Battery change coming up

[crazymatelot]

Guys I was wondering, is is absolutely necessary to remove the nearside airbox to change the battery, or will it slide out without any hassle. I have noticed that the clamp on the battery tray is just a lip held in place with two screws. Looks like the previous owner(s) have done some mods. Anyway the battery needs changing. At the moment it will turn the engine over but not start the car. when I attach one of those portable jump batteries, it fires up second turn. So I am assuming Battery probs. According to the service history it has been in the car for just over 3 years. AFAIAC 3 years is not bad for a battery to last.

[ro_butler]

When I last looked at mine there was no way it would come out without removing the airbox. Having said that I haven't tried to replace the battery. It will also depend on what battery you have fitted.

[optimax sniffer]

My current battery can come in and out without touching the air box, but the new one requires the removing of the airbox. Not too concerned as the new battery is more powerful and should last longer, but on a downside it is 15mm taller than the old one.

[Rob1969]

Just changed the battery on mine and the airbox had to come off. Simple job, just remove the allen screws from top edge and gently prize it away from the inlet. Just remember to disconnect the small vacuum tube at windscreen end of airbox.

[crazymatelot]

Thanks for the responses guys, guess I will have to standby to remove the airbox. By the way I have ordered the battery from a local fast fit place, I'm pretty sure the guy said it was a Varta, I have not heard of anyone on here using one of these, it's usually a Halfords 072 or red top. I will let you know how it turns out.

[amazon]

I changed my battery recently without a hitch - the battery I removed was smaller than normal and I could not get it out without removing the airbox (had a damn good go though! ).

As I knew I was putting a normal size one back in, I should have just removed the airbox at the outset! Still learning!

[JohnSW20]

Hi

I was looking at batteries in Halfords at the weekend with a very helpful eastern European shop guy, who got every battery in the place out for me. I currently have the 072 I think it is any way the normal one from them. The guy got two other possibilities, one with 640 cranking things and another with 800; the one with 800 looked a lot bigger but could you cut the bottom off the bit that you have to take off to get to the battery to make it fit? It was no higher than the 072 but just a bit longer.

Has anyone tried this before?

John

PS Sorry about all the technical terminology.

[volospian]

crazymatelot said:

Guys I was wondering, is is absolutely necessary to remove the nearside airbox to change the battery, or will it slide out without any hassle. I have noticed that the clamp on the battery tray is just a lip held in place with two screws. Looks like the previous owner(s) have done some mods. Anyway the battery needs changing. At the moment it will turn the engine over but not start the car. when I attach one of those portable jump batteries, it fires up second turn. So I am assuming Battery probs. According to the service history it has been in the car for just over 3 years. AFAIAC 3 years is not bad for a battery to last.

Remember to check your alternator. I went to the expense of changing the battery to find it was the alternator that was shot (I didn't think it was the alternator to start with as I had a bill to show it had been replaced less than 12 months earlier).

And yes, I had to remove the airbox, but as has been said, it's not difficult at all.

Edited by volospian on Tuesday 19th February 11:14