| Author |
Message |
Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:37 pm Post subject: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
 |
|
can somebody remind me how to remove the remove the battery?
the base for the seat swivel seems to block access
I don't need to remove the entire seat and then unbolt the #$%^&*() base do I?
_________________
.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
Just swivel the seat 180 degrees and then slide towards the front of van.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bassyaks
Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2010
Posts: 1137
Location: S.E. Connetitcut
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 12:55 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
| Oh BOY!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zentaka
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2010
Posts: 264
Location: Hawaii Island, Hawaii
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
Must be some gooood recreational up there in Orygun 
Seriously though how awesome that you've had so little trouble with your van that you were able to forget that! Seems like I'm in and out of my battery compartment all the time -.- |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
raoul mitgong
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009
Posts: 1338
Location: Denver, CO
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
A previous owner bent the shit out of my battery box sheet metal. Looks like he/she used plyers to straighten and then rebend the rear lip. The carpet didn't escape the destruction either. Way to be patient Meriam even when you knew we'd razz you for it.
-d
_________________
84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim)) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
1st time I've had to remove the battery
I apoloogize for asking such a simple question, despite the extremely counter-intuitive nature of the operation
maybe it will help someone else with brain & spinal cord damage
_________________
.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9620
Location: Western WA
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 1:44 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
| Zentaka wrote: |
| Seriously though how awesome that you've had so little trouble with your van |
I was thinking the same, that's some great luck.
But there are lots of new Westy owners who DON'T know that.
They may have read some other simple questions and see the member get a beating (thus afraid to post).
The question is out in the open now, with a definitive answer on the FIRST post. 
I think theSamba has attained a new "lightness of being", which is good. Hopefully not just going all fluffy. But it's good for attracting new members to have these basic questions answered with kindness and civility.
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
I've had so little trouble with my van because I was careful as to which one I bought, with a PPI; researched what needed to be done as short-term and long-term maintenance, and then did it (mostly while just 50 some odd yrs old and in good health). Lately, I've had to pay a mechanic to do some things (coolant pipes) but luckily there are several shops here.
anyway back from PT and will have another try at pulling the battery up out of the tight little box with a lip that some injuneer designed for it...
_________________
.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
termuehlen 
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2012
Posts: 994
Location: Redwood City
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
Don't put a battery in without a nylon strap underneath it. Lifting a strap from the top will save your knuckles and makes battery install / removal so much easier.
_________________
1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tobias Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 1391
Location: Taos NM
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
Different batteries have different handles. You might be missing the plastic bit that can be inserted.
Post a pic of the top of your battery.
Many cars do not need the handle removed for installation. One of your other vehicles might have the handle still on it and you can swap it over. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32634
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
new battery did not come with handle - I'll fab one out of nylon strapping
_________________
.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32634
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
timichango
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2012
Posts: 858
Location: Squamish, BC, Canada
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
| termuehlen wrote: |
| Don't put a battery in without a nylon strap underneath it. Lifting a strap from the top will save your knuckles and makes battery install / removal so much easier. |
I learned that one recently, the hard way, five years after I installed the starter batt. when we bought the van. Had to use a damned crowbar to pull up on the lip of the battery, with someone else jacking it up from the vent hole with a long screwdriver. Was a real sonofabitch to get out.
There's a strap in there now...
_________________
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vroomhilde-San: Our 1991 Silver Vanagon Westy automatic + Subie EJ25 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
I use a strap made to clamp on the battery terminals
more tips: BOTH 10 mm and 13 mm wrenches are needed to remove the terminal cables (!)
additionally, a 13 mm socket was needed for the battery hold down clamp
and a hammer and drift to beat the damn hold down back into the area in front of the battery
the cables need to be moved to the corners of the box as the battery will not clear them due to the idiotic lips on the box
While I realize the idiots that "designed" this are dead, I do hope the prosecutors beat the eff out VWAG just as general karma
_________________
.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7479
Location: WA/ID
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
| djkeev wrote: |
Two pair of vise grips clamped onto the terminals allows you to lift it out without drawing blood!
Dave |
That's how I do it.
My dad had a strap that attached to the battery posts but I haven't seen one of those in years. I'll bet his is 60 years old now.
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
theadventureneverends
Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2009
Posts: 585
Location: Gig Harbor WA
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:34 am Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
My last battery did not come with a handle so I did this.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sped372
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2006
Posts: 653
Location: Waunakee, WI
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:18 am Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
I once used a couple spare terminal clamps on the posts and tied a rope between them. Worked fine. I now have a strap underneath.
_________________
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
oldschool84
Samba Member
Joined: March 15, 2015
Posts: 119
Location: Syracuse, NY
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:56 am Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
| I recently replaced mine and got stuck at the step of pulling out the old one due to the seat - figured there must be a trick and so searched the trusty Samba and found the info to turn the seat - the funny thing was that I had turned it 90 degrees with no luck. I find it amusing that VW designed the seat base such that it is only the front side of the seat that is the short dimension, thus requiring 180 degree rotation. It sort of makes sense but is certainly not easy to guess. I just chuckled thinking it was one more idiosyncratic thing about the van - |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 7:03 am Post subject: Re: How do I remove the starting battery on a Westy? |
|
|
| jimf909 wrote: |
| djkeev wrote: |
Two pair of vise grips clamped onto the terminals allows you to lift it out without drawing blood!
Dave |
That's how I do it.
My dad had a strap that attached to the battery posts but I haven't seen one of those in years. I'll bet his is 60 years old now. |
Ive got one of these. Maybe Ill list it in the classifieds for $500 - rare OG battery lifter. Im sure I can melt "Made in West Germany" into the plastic
(Can you really not get these any more....liability?)
_________________
.ssS! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
