california-t7.57626/) > > Hi everyone, As an owner of a VW New California Beach Camper eHybrid, i have been experiencing some battery management issues that other owners have been similarly complaining about (both hybrid and non-hybrid models). Concretely: it seems that once parked (whether or not in camping mode), the... > > ![vwcaliforniaclub.com](images/favicon.png) > vwcaliforniaclub.com > > Click to expand... Thankyou. No, I hadn’t seen this. VW came out and jump started the vehicle. All batteries totally dead, and had been sitting in the drive doing nothing. It’s now at the dealer to be fixed. --- ### — 2025-07-24T18:42:07+0200 (Jul 24, 2025) > [Sacha1dog said:](/goto/post?id=754675) > > Thankyou. No, I hadn’t seen this. > > VW came out and jump started the vehicle. All batteries totally dead, and had been sitting in the drive doing nothing. It’s now at the dealer to be fixed. > > Click to expand... We had a T6 Ocean. When the engine battery got low, all sorts of things either stopped working or erratic. The alarm also tended to have a mind of its own. Thanks for updating us. --- ### — 2025-07-24T21:09:23+0200 (Jul 24, 2025) I have never had a flat battery in any of my cars. Once almost with my Golf 4 and once after 14 years of driving my T5.1 Cali. I then changed the starter battery. It seems that VW didn't sort out the battery management of the T7 California. Why does something so simple always turns out to become so overly complicated in newer cars? I hope your dealer gets the problem sorted soon so you can enjoy the van for what it's made for: camping. --- ### S — 2025-07-24T23:54:32+0200 (Jul 24, 2025) Thanks. We are really disappointed. Only had the vehicle 2 weeks, and were just planning some short trips with it as summer is here. --- ### — 2025-07-25T10:46:14+0200 (Jul 25, 2025) I thought from the thread title that this could be something about some poor old soul getting his peak time campsite bill ....![:shocked](/data/customsmile/jawdrop.png "Jawdrop :shocked") Levity aside, my sympathies.. what a miserable start to your ownership experience. I hope you find the cause and it is remedied. Frankly you have bought a very expensive leisure vehicle and you should expect to just be able to get in it and use it. --- ### — 2025-07-25T11:03:39+0200 (Jul 25, 2025) > [TripleBee said:](/goto/post?id=754682) > > I have never had a flat battery in any of my cars. Once almost with my Golf 4 and once after 14 years of driving my T5.1 Cali. I then changed the starter battery. > It seems that VW didn't sort out the battery management of the T7 California. Why does something so simple always turns out to become so overly complicated in newer cars? > I hope your dealer gets the problem sorted soon so you can enjoy the van for what it's made for: camping. > > Click to expand... But none of those vehicles have the multitude of electronic systems that manufacturers fit , such as Over the Air software updates, and various Governments eg; EU , mandate , that modern vehicles have to have such as SOS system and various driver aids --- ### — 2025-07-25T18:25:43+0200 (Jul 25, 2025) > [WelshGas said:](/goto/post?id=754714) > > But none of those vehicles have the multitude of electronic systems that manufacturers fit , such as Over the Air software updates, and various Governments eg; EU , mandate , that modern vehicles have to have such as SOS system and various driver aids > > Click to expand... That is what I said further. Why has it become so overly complicated? And I am glad I don't have SOS, OTA, ADAS, ... --- ### W — 2025-07-25T22:48:34+0200 (Jul 25, 2025) > [TripleBee said:](/goto/post?id=754754) > > That is what I said further. > Why has it become so overly complicated? > And I am glad I don't have SOS, OTA, ADAS, ... > > Click to expand... I actually think it’s swung too far. The Ocean has basically a fridge, some lights and a roof (hydraulic). Yet the design incorporates a dedicated electronic control unit, integrated with the vehicle ECU via CAN bus. Why? I had a narrowboat up until recently. 6 x leisure batteries, a starter battery, LED lighting, a fridge, Bluetooth battery monitoring, TV, WiFi, electro- hydraulic bow thruster and even Alexa - all running off a 50hp diesel engine. No software or CAN bus be seen - and if it went wrong - it was a doddle to fix. Why there is this need for such over engineering of basic functionality is beyond me. --- ### — 2025-07-25T23:22:59+0200 (Jul 25, 2025) > [Woodstock25 said:](/goto/post?id=754774) > > I actually think it’s swung too far. The Ocean has basically a fridge, some lights and a roof (hydraulic). Yet the design incorporates a dedicated electronic control unit, integrated with the vehicle ECU via CAN bus. Why? > > I had a narrowboat up until recently. 6 x leisure batteries, a starter battery, LED lighting, a fridge, Bluetooth battery monitoring, TV, WiFi, electro- hydraulic bow thruster and even Alexa - all running off a 50hp diesel engine. No software or CAN bus be seen - and if it went wrong - it was a doddle to fix. Why there is this need for such over engineering of basic functionality is beyond me. > > Click to expand... I don't know for sure but imagine its to aid diagnostics. ---