**Return of the car noob** Car not starting.

[KeithTalent]

You need:

A small pair of pliers and a crescent wrench.

Use the crescent wrench on the nut in the foreground by adjusting it to the correct size, use the pliers to grip the square head of the bolt and turn while holding the crescent wrench steady. You do not need to remove the bolt, just loosen it a little so the loop can slip off.

You could replace the crescent wrench with a set of needle nose pliers if you wanted

The problem is there is no square head on the other side, so nothing to grab onto. The other side is flat, covered over with a metal covering that is not removable, so what you see in the picture is all I have to work with. :\

KT

 

[PottedMeat]

is it possible to stick a fat screwdriver between the battery and the clamp? twist the clamp left & right while pressing up on the screwdriver. ...it doesn't solve your bolt problem but it does get the battery out (assuming the other one isn't the same ).

 

[Howard]

The problem is there is no square head on the other side, so nothing to grab onto. The other side is flat, covered over with a metal covering that is not removable, so what you see in the picture is all I have to work with. :\

KT

Can you get something onto the nut to turn it properly? If so, then your only remaining problem is how to keep the bolt from turning, right?

If so, spin two nuts onto the end of the bolt and torque them into each other using two wrenches. Then they become, for all intents and purposes, one "nut" that's secured to the bolt that can be used as a bolt head.

 

[KeithTalent]

Can you get something onto the nut to turn it properly? If so, then your only remaining problem is how to keep the bolt from turning, right?

If so, spin two nuts onto the end of the bolt and torque them into each other using two wrenches. Then they become, for all intents and purposes, one "nut" that's secured to the bolt that can be used as a bolt head.

The bolt is completely immobile, the only thing I have any chance of moving is the nut, which is why I am having so much difficulty because it is very hard to get any sort of handle on the nut hiding in that little hooded piece of metal.

I am going to try and wedge a screwdriver in the area behind the nut and see if I can get any movement there, even some twisting or whatever as was suggested above.

KT

 

[Howard]

If the lip around the nut is preventing you from getting proper access to it, Dremel it off. It's most likely brass or lead or something... shouldn't take too long. Make sure you don't touch the threads of the bolt, because you have no way of properly cleaning them up.

Did you try the deep socket or not?

 

[KeithTalent]

Finally got it!

I ended up hitting the cable with a wrench in both directions, then levered it up and pulled it off. The other side came off with no problems.

Of course when I went to hook the negative cable back on, it would start my alarm, so I had to find the anti-theft fuse and pull that, install the battery, then put the fuse back in. Man, what an ordeal, but it's pretty satisfying to get it done.

Thanks so much to everyone for all of the help, it was great!

KT

 

[sdifox]

Finally got it!

I ended up hitting the cable with a wrench in both directions, then levered it up and pulled it off. The other side came off with no problems.

Of course when I went to hook the negative cable back on, it would start my alarm, so I had to find the anti-theft fuse and pull that, install the battery, then put the fuse back in. Man, what an ordeal, but it's pretty satisfying to get it done.

Thanks so much to everyone for all of the help, it was great!

KT

should ask NuclearNed to write your saga :biggrin:

 

[KeithTalent]

should ask NuclearNed to write your saga :biggrin:

Haha, indeed.

So if I take my car out for a short drive once a week, will that be enough to keep the battery charged up ok?

KT

 

[Howard]

I like how your solution was none of the ones mentioned in this thread.

Now that it's off, please do figure out how to undo it properly.

 

[LTC8K6]

Haha, indeed.

So if I take my car out for a short drive once a week, will that be enough to keep the battery charged up ok?

KT

Nope. Use a trickle charger, or plan on longer drives.

 

[KeithTalent]

I like how your solution was none of the ones mentioned in this thread.

Now that it's off, please do figure out how to undo it properly.

I tried man, but the long socket did not work and no other tool was working, so I fonzied it. :awe:

KT

 

[KeithTalent]

Nope. Use a trickle charger, or plan on longer drives.

Trickle charger is not an option. Guess I'll just do the best I can with the drives.

KT

 

[Howard]

I tried man, but the long socket did not work and no other tool was working, so I fonzied it. :awe:

KT

Why didn't the deep socket work?

 

[KeithTalent]

Why didn't the deep socket work?

It just would not catch properly, so I could not get enough leverage. Hopefully I won't have to change it again for a while, or actually I may just get the garage to change the cable next time I get a tune-up.

KT

 

[LTC8K6]

Your other option is to pull the fuse that would kill most of the parasitic load on the battery. I don't know which that would be on that car.

 

[Howard]

It just would not catch properly, so I could not get enough leverage.

KT

You really have to work on your technical writing skills because I still have no idea why it didn't work.

 

[sdifox]

You really have to work on your technical writing skills because I still have no idea why it didn't work.

I am guessing wrong socket

 

[T2urtle]

its a 8mm i think... i have same maxima. i was able to take care of with a smaller 1/4 drive 8mm deep and ratchet.

 

[KeithTalent]

You really have to work on your technical writing skills because I still have no idea why it didn't work.

Well it doesn't matter now, but I got the socket in there, it just would not properly grab onto the nut to turn it. Not sure what else you want me to say. /shrug

KT