In a message dated 13/02/2007 2:01:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

The 7  passenger models (my '84 for instance) doesn't have the battery
box vent  that the Westy has on the passenger side.  Maybe it's because
they  didn't expect people to live in those.

BTW, I'm thinking about putting  a piece of screen over that hole in my
Westy.  I haven't had a problem  so far, but that would be a great
ingress for rodents without  screening.

Only the Westy model  Vanagons have a sealed and vented battery box under the
passengers seat.  A  rodent or other vermin getting in there should be stuck
with the battery if you  keep that battery box lid closed up so that the
venting system actually  works.  There is the rub, how many of you keep that lid
sealed up ?  I  certainly do not as I need to get in there far too often for one
reason or  another so I just keep the rear most screws in place.  So many
vans come in  here with no screws in place and that lid just lying there.  So,
with all  this out gassing you folks are so worried about we should have seen
many dead  Vanagon owners or passengers by now.  NOT !  I don't think out
gassing  on modern sealed batteries is any threat to us.  I have not ever had any
problem related to out gassing of the batteries in my Westy in the 13 years
and 500,000 km I've traveled in it !   Furthermore, what about all the  CARAT
and Wolfsburg weekenders that people are using as campers, they certainly  do
not have sealed battery boxes ?!?

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007