Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 15:49:31 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Was Stutter and Low Batt-Now Battery Drain
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reply-type=original
the standard simple test for key off battery drain is put a 12 volt test
light in series between a battery cable and its battery terminal.
If there is no current flow at all, the light will be off.
if there is some,, it might be on dimly, or even brightly.
don't get thrown off by interior lights being on ...if say one is set to be
on with door open, and you do this test ...
the interior light won't be on, but the test light will be on pretty
brightly. So don't get tricked that way. Everything has to be Off.
if you see the test light comes on briefly, then rapidly go out ..
that is usually a clock, like the instrument cluster clock, and a normal
indication.
I'd still just disconnect everything to do with aux battery and see if you
have a 'normal car with one starting battery and no problems.'
If it's ok that way, then you know to think about your aux battery system .
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Sullivan" <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 5:37 AM
Subject: Was Stutter and Low Batt-Now Battery Drain
>I am now at 12.08 on main and 12.20 on aux after van sat overnite. I feel
> there is a drain somewhere. Any tips on how to check this before I take
> it
> to a battery guy? Thanks.
> Michael in San Antonio
> 91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
> 73 Beetle
>
>
> On Fri, May 7, 2010 at 4:33 PM, Michael Sullivan
> <sandwichhead@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Just left the stealership and bought the young'un a Honda Fit for
>> graduation. Still would not trade my van for a brand new Fit, tho. BUT,
>> on
>> access road, van died when I came to some traffic. Started right up, but
>> hard to get it to idle. Noticed that my main battery is reading 12.14
>> while
>> off and was as low as 12.08. The aux batt is at 13.36. Can someone get
>> me
>> on the right track to checking why the main battery is so low and why
>> stalling all of a sudden. I do have the SurePower 1315 and am monitoring
>> the charge on the VoltMinder.
>> I did replace my dizzy last year and eyeballed the timing at that time.
>> Van usually idles around 1000. Was fine before the car place, but then...
>> I
>> left it parked at the grocery for 20 minutes, and still same problem.
>> Any and all advice is appreciated, but keep it simple to start, duuhhhh.
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Michael in San Antonio
>> 91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
>> 73 Beetle
>>
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