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Grease Monkeys! Can you change your own battery?

Mermaidman

Mermaidman

Diamond Member
Had to replace my car battery. Tried to remove old battery, but the $&^@! thing wouldn't come out. Removed a few surrounding parts, but still no go.

How did something so big fit through a hole so small?!

Ended up paying $70+ for a new battery, installed. Would've save $15 if I did it myself--Heck, I was half way there. :| And worse--the mechanic wouldn't tell me how he did it.

So--Can you change your own car battery in a reasonable time, say 30 minutes?
 
let's see. disconnect battery terminals, unscrew metal plate holding battery down, lift old battery out, put in new battery, screw metal plate back on, connect battery terminals. It shouldn't take a mechanic to do that.
 
First, I'm not a grease monkey. I am a professional mechanic with over 20+ years experince.

Second, $15 is not bad to have a battery replaced in most cars.

Third, Yes I can change my own battery and your too.
 
Originally posted by: KLin
let's see. disconnect battery terminals, unscrew metal plate holding battery down, lift old battery out, put in new battery, screw metal plate back on, connect battery terminals. It shouldn't take a mechanic to do that.
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That's what I thought. I had no problems with my previous cars (Nissan and VW). Current ride is a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue.
 
Originally posted by: CVSiN
Originally posted by: KLin
let's see. disconnect battery terminals, unscrew metal plate holding battery down, lift old battery out, put in new battery, screw metal plate back on, connect battery terminals. It shouldn't take a mechanic to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

pretty much, i clean up the area a bit, but yea, that's ths jist of it.
 
Unless you have one of those dumb cars where the batter is underneath so it can't be stolen and have to take the tire off, I would just change myself. Plus many places won't change those dumb ones either, mostly chrysler cars.
 
Originally posted by: KLin
let's see. disconnect battery terminals, unscrew metal plate holding battery down, lift old battery out, put in new battery, screw metal plate back on, connect battery terminals. It shouldn't take a mechanic to do that.
Click to expand...

Yeah you have to unbolt the clamp that holds the battery down, it will be tucked far down at the very bottom of the battery somewhere. (edit, some other cars have the over the top style clamp, that one should be obvious 😛)
 
Last time I disconnected my battery it took me the rest of the afternoon to get the car started again - I discovered a car alarm I didn't know I had :disgust:
 
yeah its easy, but i havent had to do it on mine yet. I do it on my motorcycle, take out the battery to bench charge it all the fscking time. Though now i got an extension in teh garage, so it sits on a battery tender and hence i dont have to charge it before my ride.
 
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
That's what I thought. I had no problems with my previous cars (Nissan and VW). Current ride is a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue.
Click to expand...
If I remember correctly those batteries are mounted under the coolant or washer reservoir and an engine compartment support brace, they are not easy to change.
 
Very easy to do in my cars.

Olds Aurora = under back seat.
Ford Crown Vic = front left of engine bay, no obstruction.

I changed my sister-in-law's battery in her Chevy Venture this weekend, and it's a PITA. Its behind all of the external engine components, and trapped by the AC compressor. It took a good hour to change that one, and would have been worth the $15.
 
Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Very easy to do in my cars.

Olds Aurora = under back seat.
Ford Crown Vic = front left of engine bay, no obstruction.

I changed my sister-in-law's battery in her Chevy Venture this weekend, and it's a PITA. Its behind all of the external engine components, and trapped by the AC compressor. It took a good hour to change that one, and would have been worth the $15.
Click to expand...

Cars are getting worse and worse. A battery should be simple to change, not hidden under 3 tons of auxilliary engine equipment.

<---- '97 Olds Regency. Battery changed in 5 mins.
 
I can change a battery.

A word of advice. 1967 Mustangs don't like it when you hook the terminals up the backwards...
 
Originally posted by: Mwilding
I can change a battery.

A word of advice. 1967 Mustangs don't like it when you hook the terminals up the backwards...
Click to expand...

LOL! Neither does a 1988 Ford Econoline.
 
In my blazer it's right out in the open, not hard (I don't know when the last time the battery's been changed, but it still works great so I'm not going to bother)...

My mom's intrepid the battery is right out in open view (My dad just put some water in it so it would hold a charge better)

My dad's "semi-new" 97 lumina has the battery underneith the seat I believe, because it's got the goofy positive charge thing as a little metal thing in the engine compartment, similar to what I've seen on a friend's aurora
 
Originally posted by: Christobevii3
Unless you have one of those dumb cars where the batter is underneath so it can't be stolen and have to take the tire off, I would just change myself. Plus many places won't change those dumb ones either, mostly chrysler cars.
Click to expand...

Heh I've had to mess around with replacing a battery for a '96 Dodge Viper. Now that thing was a pain. You had to take off the tire just to get access to the battery. It was fun driving it though 😉
 
Weird, I thought old VWs were the only ones with the battery under the seat. I don't really mind on the newer cars where it's hidden in some odd spot, because it's something you really shouldn't have to change but every three to eight years, and it's nice to have more space in the engine compartment.
 
Took me 5 or 10min last time but for $15 I would have had it done, grease and crap everywhere plus it was the middle of winter.
 
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