Seems the house battery is fine.  Charging at 13.75 and 13.26 at rest.  I
am getting the wrong voltage from the VoltMinder. Weird thing is, the main
reads at 11.80 and so does the nut on the SurePower 1315.  I have the
VoltMinder connected to the positive battery cable along with the 1315(two
seperate wires) but the meter is picking up the voltage that is going
through the 1315.  I am going to seperate the meter hot wire to the other
nut on the positive and that should get me a better reading. Next problem
was the failure to idle when initially started and went away after 2
minutes...that fixed itself.  Running fine now, so not sure what caused it.
Thanks to all for the advice.  Wish I knew why the idle started acting up,
but may be like one listee suggested-jealousy from the new Honda purchase.
BTW-I don't care if my van is 19 years old. My brother in law has a new Jeep
Wrangler and the kid now has a new Honda and I wouldn't trade Gringo for
either one.
Michael in San Antonio
91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
73 Beetle

On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 5:49 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> the standard simple test for key off battery drain is put a 12 volt test
> light in series between a battery cable and  its battery terminal.
> If there is no current flow at all, the light will be off.
> if there is some,, it might be on dimly, or even brightly.
>
> don't get thrown off by interior lights being on ...if say one is set to be
> on with door open, and you do this test ...
> the interior light won't be on, but the test light will be on pretty
> brightly.  So don't get tricked that way. Everything has to be Off.
>
> if you see the test light comes on briefly, then rapidly go out ..
> that is usually a clock, like the instrument cluster clock, and a normal
> indication.
>
> I'd still just disconnect everything to do with aux battery and see if you
> have a 'normal car with one starting battery and no problems.'
> If it's ok that way, then you know to think about your aux battery system .
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Sullivan" <
> sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 5:37 AM
> Subject: Was Stutter and Low Batt-Now Battery Drain
>
>
>
> I am now at 12.08 on main and 12.20 on aux after van sat overnite.  I feel
>> there is a drain somewhere.  Any tips on how to check this before I take
>> it
>> to a battery guy?  Thanks.
>> Michael in San Antonio
>> 91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
>> 73 Beetle
>>
>>
>> On Fri, May 7, 2010 at 4:33 PM, Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@gmail.com
>> >wrote:
>>
>> Just left the stealership and bought the young'un a Honda Fit for
>>> graduation. Still would not trade my van for a brand new Fit, tho.  BUT,
>>> on
>>> access road, van died when I came to some traffic.  Started right up, but
>>> hard to get it to idle. Noticed that my main battery is reading 12.14
>>> while
>>> off and was as low as 12.08.  The aux batt is at 13.36. Can someone get
>>> me
>>> on the right track to checking why the main battery is so low and why
>>> stalling all of a sudden.  I do have the SurePower 1315 and am monitoring
>>> the charge on the VoltMinder.
>>> I did replace my dizzy last year and eyeballed the timing at that time.
>>> Van usually idles around 1000. Was fine before the car place, but then...
>>> I
>>> left it parked at the grocery for 20 minutes, and still same problem.
>>> Any and all advice is appreciated, but keep it simple to start, duuhhhh.
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Michael in San Antonio
>>> 91GL Weekender AT 2.1L 'Gringo'
>>> 73 Beetle
>>>
>>>
>