Vectra Battery... unremovable?

Jay-Jay_4

My husband tried to swap his car battery tonight for a new one but couldn't get the old one off as there are two metal lips at the bottom holding it on. It was dark and snowing so he left it but tomorrow will need to get the old one off.

Any ideas? I read the manual which helpfully suggested under the heading 'Battery' that 'the battery is self maintaining' :rolleyes:

wazza

usually there is a bolt/nut that holds one of the 'lip' in place.

ollyk

Jay-Jay wrote:

My husband tried to swap his car battery tonight for a new one but couldn't get the old one off as there are two metal lips at the bottom holding it on. It was dark and snowing so he left it but tomorrow will need to get the old one off.

Any ideas? I read the manual which helpfully suggested under the heading 'Battery' that 'the battery is self maintaining' :rolleyes:

'self maintaining' doesn't mean it can't be removed LOL! Of course it can!

wazza

ollyk wrote:

'self maintaining' doesn't mean it can't be removed LOL! Of course it can!

oops didn't read that part. self maintaining means it removes itself and gets charged and then gets back into the engine bay LOL

seriously self maintaining means there is no need to regularly check the level of battery fluid in the cells of the battery. Older batterys used to have cap over each cell which you can remove and top up if neccesary

Jay-Jay_4

wazza wrote:

usually there is a bolt/nut that holds one of the 'lip' in place.

Ah so in daylight he should be able to see this bolt?

wazza

Jay-Jay wrote:

Ah so in daylight he should be able to see this bolt?

yes. make sure he disconnects the battery first before working in that area. don't fancy him getting a spark.

wazza

word of advice make sure you have the code for the cassette/radio unit. When you disconnect the battery and put in a new battery you will have to enter the code to make the radio work.

there is a way around this but is tricky.

Mr_Grumpy_7

You should always disconnect the negative lead first. This avoids the risk of shorting the battery to earth whilst removing the positive lead. The reverse is true for older cars having a positive earth.

Jay-Jay_4

Thank you people (specially you wazza :beer: )

He took the car into a floodlit area at work last night and located the bolt holding the battery in. We hadn't been able to see this by torch light.

wazza wrote:

word of advice make sure you have the code for the cassette/radio unit. When you disconnect the battery and put in a new battery you will have to enter the code to make the radio work.

there is a way around this but is tricky.

:rolleyes: too late!

How do we get a code to make his radio work again? I've looked in his manual but can't find anything

Hintza

Jay-Jay wrote:

How do we get a code to make his radio work again? I've looked in his manual but can't find anything

Call the garage that sold it new and they should have a record of it. If you didn't buy it new check that there is not a 4 digit number written somewhere on the manual or other paperwork in the car...that will probably be it.

skiddy2k

to get the code of your radio, call up your local vauxhall dealership. some charge for the code. if they do, call up another dealership, as simple as that. you'll definately find one that will give it to you free over the phone.

you may also find that the lcd screen which displays your clock, temperature and radio channel has become distorted...this happends often with vectra's when batteries are changed.

Skiddy