In a message dated 96-10-31 19:56:11 EST, raven@halcyon.com (Mark McCulley)
writes:

>>I've heard that the OEM setup provides venting of the battery before, but I
>>can't find any evidence of venting on the passenger side battery of either
>my
>>87 Syncro or 88 Wolfsburg.  Neither are Westies.
>>
>>Can you describe what OEM venting you've seen for these batteries?
>>
>My 87 syncro Westy has venting for the passenger side battery. It consists
>of a ~1.5" tube that leads from the battery compartment through the bottom
>of the van. You can see this tube hanging down from just under the seat area
>if you look behind and above the front tire. When I installed a new
>lead-acid battery, I connected a piece of clear plastic tubing to a vent on
>the battery and routed it out through the 1.5" tube.

Hmmmm.  Neither of my non-Westys has this tube.  Perhaps this is a Westy only
feature.  I can't see why they'd only put it in the Westys though.  The
batteries generate the hydrogen during charging - which means during driving.
 During sleeping time in a Westy no gases would be produced.  I suppose with
the propane stove & refirgerator there would be a source of ignition that's
not in the non-Westys.

Regards,
Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg