On Feb 10, 2010, at 12:51 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> There's another one too, with more Cold Cranking Amps - usually
> called a 48.
> What I want in a vanagon starting battery is one that fits, with the
> right
> hold-down edge on it,
> with the terminals in the right place.
> If you look at a list vanagon batteries , you'll see the Diesel
> Vanagon has
> the most cold cranking amps, around 800 or so.
> Same dimensions. That's the one I get.
>
> about which battery is best by brand ..
> I've never thought DieHards were so good at all. Wouldn't even
> consider
> buying one.

Replaced the Diehard starting battery that came w/ my westy in 2002
last year when I thought it was dying as my westy wouldn't start at
times, but it turned out to be a bad ground strap connection & the
battery was ok. New battery, an Interstate, courtesy of Richard J.
working fine.

I couldn't see the born on date on the Diehard, but assumimg it was
new when I bought the westy, that means it lasted for at least 7
years. Not bad!
  My auxilary battery, the notorious yellow top Optima, has now been
in use for almost 4 years, so so far I am bucking all the stories
about those going bad early too.

YMMV,

Mr. BZ-group 41, 44, whatever it takes

>
> As long as you are paying for a 'pretty decent battery' with the
> most cold
> cranking amps in that size battery, I don't think the brand matters
> so much.
> Far more important is how you take care of it.
> If I go to my local FLAPS ...........they want about $ 90 for their
> strongest battery in the right size.
> If I go to Walmart, that same battery  is about 70.
> at a discount parts store, I find 'em for about 60 something, plus
> core of
> course.
>
> Interstate Batteries ........good brand, nationwide coverage I think.
> which means you can find an Interstate Battery sales outlet almost
> anywhere,
> should you need to make a warranty claim on it.
>
> But really, unless you are getting cheap junk, I'd say it depends
> more on
> how you take care of it.
>
> vanagons be so much fun !
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Doug Alcock" <doug.alcock@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 6:40 AM
> Subject: Re: Best battery
>
>
>> For size you want a "Group 44" battery..........
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Doug
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 1:53 AM, Arkady Mirvis
>> <arkadymirvis@gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>> I suspect that a lot was written already here about batteries. New
>>> are
>>> coming daily.
>>> While leaving in USA I used DIEHARD batteries. They performed well
>>> in my
>>> diesel Jetta in daily use. But in 1987 Westy they didn't last. I
>>> removed
>>> the
>>> battery usually for winter storage and trickle charged. In no more
>>> than 3
>>> years the battery would fail. I recall  that the first, original
>>> VARTA
>>> battery failed on the second year.
>>> Now I am determined to get the best battery for my Westy, price
>>> doesn't
>>> matter. The battery must fit into its compartment under the front
>>> passenger
>>> seat. What are the maximum dimensions of the battery one can
>>> comfortably
>>> put
>>> in and get out?
>>>
>>> Many Westy owners do use auxiliary batteries. I used DIEHARD
>>> batteries.
>>> Not
>>> with great success. Can anyone suggest the best battery?
>>> I had my batteries in the compartment under the Westy's rear seat. I
>>> would
>>> like to hear suggestions about alternative aux. battery location.
>>>
>>> Thanks, Ark
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> http://www.dougalcock.com