Right, where the sod is the damn battery?

[DJC]

And how the buggery do you get to it?
Passenger footwell, yep got that. Bit more specifically? You know I hadnt quite realised just how far off his rocker Wheeler was till I bought one of the bloody things!

[jeh2os]

behind carpet/board where your feet are lucky you havent got a tuscan as they are in the wheel arch

[griffter]

Battery is in a GRP box, secured to the floor by two bolts which screw into the box, through the floorpan from underneath.

To remove, undo the battery terminal clamps (negative first), then the battery box bolts, and slide backwards.

Everybody but me seems to have incredible problems replacing the battery box in the original position. If you mark the position on the floor before removal (felt tip / chalk) and then use a small mirror from underneath to line up the bolts holes on replacement, it seems easy enough.

Replace the terminal clamps positive first.

[RichB]

DJC said:

I hadnt quite realised just how far off his rocker Wheeler was till I bought one of the bloody things!

It's in the lowest possible place to improve the centre of gravity and it's a clean dry environment which is cooler than the engine bay and hence better for the battery. Other than that I agree. Rich...

[DJC]

griffter said:

Battery is in a GRP box, secured to the floor by two bolts which screw into the box, through the floorpan from underneath. To remove, undo the battery terminal clamps (negative first), then the battery box bolts, and slide backwards. Everybody but me seems to have incredible problems replacing the battery box in the original position. If you mark the position on the floor before removal (felt tip / chalk) and then use a small mirror from underneath to line up the bolts holes on replacement, it seems easy enough. Replace the terminal clamps positive first.

Sorted.
Ta lad.

[ncs]

DJC said:

griffter said: Battery is in a GRP box, secured to the floor by two bolts which screw into the box, through the floorpan from underneath. To remove, undo the battery terminal clamps (negative first), then the battery box bolts, and slide backwards. Everybody but me seems to have incredible problems replacing the battery box in the original position. If you mark the position on the floor before removal (felt tip / chalk) and then use a small mirror from underneath to line up the bolts holes on replacement, it seems easy enough. Replace the terminal clamps positive first. Sorted. Ta lad.

Hope you got on ok with it, be careful putting the ECU back - what a lovely mess of wires that is

Nick

[DJC]

blimey its a mess down there aint it?

Ok found the bugger. Now on the right hand side is a serious pipe type thing that runs up verticaly the side of the footwell. at the bottom it goes into some sort of rectangular box that seems to slide out and in.

Wtf is that?

[starmist]

I've been thining for a while (and hopefully will get around to doing it over the winter) of replacing the battery with a gel battery (which is about the size of a motorcylce battery).

I then intend to make up a new housing for it, containing the fuse board in an easier to reach position, the ECU properly stored a battery charging point and a device to automatically disconnect the battery should it's voltage drop too low (gel batteries don't like this).

If I get around to it, I'll take somepiccies, as it should free up some space and lose some weight into the bargain!

[ncs]

DJC said:

blimey its a mess down there aint it? Ok found the bugger. Now on the right hand side is a serious pipe type thing that runs up verticaly the side of the footwell. at the bottom it goes into some sort of rectangular box that seems to slide out and in. Wtf is that?

It sounds like the box is the ECU - the cars electronic brain. If it helps I could scan some piccies from 'the bible' & send them to you.

Nick

[ncs]

Just a thought - do you have a problem with the battery or are you just having a poke around?

Im a firm believer in the 'if it aint broke Im going nowhere near it' theory

Nick

[simpo two]

starmist said:

a battery charging point and a device to automatically disconnect the battery should it's voltage drop too low

A battery conditioner in the fag socket would save all that

NB I think your carpet will be too short...

[DJC]

ncs said:

Just a thought - do you have a problem with the battery or are you just having a poke around? Im a firm believer in the 'if it aint broke Im going nowhere near it' theory Nick

Ahh. Good question!
I parked her up the other day...after the mini hoon the other saturday actually. Went to take her out about 3 days later and just as got out the garage....she died on me. So pushed her back in and though...bugger out of petrol. Not a problem. got some Optimax about £5 in a jerry can last weekend, put it in the tank...start her up...some turning over, but nothing else. Bugger
Since then, slowly lost ability to turn her over, so Im thinking battery going down. So today is the first time Ive had chance to have a look while still had some light. First thing is to get some charge into the battery, jump leads from an AA battery or something and see what happenes. I also need to get my hands on the bible.