Date:         Tue, 5 Aug 2003 23:20:57 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Followup Q?Re: Costco vs. diehard batteries
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 8/5/2003 2:58:51 PM EST, Oxroad@AOL.COM writes:

<< My bus needs a battery >>

Thanks for all for the advice.

Next question is do the cold cranking amps matter as far as performance.
Sears apparently offers two group 41 for the Vanagon the" weather beater" at
something like 430 CCA and the "International" at 700 CCA, according to the woman I
spoke with on the phone at sears. It would seem the 700 CCA is a better
battery. Is there a downside to more CCAs? The weather beater is $79 the
International is $99.

I went to Costco and it listed batteries for the Vanagon as 83-85 450 CCA and
86-91 with 550 CCA. Are there actually differences in the need of the starter
on these years or does it have to do with the alternaters being stronger on
the later busses?

My bus has the later model alternator with more amps than stock 1983. I think
the stock 1983 alt. had 65 amps and now the later modle alt. is in there with
95 amps (?).

And since I have a campmobile with the LED display on the stove for battery
power, I noticed on my old battery (1997-2000) the LED was mostly green after
being parked when I checked--even after parking over night. But with the newer
battery, even when it was new in aug 2000, the green LED would only stay green
for a few minutes after stopping then move to yellow. And both these tests
without using any electric save the digital clock while parked. I'm curious if
the CCA would make the battery LED "gauge" read differently or was the
2000-present battery never quite holding a charge as it should?

I'll check with a voltmeter when I get the new battery as to the chaging
etc., just didn't have one before.

(I'm going to go with sears again as I realized I have a dead sears
international in the bus now with an 18 month full warrenty, 72 month prorated-- so I
should save something on the replacement cost. I bought the battery in Aug of
2000.

Thanks again for all the help.

Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA 90035