Perry,
I've traced the circuit diagram for the battery light and it appears
that the voltage generated by your alternator/voltage regulator is
compared with the voltage stabilizer in the instrument panel. If the
alternator output is too low then the battery light comes on. So I
suggest that your problem is more likely with the alternator and/or
voltage regulator than with your battery. Your experience with dimmed
lights until you rev the engine suggests that the voltage regulator is
at fault and not the alternator itself.
Larry
'86 syncro westy
____________________________________________

perry wrote:
> 
> I think I have a problem with my battery? I did a lot of camping this
> summer with out newly built vanagon panel camper. I installed on eof those
> electric cooler thing in my van. We put about 60,000 Km on our van and ran
> the fridge alot this summer, even when the van was off. Now the battery
> light stay's on when I start the van until I I bring the rpm to about 2000.
> The heater and headlights also run very dim until I do rav the engine a
> bit. I have no problems starting the van but would like to find out why my
> van is doing this.
> 
> Thanx
> 85 vanagon panel camper
> 71 wife
> 93 Mercedes "my dog"