Diesel Electrical Issue

I would like to consult with the Campervan Gurus regarding a problem I have with my beloved 1994 Fiat Ducato 2,5 tdi base vehicle carrying a Hymer 6 berh :
Throughout the winter I religiously started my van to keep charge in the batteries. One day it just did not want to start, Dead, Faint lights on instrument panel and a scratching sound when you turn the key to start from the relay switches. Battery charged. Earth is good.
Please suggest a solution?

Thanks for the advice

I would not start it to charge it but rather just put a smart trickle charger on it. Also I always disconnect my battery earth when the van is not in use - even when parked up at an Aire etc.

I was tortured recently with the clicking and orange heater plug light flashing and changed my heater plug relay. The clicking was worse the more electrical things that were on, heater, radio, wipers etc. It made no difference and the clicking still happened even with the heater plug completely disconnected - van still started ok. Turns out it was another unit up behind the heater plug relay. It is a U shaped plastic thing and there must have been a loose connection or something as my mechanic squeezed it to see if it was loose and the clicking stopped immediately and no issues since. Check up high behind the battery as this thing is mounted on the firewall right up in the top left of the engine bay. Mine is a 1999 Ducato so similar engine bay layout I think.

I would suspect something like that.

The battery is good (Amp output Ok).The earth is ok. I replaced all the relays ( generic units, they are all the same not so?) - same symptoms remain. Checked current from battery — to solonoid in switched off position and there are current (12.59A) switched on (12.05). I now plan to remove the starter to see if it isn’t full of water...

I'm sure you mean volts not amps.
check that the connections are sound on the starter, the small lead remove it and check the voltage from it to earth when the key is turned to start. also check the large connections, the one from the battery to the solenoid and the one from the solenod to the starter, are clean and tight.

what is the voltage drop on the big connection on the solenoid when you turn the key to start ?.
have you someone local to check the starter when you take it out.

Sorry @ Stoney. but that is the reading you will get with the engine running . (13.8 to 14.4 )
The standing voltage of a charged battery is around 12.6volts.

A drop in voltage would be normal when attempting to start a vehicle as the current demand from the starter motor can be quite high.
I am sure that you have another vehicle, so why don't you try Jump Starting the motorhome. If it works then you will know that the battery is definitely the problem.
The figures you quote mean that your battery is at less than 90% capacity and this will drop further when you put it under load.

when its trying to do its job you will get a drop.
Have you jump leads ? one lead only, connect your black lead from the body of the starter, make a good connection to the metal, the other end to the battery - negative, earth black, ( there should be no arcing or spark).
Doing this will eliminate, the bad engine to chassis to battery question.
( if it starts then you have an earth problem.)
Turn the key to start and measure the voltage on the wire going into the starter from the solenoid.try this a few times and check the small wire for heat.

Need to get starter tested
Can you access the starter easily?
Try tapping with a bar or hammer whilst attempting to crank over

is your engine actually turning over.
is there any possibility that you have a seized engine . is the belt ok.

Back to earths,
I have a similar vehicle and there are 4 main earth points that I would check.
1 Behind the engine battery
2 on other wing on passenger side near washer bottle
3 gearbox to chassis on passenger side
4 on the driver side footwell on right hand drive models below the dash.

Check and clean to see if you can get better connections to your relays

Have you tried towing to start?