Battery & Tray restoration

Time for a new Starter Battery as Betty's battery has trouble starting after a long drive and only giving 11.78V at best.

Strange how the battery was struggling when the engine was warm but it is in the direct flow of the cooling air.

So new Battery was purchased and a free morning to fit it.

The old battery was a 48 A/h 220A and appears to be the original Brazilian battery as it was made in Brazil. So could be from 2004!

Upon removal it was clear that the battery tray was in need of some rust removal and restoration. Major water trap and also a weak spot for any bus.

Rust is only surface but needed treatment before replacing the battery.

After some cleaning and wire brushing the worst was removed. 

Surface treated with Hamerite rust removing Gel. Cleaned back again. No More rust! Then primed with the Hamerite Primer.

Resprayed with Hamerite smooth spray. Quite a good match to the VW Candy White. Close enough for inside the engine bay.

New YUASA 50A/h 440A Silver 5000 Battery. Should last a while and not too big for the Alternator to charge.

Starts after 2 Seconds and totally smooth turn over from the starter motor.

Will now be able to connect the Leisure Battery back up and think about replacing the rubbish split charge relay for a smartcom.

Reasons to be cheerful about your VW camper

Reasons to be cheerful about your VW camper

• IT WILL BE WORTH MORE NEXT YEAR THAN THIS.
• YOU DON'T NEED TO VISIT A THEME PARK FOR A WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE - JUST DRIVE YOUR CAMPER IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND.
• YOU CAN LITERALLY LOOK DOWN ON ALL THOSE DRIVING FORDS, PEUGEOTS, ETC
• THEY ARE EASY TO FIX AND HARD TO BREAK.
• MECHANICS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD CAN MAKE PARTS OR REPAIR IT FOR YOU.
• LIVING LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE IS STRESS-FREE AND MUCH MORE FUN.
• YOU HAVE AN UNLIMITED LIFETIME SUPPLY OF FREE COOLANT.
• OIL SPOTS GIVE YOUR DRIVEWAY CHARACTER.
• ANY OTHER CAR YOU DRIVE WILL SEEM REALLY FAST.
• YOU WILL NEVER, EVER SUFFER ROAD RAGE FROM TRYING TO PASS ANYTHING, ANYWHERE.
• THE ENGINE MAKES BETTER NOISES THAN A RAVE BAND.
• YOU GET REALLY INTERESTING SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. EVEN BETTER SOUNDS DRIVING IN HAIL!
• PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW SMILE AND WAVE AT YOU.
• THE UPRIGHT SEATING PROMOTES GOOD POSTURE.

Taken from Campervan Crazy book.