Battery Change...

[alastairm]

I hope someone can help me in telling me which battery i need for a 1998 4.5 Cerbera as the local halfords don't list a battery for a Cerbera and my local dealer is too far away!! Also when can i expect the alarm to go off as i guess it will do at some point and are the batteries fairly easy to fit???

Thanks in advance

[jeremyc]

Check out Faisal's site www.tvrfreak.com for the Cerbera Owner's Manual - I think it covers changing the battery.

>> Edited by jeremyc on Monday 14th October 08:48

[mike_e]

I believe the battery you need is type 076 (number should be on the old one somewhere) and should be readily available, fitting is relatively straightforward.

Unhook the washer jets and remove the main cover. Unhook the positive battery terminal. Remove the nearside air box and the battery retaining bracket. There is a plate under the battery, loosen the two bolts either side of the battery bracket mounting and this should allow the plate and battery to slide out.

When fitting the new battery, just reverse this procedure. On connecting the battery, the alarm shouldn't go off but the central locking will - don't leave your keys inside!!!

A few tips:
Leave the passenger door open before unhooking the battery.
There is a small hose at the rear of the airbox and it's easy to break the plastic connector when removing the airbox ('cos you didn't spot the hose!).
The plate under the battery is made out of old bean tins and rusts like mad. You may find that the plate won't slide because of corrosion between the plate and the washers. TVR in their infinite wisdom have used nuts and bolts making this a two man operation to remove them. To access the nuts, pull out the carpeted panel in the passenger footwell and then pull back the carpet in the area under the battery.

TVR dealers seem to quote around two hours to change a battery, seemed a bit steep to me until I changed mine.