Date:         Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:38:07 -0700
Reply-To:     Thomas Kitts <thokitts@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Thomas Kitts <thokitts@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Replacing the battery in '84 Vanagon . . .
Comments: To: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <86476e250904040913h576ea24dpff1e50218fc2052f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Loren:

Thank you for such a fast response and helpful suggestions.

One more question, before jumping the westy and going off in search of
a battery shop:

Since I have the duel battery set up, is it smart to go ahead and
replace both batteries at the same time, or just the starter battery
under the passenger seat if it tests as bad? I understand the battery
under the driver's seat is more difficult to access.

And, is there anything I should look for with regards to quality or
cranking power? People talk about installing marine batteries but I
don't understand why.

Again, thank you for your help.

Thomas


On Apr 4, 2009, at 9:13AM, Loren Busch wrote:

>  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.