Date:         Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:43:00 -0800
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Newbie question about auxiliary power
Comments: To: mcneely4@cox.net
In-Reply-To:  <20111122115128.RXNP9.2296.imail@eastrmwml206>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

 RE: Walmart batteries, battery vents
My limited experience with Walmart (two batteries) has been mixed.  When
the starting battery in my '90 Westy died (really dead) in the middle of a
trip I pulled into the Walmart in Kalispel and was surprised at the good
service.  Tht battery has been working fine for near four (maybe five?)
years now.  And it does have th vent on it, maybe things have changed?
But when I went to a local Walmart to replace the battery in my daily
driver about a year later I had to laugh at the incompetence of the
teenager that was given the job of installing the battery.  With a little
guidance from me he go it in (a very simple install) but a whole different
experience then Kalispel.

BTW, although more expensive, the batteries at Auto Zone have a pretty good
warranty on them.

And I have to second the comment about finding a NAPA store almost anywhere
especially in small towns.  Best story I can tell about that is when I
discovered a major oil leak occurring about 100 miles from home back in
August (oil cooler seal) and wanted a couple of extra quarts of oil to get
back home I started the Westy and pulled around the corner, there was the
NAPA less than 100 yards from where I'd discovered the leak. The Starwagen
has good Karma.