Date:         Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:13:57 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Replacing the battery in '84 Vanagon . . .
Comments: To: Thomas Kitts <thokitts@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <FD880BD8-7A6F-4E8F-9CA8-C997024F8CB9@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

 RE: Batteries
If your battery ran down very low (to the point you needed to jump start)
then just driving will NOT normally recharge it, just not enough juice from
the alternator alone.  The battery should be brought back up with a good
charger.  It may then work just fine but if allowed to be drained way down
will have suffered some amount of damage.
For a replacement the stock battery is a Group 41 standard lead acid battery
available at any place that sells automotive batteries.  The starting
battery in my '90 right now is from Wallmart because of the initial price
and their warranty.  There are other, smaller batteries that will fit like a
Group 42 or Group 48 but the 41 is a perfect (though snug) fit.  A Group 91
(a larger capacity) battery is also supposed to fit.
BTW, you will need to rotate the passenger seat to face to the rear and then
slide the seat all the way forward (toward the front of the van) to get full
access to the battery for removal.
See you at Fishermans Bend.