I have an almost new battery that was installed then sat unused for a few
months with a low charge.  Upon trying to start the machine (this was a KTM
motorcycle, but it could have been my vanagon..so there is the connection)
the battery simply clicked weakly.  I cleaned all the contacts and put it on
a 2amp smart charger overnight.  Next day I put my digi-meter on the batt
and got 12.96v reading..Poke the starter and it cranks very weakly for a
very short time.  Back to the multi meter and I see 12.4 volts.  I put the
charger back on, check the multimeter..it is getting 14.4, appx.  Let it go
a couple of hours, remove the charger and again read: 12.8v....Push the
starter again and RRR rrr r...click.   Weak... Charge the batt again and
leave it overnight..it holds the charge of 12.9 just fine, but when I load
it with the starter...it dies quickly without a start.  The machine will
start right up with a kick...and it spins over well after running...for a
couple of revolutions, only...

  So I am assuming the battery was a POS from the vendor, or that two months
of sitting with a low charge ruined it and I need another new battery...am I
assuming correctly?  Batteries are strange...

  Don Hanson