John,

I totally understand what you're saying. To this point, since I've owned the
van, I've been fixing and repairing every.little.thing. and then some. And I
will fix the handle as soon as I get a few other things crossed off the list
that I think are more important at this point - like fixing the heater
levers, the exterior slider door handle and a couple of other things that we
have to use nearly every day.

At this point, the seat stays put much of the time so it's not a huge issue
- just a little inconvenient. Rest assured, I'm not merely complaining - I'm
looking for alternatives and solutions. I may find that it does the job just
fine where it is and leave it there. That's the point of my inquiry - to
decide what will work best for me and then ensure it's properly working,
whatever that may entail. ;-)

 *Annie Anderson* Blogger, Designer, Thinker & Mom
web: annieandersonblog.com email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
twitter: silverlunace <http://twitter.com/silverlunace> facebook:
anniesanderson <http://facebook.com/anniesanderson>
*Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 8:52 PM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:

>  A thing or two about the battery.
>
> First and foremost - make sure your battery is fastened down in the box.
> That battery, properly installed, should not move. In the event of a
> roll-over, it should stay put. May leak some acid, but the battery, properly
> installed, should stay locked to the floor and not bash about.  We lock them
> down in airplanes with a strap or even special box, to avoid problems. Same
> applies in the van.
>
> If the lid doesn't fit properly, and the gasket doesn't fit - then you need
> to do some maintenance. You fix the other things on the van when needed. Fix
> this, don't just complain about it. Make it right. That is what maintenance
> is all about - repairing and fixing that which is broken or worn out. Don't
> just grumble and ignore the problem. Fix it.
>
> As for seat movement - again, a maintenance issue. Make it right. Lube the
> seat tracks with a paraffin block, and repair and make right the seat
> adjustment handles. No sense in having things that are half of how they need
> to be.
>
> Preventive maintenance - that's what it's called. Fix it before it become
> un-fixable.Avoidng trouble ahead of time.
>
>
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>
> On 9/30/2010 8:10 PM, Annie wrote:
>
>> Yes, one of the issues for me is that the seat is a helluva bugger to move
>> sometimes. It doesn't slide nice and as you mention, the lid doesn't fit
>> the
>> greatest anymore.
>>
>> I thought about the rear passenger seat too but I have too many other
>> things
>> under there - antifreeze, jumper cables, tool box, rags, paper towels,
>> gloves, oil, trans fluid and on and on - LOL. Not to mention that damn
>> rear
>> heater (which is another thing I don't really like the location of.)
>>
>> I was thinking of some kind of permanently placed box in the rear corner
>> above the engine compartment on the left side (at least for my van since
>> it's not a Westy and there's no cabinetry there) or something like that.
>> Easy to get to, mostly out of the way and close at hand when needed.
>>
>> There has to be some way to make it more accessible without creating
>> further
>> hazard. Kinda seems like placing it in the engine compartment would be
>> less
>> than optimal, though. Almost as inconvenient as under the passenger seat.
>>
>> Hmmm . . . any other thoughts, folks?
>>
>>  *Annie Anderson* Blogger, Designer, Thinker&  Mom
>> web: annieandersonblog.com email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
>> twitter: silverlunace<http://twitter.com/silverlunace>  facebook:
>> anniesanderson<http://facebook.com/anniesanderson>
>>
>> *Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 5:47 PM, Dave Mcneely<mcneely4@cox.net>  wrote:
>>
>>  ---- B Feddish<uprightbassghost@HOTMAIL.COM>  wrote:
>>>
>>>> How about moving it under the drivers seat?
>>>>
>>>> Seriously, what is wrong with the current battery location?   You could
>>>>
>>> put it under the passenger seat but that is where most of us keep their
>>> aux
>>> batteries.
>>>
>>>
>>> But, with regard to " .... what is wrong with the current battery
>>> location?":  One thing is the outgassing of hydrogen from the battery.
>>>  Hydrogen is explosive when mixed with oxygen.  VW addressed the problem
>>> by
>>> small vents in the battery box, and a gasket on the lid (to keep the gas
>>> out
>>> of the van).  But for most of the vans, the lid no longer fits tightly,
>>> so
>>> the gasket is not functional.  The other thing is, what happens when the
>>> van
>>> rolls, and the battery case fails to contain the battery acid?  Such
>>> failure
>>> is not likely, but it only takes one time to be a tragedy.
>>>
>>> I, too, have thought about the battery location.  Some compound the
>>> concern
>>> by adding an auxiliary battery under the driver's seat, or under the rear
>>> passenger seat.
>>>
>>> I think Scott Daniel has frequently commented on this, or at least has
>>> commented on it, if not frequently.  His solution is to use space in the
>>> engine compartment, in front of the right tail light, for the battery.  I
>>> don't know if he has actually put one there.  It would mean a much
>>> smaller
>>> run of cable to the alternator, for sure.
>>>
>>> BTW, prior to the 1950s, it was common for American built sedans and
>>> pickups to have a battery box under the floor of the passenger
>>> compartment.
>>>  Only in the early fifties were batteries moved to the engine compartment
>>> in
>>> nearly all cars.
>>>
>>> David McNeely
>>>
>>>
>>
>