Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2010 08:04:27 -0700
Reply-To: Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Battery placement alternatives
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=CjtEmo86_0SFBm1WNRgJBMyMRCfxWcAWeA8EX@mail.gmail.com>
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It's not necessarily the track - we did take it out and lube it up a few
months back. The problem seems to actually be with the lever itself. It
doesn't seem to work correctly and I don't know if it's because it's broken
or what. Having not ever seen another one, I don't know what they're
supposed to look like.
Is that something that can be replaced? If so, where do I find a new one and
how do I go about getting it installed and the old one removed? Or maybe
I'll just replace the seats. I've thought about doing that as these ones
aren't that comfortable for me since there's no lumbar support. I do have a
lumbar cushion but due to the size and angle of the steering wheel, I can't
use it without being too close. If I put the seat back a notch or two to
compensate for that, I have to stretch my hip too far for the gas pedal and
that defeats the purpose of the lumbar support! LOL - no I'm not just being
nit-picky - I am disabled due to a back problem and if things aren't in the
right position, my legs go numb. Not fun to drive that way.
Also, someone in an earlier post this morning asked if I have an owners
manual. No, I don't, unfortunately. There was one for sale a while back and
I was too late to grab it! Sure would be handy to have one and I am keeping
my eye out for another but they seem to pretty hard to come by.
*Annie Anderson* Blogger, Designer, Thinker & Mom
web: annieandersonblog.com email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
twitter: silverlunace <http://twitter.com/silverlunace> facebook:
anniesanderson <http://facebook.com/anniesanderson>
*Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*
On Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at 7:44 AM, Ry <rylincoln@gmail.com> wrote:
> If it's just a helluva a booger to move your seat, i recommend this. and
> you only have to do it once(in a long while) remove the seat from the
> tracks, easier with two people. CLEAN UP THAT TRACK and lube it up good
> with some white lithium grease, reinstall the seat. now your battery is
> easy to get to. I did this to both my seats and they both slide pretty
> effortlessly now.
>
>
> -Ry
> http://www.google.com/profiles/rylincoln
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 8:10 PM, Annie <lsandrsn@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Yes, one of the issues for me is that the seat is a helluva bugger to
>> move
>> sometimes. It doesn't slide nice and as you mention, the lid doesn't fit
>> the
>> greatest anymore.
>>
>> I thought about the rear passenger seat too but I have too many other
>> things
>> under there - antifreeze, jumper cables, tool box, rags, paper towels,
>> gloves, oil, trans fluid and on and on - LOL. Not to mention that damn
>> rear
>> heater (which is another thing I don't really like the location of.)
>>
>> I was thinking of some kind of permanently placed box in the rear corner
>> above the engine compartment on the left side (at least for my van since
>> it's not a Westy and there's no cabinetry there) or something like that.
>> Easy to get to, mostly out of the way and close at hand when needed.
>>
>> There has to be some way to make it more accessible without creating
>> further
>> hazard. Kinda seems like placing it in the engine compartment would be
>> less
>> than optimal, though. Almost as inconvenient as under the passenger seat.
>>
>> Hmmm . . . any other thoughts, folks?
>>
>> *Annie Anderson* Blogger, Designer, Thinker & Mom
>> web: annieandersonblog.com email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
>> twitter: silverlunace <http://twitter.com/silverlunace> facebook:
>> anniesanderson <http://facebook.com/anniesanderson>
>>
>> *Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 5:47 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>>
>> > ---- B Feddish <uprightbassghost@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> > > How about moving it under the drivers seat?
>> > >
>> > > Seriously, what is wrong with the current battery location? You
>> could
>> > put it under the passenger seat but that is where most of us keep their
>> aux
>> > batteries.
>> >
>> >
>> > But, with regard to " .... what is wrong with the current battery
>> > location?": One thing is the outgassing of hydrogen from the battery.
>> > Hydrogen is explosive when mixed with oxygen. VW addressed the problem
>> by
>> > small vents in the battery box, and a gasket on the lid (to keep the gas
>> out
>> > of the van). But for most of the vans, the lid no longer fits tightly,
>> so
>> > the gasket is not functional. The other thing is, what happens when the
>> van
>> > rolls, and the battery case fails to contain the battery acid? Such
>> failure
>> > is not likely, but it only takes one time to be a tragedy.
>> >
>> > I, too, have thought about the battery location. Some compound the
>> concern
>> > by adding an auxiliary battery under the driver's seat, or under the
>> rear
>> > passenger seat.
>> >
>> > I think Scott Daniel has frequently commented on this, or at least has
>> > commented on it, if not frequently. His solution is to use space in the
>> > engine compartment, in front of the right tail light, for the battery.
>> I
>> > don't know if he has actually put one there. It would mean a much
>> smaller
>> > run of cable to the alternator, for sure.
>> >
>> > BTW, prior to the 1950s, it was common for American built sedans and
>> > pickups to have a battery box under the floor of the passenger
>> compartment.
>> > Only in the early fifties were batteries moved to the engine
>> compartment in
>> > nearly all cars.
>> >
>> > David McNeely
>> >
>>
>
>
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