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Date:         Mon, 31 Oct 2005 18:03:44 -0800
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: premature battery death or just not enough use?  Flat spot on
              starter?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Batteries are like tires, they loose capacity over time. Keep them topped up and they will work a lot better. If your van sits for more than a week at a time, I would suggest a solar charger (if parked outdoors in the sun) or a GOOD automatic trickle charger plugged in continuously while garaged. I hardwired a Guest charger to the battery and plugged it into the AC socket under the sink. Works great. There are dual-battery chargers used mostly for marine applications that will keep 2 different battery banks charged for those with aux. batteries. Also, check the electrolyte level and add distilled water if the level is below the indicator tab. I find having a hydrometer and a load tester on hand is a good thing to have in the shop to do a more thorough test of the battery.

On the other hand, you may have a tired starter which may get worse when the battery is in a state of slight discharge.

Keith O 84 Westy "Brownie" Solar Charged Camper FOR SALE! 90 Westy Syncro

On Oct 31, 2005, at 1:32 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> > Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:19:53 -0700 > From: ScotiaWesty <ScotiaWesty@ADELPHIA.NET> > Subject: premature battery death or just not enough use? Flat spot on > starter? > > Hey List: > > I'm starting to get a bit suspicious about my electrical system. Do > Vanagon's eat up batteries faster than other vehicles? I put a new > battery > in the van this spring - proper type MT 41 Interstate. Went to take > the > family for a drive today and the van would not turn over. I hate this > because it also frigs up the VW stereo where you've got to put the > code back > in, etc. > > Anyhow, admittedly, the van does not get much driving time - about > once or > twice a month. But I cannot see why a brand new battery would be > sucked dry > so fast. Is it just not being used enough? Is my clock sucking down > the > battery that much? > > I also want to know about the starter. My van has always hesitated > for a > fraction of a second when turning over unless the battery is charged up > 110%. Is this called a flat spot on the starter? The hesitation of > course > gets more pronounced as the battery winds down and I think the > combination > makes the van even harder to start with a battery less than 100%. As > an > aside, we really don't put any domestic load on this battery. > > OK. I am sifting through the archive on this but your thoughts would > be > most appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Dan > > 1986 Westy > Colorado > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 14:42:39 EST > From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM> > Subject: Re: premature battery death or just not enough use? Flat > spot on > starter? > > In a message dated 10/31/2005 11:27:21 AM Pacific Standard Time, > ScotiaWesty@ADELPHIA.NET writes: > >>> OK. I am sifting through the archive on this but your thoughts >>> would be >>> most appreciated. > > > > > > I'm wondering if the fridge cooling fan could be a culprit. As I > understand > it the electric fridge fan to cool the coils comes on when it reaches a > certain temperature inside the bus. This is whether the fridge is on > or not. > > So if the bus is in a spot where it might get hot inside--I dunno when > the > fan comes on, is it as low as 75 degrees F-- wouldn't that fan be > cycling on > everyday draining the battery? > > This is just a theory, since I have a similar problem with battery > life in > my not-too-often-used Westy. Would it be worth while to pull the fuses > that > supply electric to the kitchen if the bus is going to be idle for time? > > Also I suppose we're dealing with a lot of wire to and from the > battery to > starter to ignition switch and age on that length of wire could > explain the > flat spot/delay.(?) Also my guess is aged wire might also not help > the battery > get up to a full charge from the Alt. to the battery. > > I'm just throwing out ideas. But I'm curious to see what you all have > come > up with. > > Best, > Jeff > 83.5 Westy > LA,CA


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