Preventing Chassis Battery Drain on 2025 Winnebago View 24T

[glgeorge66]

Good Morniing!

Sorry in Advance for the long post, but a little frustrated with my chassis battery. We recently purchased a 2025 24T on the Sprinter chassis and stayed in it 10 days initially and then left for 2 more weeks prior to returning. When we left, I disconnected the inverter, removed shore power and hit the battery disconnect for the house battery. I did not disconnect the chasis battery. When leaving after our initial stay the power locks on our key fobs didn't work, but I didn't think anything about it since I disconnected the house battery.

When we returned after 2 weeks I was surprised there was NO power to the chassis. I read in the owners manual that if you will leave it unattended to disconnect the chassis battery. I don't believe anything was left on to affect the chassis battery except power to the step.

A few questions! 1) Is this normal to run down your chassis battery after 10 days if you don't disconnect it? The battery should be new since we purchased the View new! Could I potentially have a bad battery? 2) Is there something that I am missing or forgot to do? When staying or leaving the View unattended for a week or more - do you disconnect the chassis battery?

Off to jump start it and see if I can get the View started.

Any help on this situation is greatly appreciated!

Jerry & Mandi

 

[bigbAZ]

So it sat for the 10 days you stayed in it then for 2 more weeks? Regardless, the Sprinter chassis is known for fairly high parasitic loads and anything over 3 days or so warrants pulling the battery disconnect by the accelerator pedal or installing a maintainer.

Regarding the battery being bad, yes it's possible that the battery was allowed to sit without a charge during the build process and may have suffered permanent damage as a result. But even with a good battery I wouldn't recommend letting it sit for long periods without disconnecting or adding a maintainer, otherwise you may end up replacing it more often.

 

[Morich]

New cars are not as long lasting on battery if we don't drive them every day! Folks who moved to working from home soon found that their cars were prone to going dead when they stopped driving to work! I set up a handy charge point for my daughter to avoid her having to open the hood!
Newer RV can be worse as they have more small drains. Small things like all the automatic items you mention plus more? Door locks, radio presets, and others add up to run the batteries down sooner. Part of that can be that the battery itself is smaller, with less capacity.
It is partly due to what we have come to expect. Remember when we used to assume we had to do the work when we adjusted the seat or mirrors? We get in and turn the key and all kinds of things start to move, readjust, and restart the fuel pump!
When we get in and before the engine starts we get six different warnings and the lights come up before we even begin to crank the engine and things are just more prone to the battery being weak!
And it is true that a new RV is very prone to having a bad battery! How long did it set between the time the battery was installed in Iowa, driven to your location and then set on the lot before you got hands on?
For the jump start, you may need, don't overlook trying the boost or AUX switch for that jump start! If the coach batteries are still up, no cables needed for the jump start!

 

[creativepart]

I read in the owners manual that if you will leave it unattended to disconnect the chassis battery. I don't believe anything was left on to affect the chassis battery except power to the step.

Storing your 2025 View based on the Mercedes 2024 or 2025 Sprinter 3500XD chassis for anything longer than a week or so will require you to use the chassis battery disconnect in the driver's footwell OR put a trickle charger on the battery. This is why the owner's manual says to disconnect the chassis battery.

Your Mercedes has all manner of devices in the MBUX system that monitor your vehicle, contact MB's servers and even send you text messages if you tell it that that's OK. Seems like it should take longer to drain the battery but according to other owners on the internet this is what happens.

So, yeah, the Owner's Manual tells you to disconnect the chassis battery and provides a somewhat convenient way to do so. Older models instructed owners to do the same but getting to the battery was very difficult.

My storage space has a 15-amp 110v plug and I keep a smart charger attached anytime my 2026 View is stored more than one week. So, far, that's worked well.

 

[Pointyears]

Good Morniing!

Sorry in Advance for the long post, but a little frustrated with my chassis battery. We recently purchased a 2025 24T on the Sprinter chassis and stayed in it 10 days initially and then left for 2 more weeks prior to returning. When we left, I disconnected the inverter, removed shore power and hit the battery disconnect for the house battery. I did not disconnect the chasis battery. When leaving after our initial stay the power locks on our key fobs didn't work, but I didn't think anything about it since I disconnected the house battery.

When we returned after 2 weeks I was surprised there was NO power to the chassis. I read in the owners manual that if you will leave it unattended to disconnect the chassis battery. I don't believe anything was left on to affect the chassis battery except power to the step.

A few questions! 1) Is this normal to run down your chassis battery after 10 days if you don't disconnect it? The battery should be new since we purchased the View new! Could I potentially have a bad battery? 2) Is there something that I am missing or forgot to do? When staying or leaving the View unattended for a week or more - do you disconnect the chassis battery?

Off to jump start it and see if I can get the View started.

Any help on this situation is greatly appreciated!

Jerry & Mandi

I have a solar trickle charger on mine. Last weekend I started it up for the first time since I winterized it and it fired right up. Of course, that only helps if you're outside.....

 

[Seymour2Lane]

George,
It is quite possible that your chassis battery was allowed to drain significantly while sitting on the dealers lot which may have damaged it.
Our View is a 2016 and we have had success keeping the chassis battery charged while sitting by keeping the coach plugged in and using a trickle charger plugged in from an on board 110v outlet (galley) to the "always hot 12v cigarette plug" on the dash.
Not sure if the new Merc chassis still has this feature.
I also use this method to keep my GMC Denali battery topped off while sitting in the garage. The truck is such a tight fit in the garage that I can't get to the hood latch when it's in far enough to close the garage.

 

[Sparky19053]

Battery Standby Mode for Maintenance and Long Term Storage...

First, ignore recommendations from those with pre-2020 models! You should never have to disconnect your battery.) In regards to the Sprinter starting battery, storage from several days to six months is simple. Just activate Standby mode.

It gets confusing, because after you are in Standby Mode, pressing the ignition switch will take you out of Standby. (I think a lot of people who've had trouble with Standby have accidentally turned it off while trying to confirm it's on.)

(I do this by rote, so I hope someone else will let me know if I've got the procedure wrong.)

• Press the ignition button twice
• Activate Standby Mode
• Press the ignition button once
• Exit and lock the Sprinter

Detailed Steps:

Starting with a parked and off Sprinter, begin by pressing the ignition button twice. This will turn on the full ignition system without starting the Sprinter.

On the MBUX screen, go to Home -> Settings -> Vehicle -> and select Standby Mode.

If the battery charge is insufficient, charge the battery and try again. (It's easiest to put it in Standby Mode immediately after a trip.)

After activating Standby Mode, press the ignition button once, (without your foot on the brake) to bring the ignition down into the "accessory" position (similar to turning a car key one position, without starting the car).

The display will show how long Standby will last (but this will be inaccurate if you have a charger hooked up at the same time.)

Then, exit and lock the Sprinter, which will turn off the ignition.

You can unlock and enter the Sprinter all you want, but pressing the ignition button will take you out of Standby Mode (which may require charging your battery before it will go back into Standby Mode)

Standby mode will last many months, but best practice is to drive your Sprinter at full operating temperature for at least (the very least) an hour once a month. That will give you the chance to "refresh" Standby Mode and prevent the battery from discharging.

BTW, I found this on a FB site for the View and Navion models 2020~2025 models. I have left our RV for eight weeks in standby with no issues. We have the 21V model.

 

[bigbAZ]

That's some good info @Sparky19053 I had no idea MBUX could do that! What took Mercedes so long to come up with a solution to the notorious battery drain issue?

 

[Pointyears]

Battery Standby Mode for Maintenance and Long Term Storage...

First, ignore recommendations from those with pre-2020 models! You should never have to disconnect your battery.) In regards to the Sprinter starting battery, storage from several days to six months is simple. Just activate Standby mode.

It gets confusing, because after you are in Standby Mode, pressing the ignition switch will take you out of Standby. (I think a lot of people who've had trouble with Standby have accidentally turned it off while trying to confirm it's on.)

(I do this by rote, so I hope someone else will let me know if I've got the procedure wrong.)

• Press the ignition button twice
• Activate Standby Mode
• Press the ignition button once
• Exit and lock the Sprinter

Detailed Steps:

Starting with a parked and off Sprinter, begin by pressing the ignition button twice. This will turn on the full ignition system without starting the Sprinter.

On the MBUX screen, go to Home -> Settings -> Vehicle -> and select Standby Mode.

If the battery charge is insufficient, charge the battery and try again. (It's easiest to put it in Standby Mode immediately after a trip.)

After activating Standby Mode, press the ignition button once, (without your foot on the brake) to bring the ignition down into the "accessory" position (similar to turning a car key one position, without starting the car).

The display will show how long Standby will last (but this will be inaccurate if you have a charger hooked up at the same time.)

Then, exit and lock the Sprinter, which will turn off the ignition.

You can unlock and enter the Sprinter all you want, but pressing the ignition button will take you out of Standby Mode (which may require charging your battery before it will go back into Standby Mode)

Standby mode will last many months, but best practice is to drive your Sprinter at full operating temperature for at least (the very least) an hour once a month. That will give you the chance to "refresh" Standby Mode and prevent the battery from discharging.

BTW, I found this on a FB site for the View and Navion models 2020~2025 models. I have left our RV for eight weeks in standby with no issues. We have the 21V model.

I had no idea about this. My Sprinter also thanks you!

 

[Morich]

So does this system also have a comms setup to allow the factory to make updates? I often have problems with keeping track of how to use my PC as they make changes.
I would assume we will soon have much the same problem with our automotive things?
Last trip to Honda Pilot for some minor upgrade that was done on recall, I also came away with a tach showing on my dash???
Since my wife rarely races and it has no trailer hitch, I questioned how I was meant to use a tach??? Tech did not know as he was not aware of it being there on the new updates! He downloads the update, installs it on the car and has little idea from there!

With the newer systems on RV, I fear that we are rapidly moving beyond DIY! With the new data setup, meters are going to be meaningless for doing much beyond checking the readings on the monitor panel!

 

[Sparky19053]

So does this system also have a comms setup to allow the factory to make updates? I often have problems with keeping track of how to use my PC as they make changes.

So far with the exception of the onboard GPS I don't know of any other updates being done OTA. The GPS was updating the map(s) of the state you were traveling in. Or you could using a PC download all the maps to a thumb drive, then pass these on to onboard equipment in one process. There has been a few updates to the cruise control system that needed to be completed at the dealer. The electronics in our vehicles are growing quickly, so quickly that even the dealers are having trouble keeping up. And for the record I hate the daily updates in MS Windows.

 

[cthiggy]

2020 Navion 24V with Mercedes V6 diesel,
FWIW, I run our Navion every two weeks just to keep every thing charged and lubricated. Even with that, although the door locks generally work properly as does the engine starter, the entry steps usually will not extend untill after I have started the engine. I suspect that is because the chassis battery is a little low on power. I, personally, don't like to disconnect the chassis battery in the driver's footwell as some suggest due to a fear that switching power ON, power OFF may have a detrimental effect on the myriad on-board electronics. To each his own. Your mileage may vary.

 

[RLCASC]

I have a 2021 View 24V. Which I’ve owned for 2 1/2 years. First: I’ve have never disconnected the battery while in storage, and sometimes up to 5 or 6 weeks at a time. (Even during cold weather) This post now gives me some insight. Second: went to MB owners manual, can’t find any info on Standby Mode. Will give Sparky 19053 method a try to see if 2021 MBUX responds. Thanks

 

[Morich]

What I see in reading back all through this is a problem that will become more and more common over time.
Think of what we expected from a cell phone five years ago, compared to what we get now?
Not much chance of us being able to figure a current cell phone using our knowledge from five years ago, is there?
Same will now apply to our RV!
It may not be a big issue but more like the small stuff we suddenly notice is different today?

Meanwhile if we go back and read the first post, we might get a look at the future and how much confusion there may be? the first post mentions the chassis battery dead, but how did they determine the problem was a dead battery? Did they check the battery voltage or just go with the idea that the engine did not start, so the battery is dead?
My reason for mention of this is that a certain amount of lack of understanding seems involved when they jump to doing a jump start.
Are they forgetting about the dash switch for getting a boost or is this RV different than most?
But before jumping to the idea that I am critical of the poster and their confusion, perhaps we need to look at the current info for his RV?
This is from the info on their 12VDC system and as close as I find for sorting the problem:

If you are able to point out how to sort trouble with this drawing, I'm willing to admit that I no longer know enough to start!
I'm out of the game when this is what I have to work with!

 

[Pointyears]

Battery Standby Mode for Maintenance and Long Term Storage...

First, ignore recommendations from those with pre-2020 models! You should never have to disconnect your battery.) In regards to the Sprinter starting battery, storage from several days to six months is simple. Just activate Standby mode.

It gets confusing, because after you are in Standby Mode, pressing the ignition switch will take you out of Standby. (I think a lot of people who've had trouble with Standby have accidentally turned it off while trying to confirm it's on.)

(I do this by rote, so I hope someone else will let me know if I've got the procedure wrong.)

• Press the ignition button twice
• Activate Standby Mode
• Press the ignition button once
• Exit and lock the Sprinter

Detailed Steps:

Starting with a parked and off Sprinter, begin by pressing the ignition button twice. This will turn on the full ignition system without starting the Sprinter.

On the MBUX screen, go to Home -> Settings -> Vehicle -> and select Standby Mode.

If the battery charge is insufficient, charge the battery and try again. (It's easiest to put it in Standby Mode immediately after a trip.)

After activating Standby Mode, press the ignition button once, (without your foot on the brake) to bring the ignition down into the "accessory" position (similar to turning a car key one position, without starting the car).

The display will show how long Standby will last (but this will be inaccurate if you have a charger hooked up at the same time.)

Then, exit and lock the Sprinter, which will turn off the ignition.

You can unlock and enter the Sprinter all you want, but pressing the ignition button will take you out of Standby Mode (which may require charging your battery before it will go back into Standby Mode)

Standby mode will last many months, but best practice is to drive your Sprinter at full operating temperature for at least (the very least) an hour once a month. That will give you the chance to "refresh" Standby Mode and prevent the battery from discharging.

BTW, I found this on a FB site for the View and Navion models 2020~2025 models. I have left our RV for eight weeks in standby with no issues. We have the 21V model.

Put my Sprinter on a charger and then put it into Standby. MBUX said I was good for 22 weeks. Cynical me refuses to believe that, but like the feature! Thanks again.

 

[THenning]

Good Morniing!

Sorry in Advance for the long post, but a little frustrated with my chassis battery. We recently purchased a 2025 24T on the Sprinter chassis and stayed in it 10 days initially and then left for 2 more weeks prior to returning. When we left, I disconnected the inverter, removed shore power and hit the battery disconnect for the house battery. I did not disconnect the chasis battery. When leaving after our initial stay the power locks on our key fobs didn't work, but I didn't think anything about it since I disconnected the house battery.

When we returned after 2 weeks I was surprised there was NO power to the chassis. I read in the owners manual that if you will leave it unattended to disconnect the chassis battery. I don't believe anything was left on to affect the chassis battery except power to the step.

A few questions! 1) Is this normal to run down your chassis battery after 10 days if you don't disconnect it? The battery should be new since we purchased the View new! Could I potentially have a bad battery? 2) Is there something that I am missing or forgot to do? When staying or leaving the View unattended for a week or more - do you disconnect the chassis battery?

Off to jump start it and see if I can get the View started.

Any help on this situation is greatly appreciated!

Jerry & Mandi

We own the same model and have had the same problem. Had to jump start it to recover and charge the battery. We owned a 2018 prior to 2025 24T and this was a common problem, we had become accustomed to disconnecting the battery under the driver’s dash with that model to avoid this issue. The instructions with this process require you to wait 20 minutes before disconnecting the cable. Not sure what effect this has on the computer that supports the engine and other systems. I have an appointment with Mercedes on Wednesday to discuss.

 

[THenning]

I will have to try the standby mode to see if this works for me as well.

 

[creativepart]

I have a 2026 R and I don't have Standby mode. And, the 2025 T model with with Winnebago Connect is commonly referred to as the 2025.5. So, if you have a pre-Connect model you may have a Standby mode and if you have a 2025.5 with Connect you may not have a Standby mode.

A dead chassis battery in storage is a common issue. And, according to the Operator's Manual you need to use the disconnect down by the accelerator pedal OR if you have power in storage then you can put a trickle charger on chassis battery via the "jump" connections under the hood. I use the trickle charger anytime I'm in storage for more than a week.

As I understand it (and have seen with my 2026 model) these are your only options.

Model year makes all the difference on the View Navions because they go through not only a lot of change by Winnebago but also by Mercedes. Not that it matters to you or me, but 2027 has even more changes due to a completely new Sprinter chassis model on all 2027s.

 

[creativepart]

If you are able to point out how to sort trouble with this drawing, I'm willing to admit that I no longer know enough to start!
I'm out of the game when this is what I have to work with!

Richard, none of that applies to the newer (2025+) View/Navions. And there is not a lot of documentation in the Winnebago Owners Resources online yet. Though it's mostly covered in the Operator's Manual.

There is no Boost switch for the 2025+ models. An the chassis battery "Standby" option went away. And, the electrical diagram shown is completely wrong for these model V/Ns. That diagram shows a free standing outboard BMS, which is something Lithionics has done on some of their special installs but is not at all common for the vast majority of models. They use a battery with the BMS inside the battery and it's one single 320ah "Never Die" battery with BMS, Heating, Bluetooth and connections to the Winnebago Connect system.

 

[Morich]

YUP! Time to quit!
Too much that is no longer DIY repairable!