Location of battery on 1996 Chevy/Grumman Olsen Step Van - Diesel Forum

learning · 09-17-2009, 04:21 PM

This is my first post here - I hope this is the right area for this question.

The battery on my step van just died (I left the lights on). I went to charge it up... and I can't find it. Its not visible lifting the hood and peering at all angles. I found all the fuses, and traced the lines as best I could. I can't see any mysterious black boxes it could be hiding within (the only such box seems to house the a/c). I crawled under and looked around. I lifted the cover in the cab area, directly over the engine. I even lifted the floor plate directly over the transmission. I think I've accounted for every cubic inch of space in those compartments.

I considered it might be stolen, but I can't find an brackets or support platform for the battery, nor any dangling wires. Everything is so dirty, if something was removed, I think the clean spots left would be obvious.

Does anyone know where battery is hidden on a 1996 Chevy/Grumman Olsen Step Van

short_stuff · 09-17-2009, 05:00 PM

I vaguely remember reading about a step van (not sure if it was a cheby or not) where the battery was located on a plate welded up against the left inside rear fender, between the wheel well and the back bumper. I thought that was a really odd place to stow a battery. There isn't anywhere under the driver's seat that it could set into, is there? Sorry I can't be of help.

short_stuff

Oh, and welcome to the Diesel Stop!

short_stuff

learning · 09-17-2009, 05:08 PM

short_stuff, thanks for the tip, and for the welcome to the site!

I'm going to go home and take a look. I was so sure it would be in the front part of the vehicle, I didn't look under the rear.

(For other reading this, please don't let this stop you from offering further advice, it will take me a while to see if this helps me and get back online.)

learning · 09-17-2009, 10:29 PM

short_stuff, thanks again!

Turns out the battery is much smaller than I expected, and was tucked into another compartment adjacent to the one housing the transmission.

So yes, the battery was beneath a floor plate, directly under the seat.

Ragdude · 09-17-2009, 10:53 PM

huh, thats a new one. I have been driving step vans for work for A LONG time now and under the seat is new to me. But back in '96 I believe we we were still using Union City bodies. Those were good vans, oh well... The new Gruman's we buy now are sure no prize's, and Work-Horse is not my chassis of choice! My next new one, we just ordered, I believe is on a Freightliner chassis, I can't wait.