No spot welding at least inside the battery compartment.  Is the other side/end of the bolt accessible near the front wheel? I am tight up against the garage wall on the passenger side right now. 
Phil

> From: d23haynes57@hotmail.com
> To: pwmenchions@HOTMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: RE: Battery Compartment ground cable; Was: Dead (almost) in the garage
> Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:50:54 -0400
> 
> Was nut spot welded in place. For ease of service I like to take weld a bolt
> facing up and then use a nut to secure the cable inside. For how often you
> should need to service this connection a nut, bolt, and washer will work
> just fine. Just clean things up for a good connection. 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Phil Menchions
> Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2011 11:31 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Battery Compartment ground cable; Was: Dead (almost) in the garage
> 
> Think I've found the source of my no start trouble. Removed the battery
> (with considerable difficulty) and found the bolt that fastens the lower end
> of the ground strap loose. The thing is it won't tighten or back out.
> There's a regular washer and a lock washer that isn't locking anything right
> now.
> Can someone tell me what's on the other side of the battery compartment. I
> don't seem to be dealing with a screw in bolt. Is there a nut on the other
> side that I have to get hold of somehow?
> I could jury rig by jamming something metallic down there but I'd like a
> proper fix. I don't know if the arrangement that I am seeing is the original
> setup from the factory or something that a long ago mechanic rigged up
> himself.
> Thanks for all the help so far.
> Cheers,Phil Menchions'89 Westy                                          
>