Battery shagged - new one, but how...

[Ratten]

Ok, two calls to the AA today as my battery has given up the ghost after 7 months (althugh the last 5 weeks have been having the front resprayed...)

AA said the cells had collapsed when they jumped it. Was inclined to agree when stalled it half way across a juntion and it wouldn't start....(cue another call to aa)

New battery purchased, but is there anything i should watch out for when i change it tomorrow? Any odd alarm type routines i should follow?....

Thanks!

[Cyclone1]

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=301108&f=6&h=0&hw=battery

Have a read of this thread. Removal is pretty straght forward once you have access. Had mine out and then back in in less than 30 mins today.

Jules.

[Ratten]

Ta!

[cossiemetro]

take the battery cover off then all is revealed

[gazzab]

Have you bought the right battery? Safest bet is a type 072 with RECESSED lugs.

[esso]

Make sure when you buy the battery the external dimensions are the same as the old one or it will not fit in the recess in the inner wing,when i fitted a new one the first one i bought was too tall.

[Steve_T]

Another gotcha is to watch which way round the battery terminals are, make a note of how they are on the old battery before you go shopping. When you re-install the battery, have the alarm plipper close to hand as typically the siren goes off when you reattach the clamps to the battery terminals. Make sure you've pushed the clamp fully back on, as the alarm won't clear when there's a poor connection to the battery.

HTH,

Steve

Edited by Steve_T on Monday 6th November 10:13

[Ratten]

Hmmm, i ended up with a type 75 which had the terminal on the other side. it's now installed the other way round so i hope i don't have to jump it at the positive is under the wing.

however it is a smaller battery with greater capacity (and a 4 year guarantee....) so for the moment i'm happy!

Had to remove the airbox to get the f*cker in though...(and the old one out)

[McNasty]

I bought a new battery and had a lot of problems getting the right dimensions and correct terminal posts. when the garage did a drop test on the battery they said mine was goosed so i bought the new one (£50) it turned out that it was just really flat because the Big Fuse had corroded and i had driven the car for 100 miles or so. if your battery is only 7 months old i would be surprised if it is nackered. It may be worth checking the Big Fuse as well, other wise you may end up being the proud owner of a spare battery!

[gazzab]

My 1 yr old battery from Halfords needs replacing already!

Could you not run a connection from the pos under the wing so that you can connect up a charger or jump leads in the future (cos you WILL need to at some point!).

[trooperiziz]

Amusingly enough, when i recently replaced my battery the alarm sounded from the time I disconnected the old one, until I managed to get the new one connected.

If you want to do the job quickly, it certainly focuses the mind...

[Tripps]

Mine went after just nine months too, really didn't expect it, but was probably during the weeks it was sitting around for it's re-spray.

Has anyone had any joy getting a refund/replacement on a knackered battery, I've got the old one and its receipt sitting in the garage, but haven't got around to getting it sorted yet.

[Steve_T]

trooperiziz said:

Amusingly enough, when i recently replaced my battery the alarm sounded from the time I disconnected the old one, until I managed to get the new one connected.

If you want to do the job quickly, it certainly focuses the mind...

That sounds like tip no. 3 then - worth getting some earplugs before you commence the job.