---David Ohlemacher <dmo1205@IX.NETCOM.COM> wrote: > > OK, I need the wisdom of the group here . . . > > My wife takes the Vanagon on it's normal daily outting, school, stores, etc. Along the way she stops the Vanagon about 4 different times for about 20 -40 min each time. At the last stop, boom, dead battery, won't crank but maybe once (battery is less than 3 years old), she calls me I think OK, batteries sometimes go dead quck, so I pick up a new one and drive it over to her, install it and it starts fine. She hasn't noticed anything different all morning, no warning lights, no smoke, no funny noises. Off she goes, off I go back to work, 30 min later shes calls me and the one time she turned off the engine (for less than 5 min) boom, dead battery. > > We pop the clutch and it starts so now it sits in the garage, still won't crank. I've looked over the van and can't see anything obvious, but I'm not sure where to look. It happened so fast it has to be something simple, what could short out/kill a battery so fast? Where do I start looking? > > Need the groups help on this > > Thanks > > Dave > 86 Vanagon GL Dave, First, check the obvious- see if the caps on top of the battery connectors are missing. After that, go to a FLAPS and have them hook their diagnostic machine up to your battery to see what the deal is. If the FLAPS is no help, it's time to do this procedure: 1. Make sure the battery is charged. 2. Make sure all electrical accessories are off. 2. Locate fuse block under dash. 3. Remove the first fuse. 4. Stick the prongs of a voltometer in there to check for current. 4a. If there is no current, replace fuse and repeat procedure on next fuse. 4b. If there is current, you have an electrical leak. IF you find an electrical leak, post a message describing which electrical group shows current flowing. Good luck! Sam _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com |
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