Getting the battery out in a 3R........how?!

[grant3R]

I'm going to replace the battery over the winter (and hard-wire in a trickle charger) as it's still on the original and it isn't holding charge very well any more; especially now the Nob's not being driven so much with the early nights / bad weather.

I know the car needs to be jacked up and the battery taken out from underneath, but where does it come out? I though the whole floor is riveted in, so does a whole section need to come out and then be re-riveted back in?! That seems a bit of a pain.....

Cheers in advance for the help and sorry for the bone question!

[FUNKSTER UK]

It will come out of the triangle hole in the floor, you have to turn the battery up on end then wriggle it out.

I found it a little easier with an extra person helping from the top also.

Matty

[andygtt]

the floor under the engine bay is screwed on so removable... will be fun if its not been off for a while lol

the actual orientation of the battery vary's but basically you will need to disconnect it all and lift it out from below twisting it as it comes out.... not an easy task when you only have the car a foot off the ground.

[D_G]

Make sure you undo the earth terminal 1st and put it on last. You can reach them from the top, undo the clamp and then lift it out before tilting it through the gap.
I'd borrow a ramp to do it, makes the job much easier.

[node]

save yourself doing your back in, get one of these guys to fit it for 6.99

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

The Halfords guys wont know what they're in for

[jdearden]

Take the wheel arch cover off. Gives better access and then it's really not that hard. I've had my battery out twice in and out in less than 20 minutes. And as some wil agree on here I'm border line retarded. Lol

[snuffy]

FUNKSTER UK said:

It will come out of the triangle hole in the floor

Triangular ?

Mine's got a hole just a bit bigger than the battery - then you turn it though 90 degrees to stop it falling out. I don't have a plate or anything covering the hole.

[snuffy]

node said:

save yourself doing your back in, get one of these guys to fit it for 6.99

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

The Halfords guys wont know what they're in for

Even better, it says 'pre-booking may be required'. You it seems you have to book it in before you book it in.

[Hollowpockets]

snuffy said:

Triangular ?

Mine's got a hole just a bit bigger than the battery - then you turn it though 90 degrees to stop it falling out. I don't have a plate or anything covering the hole.

Same, remove plastic arch liner for access, loosen clamps, turn battery through 90 degrees and it falls down out the rectangle hole beneath it. The hardest part is pushing the new battery up if your lying on your back on the driveway!

Can't imagine the stress involved in getting it out that triangle hole! Flying spanners!

[R0162]

jdearden said:

Take the wheel arch cover off. Gives better access and then it's really not that hard. I've had my battery out twice in and out in less than 20 minutes. Lol

+1. its an easy job, take off splash guard to get access to terminals and straps, jack up car, and just lift the battery up from below, the front support bar for the battery is not fixed it just sits there on locators, so when you lift the battery up just remove the cross bar and the battery drops down.

[snuffy]

Hollowpockets said:

The hardest part is pushing the new battery up if your lying on your back on the driveway!

I agree with that. I used a couple of bricks, i.e. push it up a bit, put a brick under it, then lift it some more, put another brick under it and so on.

[TuxMan]

I'm moving my battery this winter to behind the passenger seat , I hate where it is at the moment and it will help the corner weighting as my car is light on the passenger side front .

[andygtt]

im fitting a lightweight battery... some 6kgs weight saving for save power capacity

[joust]

Wrap some electrical flex or two fabric straps around both sides like you wuld do a parcel, but leave some slack to form a 'handle'. you can then pull it up through the removed wheel arch and twist it one it's through.

Took me 10 mins last time doing this.

J

[The devil]

TuxMan said:

I'm moving my battery this winter to behind the passenger seat , I hate where it is at the moment and it will help the corner weighting as my car is light on the passenger side front .

You make things so complicated, just take Dawn with you....LOL

(sorry dawn)

[Plumber1]

My engine has got to come out, should I replace battery at same time( battery at least 3 years old) must be easy to get to with no engine??