A battery with a low charge or no charge, and is allowed to freeze in the winter, will typically die.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Richard Koerner
Sent: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 8:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Bad battery?

Was all set to go for a nice cruise today in Vanagon.  Instrument cluster lights ok, but no familiar sound from fuel pump.  No crank, no click, no nothing.  Parking lights work, but no headlights.  Voltmeter says 10.0 VDC; makes me assume 1 dead cell.  Walmart Group 41 battery is exactly 6 years old, I'm used to getting much longer life, but with Covid I will admit not too much long distance driving these days.  Tried PepBoys, NAPA, O'Reillys, Walmart via computer...these Group 41 batteries are getting harder and harder to find.  But local Autozone has one; I called....the guy checked in the back to physically confirm the thing exists; no idea of Manufacture Date.  My plan is to take old battery to Autozone and have them check out; assuming it's dead will immediately buy new one and install.  I will add that I recently in last month replaced old alternator in Subie EJ22 motor with a new one; no issues, but the old one was at least 160K miles and replaced as a preventative measure; wondering if the renewed voltage coming into old battery kind of pushed it over the edge, don't know, probably just a coincidence.  Old Walmart battery was $100; new batteries are $150, just the way it goes.
Rich
San Diego