You should be able to access the battery compartment by turning the seat to
face the rear of the van.  I had quite a problem with this myself until
someone else showed me.  It works!

Mike Snow
1982 Westfalia 1.6TD
Camp Pendleton, California

> I can't seem to get to the battery.
>
> I know it's under the passengers seat, but...  This 87 Vanagon Syncro
> has a swivel passengers seat...  The manual says to move the seat
> forward.  The seat moves forward, but the swivel mechanism stays in
> place, covering the front part of the battery compartment.  I can't
> seem to open it...  Even swiveling the seat doesn't help.
>