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magpiemama Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Oz
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:48 pm Post subject: God help me, I'm a newbie. (How to jump my battery in '87) |
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Ok, yea, I know.
So I have been putting off purchasing a manual for my newly purchased '87 Vanagon--I've been having too much fun driving it.
Today when I went to jump into my vehicular and drive away, when I realized that it was in need of a jump.
So how exactly does one GET to the battery compartment which is uh, under the driver's seat?
Any tricks?
Spanks a million. |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3416 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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you know how to adjust the seat - moving it forward and backward right?
pull the lever on right of the seat, the one that moves the seat - not the one for adjusting the back - move the seat all the way forward - open the trap door for the battery under the seat.
do you know how to fill the windshield washer bottle?
how to check the brake fluid level?
the Bentley or Haynes manual are your friend...
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to the herd!
The starting battery is under the right seat..
Slide it forward.
Lift up the hinged cover.
Viola!
The other side, left, usually has the auxiliary / house battery, if one is fitted.
Enjoy! _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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Bubusse Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2011 Posts: 181 Location: Rimouski, QC
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Unless your van came from UK or SA or such places, the proper battery to jump start shouldn't be under the driver's seat but under the passenger's, that is the right hand side. Get the seat forward, open, and go ahead...
Mind you, mine is manual and so is my other car, and I live in a hilly place, so if a battery is too tired for some reason (never happened to the westy, but it sometimes happens to the suzuki in the middle of our freezing quebec winters), I just let it roll downhill and if it's really the battery, it has no choice but to start...
Congratulations on your new purchase, make sure to buy a manual (I actually like the Haynes, easier for me to follow), make sure the basics are taken care of (that would be fuel lines and brakes, IMHO) and enjoy the ride !
Oh, and post pictures _________________ 89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't been able to find a Haynes for the Vanagon. I have the Haynes for the Jetta TD AAZ tho. I like pics but I like to read too.
Welcome and you'll need more than God, a good wallet and sometimes flying by the seat of your pants AND at least one good Premium road side assistance and getting your hands dirty _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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Leavin to Live Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2011 Posts: 55 Location: Wet Coast
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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Don't let the other guys fool ya. Almost every first time buyer of a westy/vanagon had this issue. There's a number of things to get used to when getting your first van. For example, I dare you to find the transaxle!! |
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Bubusse Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2011 Posts: 181 Location: Rimouski, QC
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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@DAIZEE : Got my Haynes from Busdepot along with other orders. Way cheaper than the Bentley, too... _________________ 89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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OK thanks, will check it out.
Magpie: people so busy getting you under the correct seat that forgetting the common order of business: Change your fuel lines with top quality. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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Bubusse Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2011 Posts: 181 Location: Rimouski, QC
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Hint : fuel lines start from the fuel tank and end up all around the engine... _________________ 89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3416 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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are we having pulling legs from a newbie?
welcome... we are here to help...
and yes.. changing the fuel lines is a top most priority... |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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me thinks bubusse has a good sense of humor. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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Bubusse Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2011 Posts: 181 Location: Rimouski, QC
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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yep, obviously, I was joking ! Indeed, welcome here, it's a lot of fun, and more information than one can digest...
The bad thing about battery, though, is not finding it to jump start it, it's when you actually have to take it out of there for the first time... _________________ 89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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removing the battery is a pita. I've put big strong nylon ties on each side to help me lift it out. Then just stuff them down the sides. Also if you don't have a battery post table then put a piece of rubber or something so the metal lid doesn't settle on the live side. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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magpiemama Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Oz
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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Ok thanks so much.
Pullin' legs huh???
Was just thinking this morning how I probably needed to go ahead and get a manual before I needed one
Nice timing.
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joel72 Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2012 Posts: 10 Location: salem oregon
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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its under the passenger seat move the seat all the way forward lift the cover theres your battery booyah |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:24 am Post subject: |
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Next challenge= find where to add fluid to front w-shield washers. As for pulling batt i use an' ancient' strap with flat metal ends that slip down over posts.
Last edited by morymob on Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Volksaholic Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2005 Posts: 1771 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:26 am Post subject: |
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joel72 wrote: |
its under the passenger seat move the seat all the way forward lift the cover theres your battery booyah |
Passenger vs. Driver seat is relative: magpiemamama lists her/his location as Oz, which I presume is Australia, which implies RHD. So... move the Right seat, or Driver's seat, forward, open the magic door, and replace the battery if it needs frequent jumping! Actually, check and clean the cable to post connections, make sure the plates are submerged in electrolyte (top up with distilled water), and check to see if it's got a date code on it. The battery may be fine and just need maintenance, it could be old and not trustworthy, or you could be like me and forget to turn the parking lights off.
Happy motoring!
Paul _________________ 1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251 |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:49 am Post subject: |
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lol re washer fluid. I looked everywhere, even crawled underneath, then I had a brain moment and I remembered that in the "old" days the bright head lite switch was up & over under the left foot and by golly there was the opening. I know bright lite and washer fluid don't have a connection except for location _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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