Battery change - simple advice please

[mgaut]

All

thanks to the power of PH I've searched a few threads and I've ordered a shiny new Optima Red Top which should be delivered today.

A couple of basic questions before I grab the spanners:

1. Once the securing bolt is removed, will the battery slide out without removing the air box ? Looks a bit tight ( '98 4.2 ). I know you disconnect the earth first, which of course is currently buried under the wing.

2. Once reconnected, will the alarm still work, or is there some clever sequence to re-sync it ? Perhaps someone could PM me if this is sensitive info.

many thanks

Mike

[Storer]

You will have to remove airbox and also fabricate a new method of holding the battery in place as the existing clamp will not work.

I replaced mine last weekend and used a battery charger to keep the car energised so no need to worry about alarm.

[touching cloth]

Yep airbox undone from where it metal induction bit, but that's quick and easy just a bunch of allen bolts, the whole thing will then swing out the way on the bendy arm thingy so you don't need to disconnect the front end. Removed the live cable from battery and bracket, slide out to get access to negative - only problem you may have is with the retaining nut for the bracket some have real issue getting sufficient clearance to get the battery over the top of it (each car different) - I was expecting the worst but am lucky and mine came out with no probs at all.

When it all goes back together, just make sure on the routing of all the big cables, particularly that none have shifted to be near or touching the manifolds .... as there be dragons.

[touching cloth]

Oh yeah alarm, keep blipper in pocket not in car and for extra safety leave boot open. When you re-attach fresh battery the car will try to close and lock it's self, when it does this within the first few seconds you need to press and hold blipper, after a bit it will start a little sequence of beeping and flashing and then the fob will be resynced and should operate normally (it's not always necessary tbh, depends how long the car was powered down for).

[mgaut]

Storer said:

..fabricate a new method of holding the battery in place as the existing clamp will not work.

thanks for all the good advice, particularly TC's experience, and Peter for the PM.

Can you explain what the above means, as "fabrication" isn't one of my skills !!

cheers

Mike

[JensenA]

mgaut said:

Storer said:

..fabricate a new method of holding the battery in place as the existing clamp will not work.

thanks for all the good advice, particularly TC's experience, and Peter for the PM.

Can you explain what the above means, as "fabrication" isn't one of my skills !!

cheers

Mike

The standard batteries have a lip at the bottom, that the clamp can be secured against. So if your not a skilled fabricator, you'll just have to look at it, and think of ways, and what to use, to wedge something between the clamp and the battery to keep it in place. The joys of Cerb ownership

Edited by JensenA on Wednesday 1st April 11:26

[HarryW]

touching cloth said:

Stuff + .... as there be dragons.

OT

Thats a turn of phrase I use and in business I can deal with lots of different nationalities, including Arabs, try explaining that when it slips out at the end of a sentence

[plumAJP]

mines been powered down with no battery connection at all for at least 4 months now.

when I eventually buy a new battery and hook it up, am I likely to experience alarm syncing issues etc and immobilisers woes?

[Allandwf]

Hmmm.. Mine doesn't have a clamp holding it in, but there's not exactly anywhere for it to go !

[Storer]

mgaut said:

Storer said:

..fabricate a new method of holding the battery in place as the existing clamp will not work.

thanks for all the good advice, particularly TC's experience, and Peter for the PM.

Can you explain what the above means, as "fabrication" isn't one of my skills !!

cheers

Mike

There is no lip on the bottom of the Optima battery for the existing bracket to pull down on. I made an S shaped piece of steel and utilised the existing bracket bolt hole to bolt it down to. It clips over the top edge of the battery. I cut the handle off the battery as this gets in the way. I also added a plastic cover over the top of the bracket to prevent shorting as the + terminal is very close and if using jump leads you could get contact if not careful.

I would put a picture up if I knew how!!!!

[mgaut]

well I'm gald to report that was an easy job !

Most of the time went on removing the air intakes.

The existing battery clamp is doing a pretty good job of holding the new battery in place, although I appreciate that I'll need to add an "S" piece of metal for peace of mind

... and boy does it fire up quickly, although time will tell as to whether it's still fine in a few days time.

Many thanks for the advice; much appreciated.

Mike