Just wondering how many people flat tow a 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara behind their motorhome. Mine is a Longreach which has been fitted with a redarc 24v to 12v trailer converter. If I leave the dummy key in the ignition in the accessories position overnight the Suzuki battery goes flat. Is there a way of preventing this?
We need to leave the dummy key in the ignition overnight so that if we need to take off quickly in the middle of the night the steering will be unlocked. Occasionally when free camping this may be a necessity.
Regards,
Warwick.
-- Edited by Nappanerica on Thursday 14th of May 2015 09:52:23 PM
G'day I cant help you with your problem but I left the keys in my BT 50 for about 2 hrs and it completely flattened my battery. nothing was on and was told to never leave the keys in the ignition.
Cheers
__________________
Jack Cherie and the memory of the four legged kids.
Why not put a Anderson plug onto the Suzuki battery and one on the motorhome and connect them when you have the Suzuki connected that way it would always be charged ready to go. With the added benefit if something should happen to the trailer light circuit you could still travel at night using the Suzuki light and not having to be concerned about the battery going g flat
Had the same problem towing my Hilux, fitted a battery isolator switch, then if someone wanted to take it because the key was in, it wouldn't start. 80 bucks at Supercheap.
__________________
The government cannot give anything to anybody that the Government does not first take from somebody else.
I realise this is not directly answering your question but if you needed to take off in the middle of the night wouldn't you use the motorhome? Also if you plan on leaving a key in the ignition of your flat towed Vitara doesn't this mean that the vehicle is unlocked.
Regards
Thanks Gromet, The Longreach has a 24 volt electrical system so an anderson plug would probably fry the Suzuki's electrics. The 24 to 12 volt trailer converter was fitted by an auto electrician at Avida. (that may be the problem) Its purpose is to reduce the 24 volt trailer output signals to 12 volt for the Suzuki brake lights and blinkers only as far as I understand.
I unplug the 7 pin cable between the toad (Suzuki) and the motorhome as soon as I stop for the night.
The key has to be left on accessories when towing to keep the steering unlocked so that the toad tracks behind the motorhome. Thanks ballast2
Have considered this but not sure if this will lock the stereo system due to total power disconnection resetting the security system on the radio.
The key used in the ignition during towing is just a dummy key. Turns the ignition which is left in the accessories position. The dummy key will not start the engine. The Suzuki electronic key is used to manually lock the doors.
I realise this is not directly answering your question but if you needed to take off in the middle of the night wouldn't you use the motorhome? Also if you plan on leaving a key in the ignition of your flat towed Vitara doesn't this mean that the vehicle is unlocked. Regards
Thanks Hako,
The Suzuki is flat towed (all 4 wheels on the ground) and left attached overnight when free camping. So yes we would just climb in the front of the motorhome and take off if needed with the Suzuki attached.
The key in the ignition is a dummy key that turns the ignition to the accessories position to keep the steering unlocked. It cannot start the vehicle. The doors are locked manually with the Suzuki's electronic key. The Suzuki is designed to be towed this way.
The flat battery is my issue. With everything turned off, (radio etc...) I should think the battery should last days.
Possibly a silly question but have you had the battery capacity checked. It may be the the battery is close to total failure. It may start easily when first disconnected but fail if left standing for some time due to internal leakage.
It's not just the Suzuki Warwick, that's common to most modern cars. When the key is in the ACC position there are quite a few circuits and relays that are energised. A quick google found many forum posts talking about the same situation with lots of different cars.
My suggestion would be to disconnect the battery when towing or overnighting while hitched, then you can leave the key in ACC as long as you like without affecting your battery. You an still unlock the door manually with your key. To make it easy you could install an isolator switch under the bonnet so you don't actually have to undo the battery cable.
Cheers, Steve.
-- Edited by Ondabeach on Friday 15th of May 2015 10:36:31 AM
__________________
Cheers, Steve.
"Any day above ground is a good day... unless you're a spelunker :)"
Yes the "radio code" will need to be re-entered if you have the genuine unit fitted. Wife's new Grand Vitara presented to many issues to be used as the toad & the Hilux was a bit heavy to pull so went for a "vintage" Daihatsu wildcat as our new toad.
Used a "Getz" for a while but like the off road option, same issue with that, as many circuits are energised in the ACC position.
Battery isolator switch now fitted in the firewall on the passengers side of the Wildcat so just lean over & away you go. Car is locked with a second key so it keeps the honest thieves away.
__________________
The government cannot give anything to anybody that the Government does not first take from somebody else.
It's not just the Suzuki Warwick, that's common to most modern cars. When the key is in the ACC position there are quite a few circuits and relays that are energised. A quick google found many forum posts talking about the same situation with lots of different cars.
My suggestion would be to disconnect the battery when towing or overnighting while hitched, then you can leave the key in ACC as long as you like without affecting your battery. You an still unlock the door manually with your key. To make it easy you could install an isolator switch under the bonnet so you don't actually have to undo the battery cable.
Cheers, Steve.
-- Edited by Ondabeach on Friday 15th of May 2015 10:36:31 AM
Wouldn't it just be easier not to leave the key in the ignition???
__________________
Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
Yeah... but as he mentioned in his original post, the key has to be in ACC for Warwick to be able to flat tow his Suzuki, otherwise his steering will be locked. He also wants to leave it in ACC when overnighting while hitched so he can make a quick getaway should the need arise.
Cheers, Steve.
__________________
Cheers, Steve.
"Any day above ground is a good day... unless you're a spelunker :)"
Yeah... but as he mentioned in his original post, the key has to be in ACC for Warwick to be able to flat tow his Suzuki, otherwise his steering will be locked. He also wants to leave it in ACC when overnighting while hitched so he can make a quick getaway should the need arise.
Cheers, Steve.
Yep, fair enough for the flat towing, I missed that bit.. But for a quick getaway I think it would make it even more difficult. Not really sure why you'd need to make such a quick getaway anyway?
__________________
Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
Hi warwick we tow a 2009 auto vitara, occasionally gets a flat battery if i do long stints without starting it or dont run it for long. I never leave the keys in at night. if we have to leave in a hurry (never in 4 years of travel) i would drive off and sought it out after.
great little car though. vic
I have a 2008 3door GV and you don't have to have it in accessory to unlock the steering just have the key in the ignition,turn to unlock the wheel make sure it is free then turn off but leave key in the ignition. The car lights will not work unless in accessory but for your quick getaway I wouldn't be concerned, just go a couple of k's down the road and stop to turn on.Check your i will be surprised if its not the same .I understand that all the flat tow procedures tell you to turn ignition on but it is only for the lighting modification that is done to the car
Troopy, the Suzuki is attached to the motorhome. In an emergency, Warwick wants to be able to drive off in the motorhome with the Suzuki in tow, but without having to go out and unlock the steering. His main concern I think, is when free camping out in the boonies.
Cheers, Steve.
__________________
Cheers, Steve.
"Any day above ground is a good day... unless you're a spelunker :)"
My main concern was the fact that the battery would go flat overnight if the key is left in the accessories position as stated it has to be in the Suzuki manuals etc... Jade46 your answer was very helpful. As you stated, once the steering is unlocked the key can be turned back to the lock position but left in the ignition. The steering does not lock until the key is removed. I don't know why I didn't figure that out for myself. Just doing as the manual states without thinking it through. An added bonus in my case is that the Suzuki's indicators, brake and parking lights work with the key in the lock position.
Clarence, I will see how the battery goes with the key in the lock position. Hopefully I will get 4 or 5 days before we have battery issues. The key I use is a dummy key, just turns the ignition switch, cannot start the engine.
We had a caravan for over ten years and occasionally when free camping it would have been nice to be able to get in the car and drive off. Having to go outside and face the people we were concerned about to get to the car was the problem. Yes it is rare, but some of the stories we have heard makes you consider your options I suppose.
Thanks again to all responders. I will keep you updated on what I find with the battery etc...
yes modern cars are too smart, sometimes I sleep in the back of my isuzu MUX. It would be nice to be able to wind the window up/down during the night. To do this the ign. needs to be on, which may flatten the battery and also leaves the navigator display on, so if you need to windup the window you need to get out from the back turn on the ign, and then turn it off and get back in the back. a pain
My main concern was the fact that the battery would go flat overnight if the key is left in the accessories position as stated it has to be in the Suzuki manuals etc... Jade46 your answer was very helpful. As you stated, once the steering is unlocked the key can be turned back to the lock position but left in the ignition. The steering does not lock until the key is removed. I don't know why I didn't figure that out for myself. Just doing as the manual states without thinking it through. An added bonus in my case is that the Suzuki's indicators, brake and parking lights work with the key in the lock position.
That great,as your lights will work with the ignition off I can't see you ever flatening the battery.The lights on the toad will be getting there power from the MH circuit just like a trailer would
What I was told by my Auto elecy about the Ford ranger is either leaving the keys in the ignition or the door open the computor thinks it off somewhere so keeps all the systems up and running therefor a battery drain over 24hr flat battery.
