Battery Question - 74 Westy - Jump Question

[dr8track]

I need to jump start my bus and I have a question about my battery. The way its wired has me a little paranoid about which side is positive and which is negative. I can't pull it out far enough to be able to see if there's a - and + indication on the battery. What has me confused is that there's a red cable running to the back terminal which I would normally assume is positive.

The confusing part is there's a red connector attached to the black cable. Which has me wondering why a red connector was placed on that black cable?

I may just have to pull it out to confirm which side is negative and which is positive, but regardless,, if that black cable does go to the negative side it still makes me wonder why they placed a red connector on it.
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[busdaddy]

I see a + on the battery below that red connector, the one opposite the red cable, if the bus runs and charges like that it's somewhat safe to assume that's positive.
Time for some black tape on that negative cable, before someone who's trying to help mixes them up and cooks you alternator. And that red bolt on terminal on the + side is going to cause you issues, invest in a real cable with a swaged on end before it strands you.
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[SGKent]

^^^^ what Mark said. The + is clearly visible. Also another way of telling is the negative bolts to the frame behind the battery.

NEVER assume the colors are correct. Always look for the + and -. Then triple check yourself before you attach cables. Always. I've come close a couple times in my life to accidentally reversing them, and that triple check saved me. Also learn to attach the negative to the frame and not the battery. You attach it last and unattach it first to avoid blowing yourself up with a battery explosion.

Get a pocket flashlight, a real one - I keep several small maglites around. Also get a pocket mirror if you need to look at something from an angle.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[KentABQ]

And once you figure out which post is Positive, spritz a bit of red spray paint on that side of the battery.
It will make it much easier to identify in the future.
(Can't remember who recommended that to me, but 'thank you' to whoever it was!)

[alman72]

what SG said. confirm that the neg is bolted to the body of the Bus. Just reach in and feel along the cable.

[ImAddicted]

[ToolBox]

[dr8track]

Thanks for all the info gentlemen. Very helpful as always. And now I have a new project on my list.
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[dr8track]

Check out the monstrosity I pulled off the NEGATIVE side of my battery. It must be about 3 feet long.

I'm taking the advice of several of you and getting all new cables and also repairing the battery pan. Its so rusted through that it's surprising it didn't fall through the large hole onto the highway.
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[Randy in Maine]

For the record, the battery cables from the factory were black for the positive and the woven wire "strap" for the neg side.

[dr8track]

Well I guess that could explain the black positive cable. I saw some of those woven wire versions online. They were quite spendy. Anything better about those vs the traditional version?
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[SGKent]

https://www.busdepot.com/113971235c It should bolt to the area right in front (front side of bus) the battery on the wheel well.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Randy in Maine]

Also there is the chassis ground over on the drivers side at the front of the transaxle. Also a woven wire strap. Take your 13mm wrench down there and take it off. Clean it up on the bench wire wheel and reinstall it. Everyone uses Fluid Film on them now (and the + battery cable at the starter connection) to keep them nice and non-oxidized. It really works well.

[dr8track]

Thanks for the chassis ground and Fluid Film tip. I'll do some searching and find that strap. Found some new battery cables and will be installing those as soon as I finish the battery tray.
I found something interesting when I pulled out the battery. I'm wondering what was originally plugged into this?

Could this have been for the old mechanical fuel pump before it was replaced with the electronic one?
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[blacka1vw]

Blower fan I believe. Also if the blue wire has black stripe I think that’s your oil pressure sender wire.

[dr8track]

Well here's the latest in my ongoing battery saga. Since I decided to replace the battery cables I took the battery out and took it to Les Schwab for testing. They determined the battery was bad and gave me a free replacement. It was still under warranty. I installed the new cables in the same manner as the old ones. I set my battery in place on the new battery tray, attached the positive cable making sure it was nice and tight.
I then began hooking up the new negative battery cable. I could hear a clicking somewhere as I get the cable in position. I tightened it down snugly. Turned on a dome light to see if power was back. Nothing. Went to the cab and noticed the battery light was on. Key in ignition but not turned on.
Disconnected the negative battery.
I didn't try starting it because I feared i might damage something.
Now I'm wondering what the issue is. VR? Alternator?
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[SGKent]

were you sure + went to the starter and - to the chassis?
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[dr8track]

Ok, new development. I hooked the negative back to the battery. Tried the accessories (head lights, dome light) and they DO work. I didn't have the dash knob engaged previously which supplies power to the light in the sleeping area.
Batterey light still lit with no key in ignition. Put the key in and turned over the engine, but did not start it. Now the battery light is off.
I went ahead and started it up and all seems well.
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA