Have a question regaurding battery life.
I have a '73 Kombi, which I have driven every day for the past six years. The problem is that I have to replace the battery around every 12 months.
This seems like a very short run out of a battery, to me. The batteries are heavy duty and good quality. I make sure thier always topped with water and clean.
Has anyone had a similar problem or have any ideas about the subject?

Thanks....
Tim.

Battery life is affected by many things. As you mentioned a bit of maintenance, clean contacts, check water level is important.
The charging system is also important. Over or under charging from a dodgy alternator/generator or regulator will shorten life. Draining a battery a long way regularly (either a lot of cranking to start or when camping etc) will shorten life.
The quality of the battery is obviously important as well.
All things being well, I expect 4-5 years out of a good well maintained system, and have had up to 7 years out of a battery.
I do notice a good battery and charging system rarely needs toping up with water (couple of time a year). If the water level starts to fall regularly either the battery is on the way out or it's being over charged.
Might be time to check the charging system and monitor voltages for a while.
:thumb

If all checks out OK, why not get a battery with a 2 year warranty????? Try a Century/Yasua. They have a nationwide 2 year warranty. Other reputable brands also have longer than 12 month warranties. I normally get 4/5 years from my Manx and 3/4 years from my bus.:bounce

I have just put in a new apollo, maitenance free battery. It's a good sized battery so it sould do the job. The fact that I'm only getting about a year out of the battery seems to point to a problem with either the altenator or a current problem. Thanks for the info Andy, I'm going to check out if there is a drain on the current, and I think a reco'ed altenator wouldn't go a stray. I'll let you know how it goes.

:thumb

my truck had the same problem and it turned out to be the voltage regulator.
It was over charging the battery and thus losing fluid, and killing the battery
had a new regulator fitted and no probs since
marcel