Club 80-90 Forums

Hi just baought my first westy, doing a few jobs before our first holiday. I have just read that there should be a charger under the back seat i cant see it. Is my van supposed to have this and can i still use hookup and the leisure battery under drivers seat without the charger. And has anyone converted the lpg tank to a bottle inside the van. Thanks

The battery charger was an optional extra on some westys. You may not have it or it may have been removed some time in the last 23 years.
My westy even has no leasure battery, no charger, no night heater. Although the wiring is there, but by the looks of it it was never used.
You can use the hookup no problems.

kennydawbheag wrote: And has anyone converted the lpg tank to a bottle inside the van. Thanks

Thats insane why would you want to do that?

I had a friend in the 80`s that did a DIY conversion to his volvo estate with a calor gas bottle in the back, thing is he was insane (but the best mechanic I have ever met)

kevtherev wrote:

kennydawbheag wrote: And has anyone converted the lpg tank to a bottle inside the van. Thanks

Thats insane why would you want to do that?

Truly a retrograde step ... many long term campers invest in the external lpg tanks to free up valuable interior space and also be able to top-up the tank at will cheaply from a gas station anywhere in the world.

Thanks for that guys. Just did the timing belt and tensioner and fitted the plastic bushes in the gearbox mount great buy compared to a new rubber mount.

1990 Westy? very late so a California or Atlantic? chances are it did have a charger and it has been removed....can you see evidence (wiring harness/mounting points) etc on the left side as you lift the rock n roll seat. This charger would have charged both the starter and leisure batteries when plugged into the mains.

Martin

I have a California, leisure battery charges from alternator when running doesn't have any other wiring don't use hook-ups unless its free or camp sites unless I have to. Nerer had flat leisure battery

igotadizzy wrote:I have a California, leisure battery charges from alternator when running doesn't have any other wiring don't use hook-ups unless its free or camp sites unless I have to. Nerer had flat leisure battery

It will have some other wiring....

Hi yea it is a california model when u lift the rear seat there are a couple of wiring plugs but thought they would have been for the night heater because there is two big round holes in the floor.

OK.....in the absence of pictures I cannot be 100% sure but it does sound like the BBB (buzzing black box) is missing (the plugs will have gone to the charger) However....it also sounds like your Eberspacher blow heater has also been removed from underneath the sliding door (mounted externally, under floor)..the holes would have been for the hot air pipework.

What else has gone? LPG tank under the nearside? Have you still got the vents and digital control panel fitted to the seat front? also the switch control on the door card (sliding door side on the R&R seat)? Real shame!!

Martin

RAPE!

pillage at the very least..

Yea i still have the lpg tank thank god but nowt else there is a hole beside the ash tray on the rear card. But van is in great condition just a shame some of the fittings have gone

Does the tank not work then?

or do you just need an adapter for it?