slplank

I have a 1990 Vert that will soon require a new battery. Taking a quick look under the hood I can see it will not be your typical remove / replace scenario. That baby is buried. Can anyone describe the best approach and any "gotchas" to look out for? I did a search but surprisingly did not turn up what I was looking for.

Thanks for any input.

Paul Workman

The side panel comes off - screws on inside of fender, and loosen one on the bottom, access thru a slot between the frame and the panel - you'll see it when you get on your prayer bones. (No need to remove the bottom screw, just loosen it as the panel is slotted there to accomodate easy removal.) Slide the pannel toward you and a way from the battery. Nuttin toit!

P.

RollaMo-LT4

It's really pretty easy. The side panel comes off, and you slide the battery right out.

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2001...ttery/bat1.asp

Z51JEFF

What ever you do do cheap out and leave the 10MM bolt at the bottom tightened and pull the fender panel out,you will break the panel and then youll be buying a new one.A thin 10MM wrench works best getting the bottom bolt lose.

tuxnharley

Well, it's not as easy as some, but can be done in about two hours or so with hand tools. The key is it doesn't come out upwards - it goes out sideways by removing the "fender" panel between the front of the door and the wheel well, underneath the bottom edge of the hood clam shell.

That in itself is a multi step process because some of the fasterners are either hard to get to, hidden under other body pieces, and./or require the special Torx head tools. It goes like this:

1. remove the first front 3 fasteners from the underside of the rocker panel trim piece so you can drop it down away from the bottom of the fender panel to get to a hidden bolt there.
2. remove the bolts from the top, bottom, and front of the fender panel. The front ones are Torx and require at least turning and maybe removing the front wheel to get at them. Remove the fender panel.
3. Remove the battery hold down bolt and then slide it out sideways thru where the fender panel was. BE CAREFUL NOT TO HIT THE BATTERY TERMINAL POSTS ON THE METAL BRACKET ABOVE IT THAT HOLDS THE CAR'S COMPUTER/CPU. You can fry the CPU if you do.

Reverse the process for installation.

Good Luck!

Z51JEFF

2 hours?15 minutes tops.This is not a difficult job,4 Torqs bolts at the front of the fender panel,if you dont have the Torqs bits you can get by with an Allen key set,2 10MM bolts,one on top one on the bottom between the fender and rocker panel,this one you have to look for but its not hidden.

Vett4Ted

Obvious ... But be sure to remove the negative cable 1st , and then the positive last. There is a metal bracket above the positive, and you do not want to risk a direct short with a wrench...
I may have to do my 92, in a few days also..
Good luck ..
Ted

tuxnharley

Hey Jeff - I'll be happy to pay you shop rate for 15 minutes next time mine needs changing!!!!!! Maybe you're just a lot younger and fasster than I am! Or, maybe it was because I was talking about total time including taking the old battery to the store, buying a new one, and bringing it back to install it - as well as a beer break or two along the way!

Z51JEFF

Sure,I could use the money,Im in Fremont.I forgot one of the tools,13MM socket and 6 inch extension for the hold down clamp.

deerra

Quite frankly, it's a PIA to change. Same with the fuel filter. Nothing like engineering a car to make regular maintenance items difficult to service.

96polovette

You will want a socket wrench with a long extension for the battery hold down bolt. And take off any metal watch or jewelry. Last time I was installing my battery I was trying to get the positive bolt screwed into the battery and my metal watchband touched the negative terminal while I was fooling with the positive and I got zapped!

kenmack

Turn your wheels hard left and ignition lock them in position.
This allows access to the 3 torx head screws (2 diff sizes)in the fenderwell.(remove completely)If your new battery has plastic caps on the terminals,save them to put on your old battery for removal(no shorts).
I've done this a dozen times and never loosened the bottom screws. (If your slow and gentle) the panel flexes enough to remove old and install new battery.
Just one 1/4 " or 5/16"screw in door jam to remove.
P.S.When you put that screw back in the doorjam,ensure that the panel is aligned correctly,with the door (closed)and the hood (down)
20-30 min tops.

ELVIS' C4

make sure you check the alignment by gently shutting door to make sure it doesn't scrape paint...take your time...still should take you no more than 15 min once you have done it once

enjoy!

Eakster

This one's a great introduction to C4 construction - fasteners all over the place and 3 different tools to get a panel off.. have fun

jabez

2 HOURS??
That must include an hour and half nap.

mikeb

I take mine out thru the top. 15 minutes max.

Remove the cruise module, unbolt top of brace, swing brace over a few inches, tilt battery, comes out at about 15 degree angle.

WW7

This is what I had to do on my car also, I have a ground effects package and it goes over the panel so this was much faster,15 minites tops for the whole job..WW

tuxnharley

OK, maybe I'm slow, or you guys all wrench for a living or something - but I was trying to give the OP a reasonable guess as to how long it will take HIM the FIRST time he does this, what with switching tools, total project time including taking the old battery to the store to exchange for the new one in the middle of the process (tell me again how that alone takes only 15 minutes?), etc.

Tell you what - let's let the OP be the final say on how long it takes him once he's done - he can report back and see who's closer to reality.

Beer bet, anyone?



PS - the bottom bolt on my fender panel is absolutely covered up by the rocker panel, no way to get to that one without dropping the rocker panel first. Maybe yours is different, but that's how mine came from the factory - never been hit. Also, on my '92, it's not just the cruise control unit that would have to be moved to take the battery out upwards, it's that AND the CPU/computer. No way I can see to do that in "15/20 minutes". Maybe some of you guys have earlier C4s where the CPU was located inside the car.

tuxnharley

WW7

[QUOTE=tuxnharley;1569189472]OK, maybe I'm slow, or you guys all wrench for a living or something - but I was trying to give the OP a reasonable guess as to how long it will take HIM the FIRST time he does this, what with switching tools, total project time including taking the old battery to the store to exchange for the new one in the middle of the process (tell me again how that alone takes only 15 minutes?), etc.

Tell you what - let's let the OP be the final say on how long it takes him once he's done - he can report back and see who's closer to reality.

Beer bet, anyone?

QUOTE]



This is where the discrepancy lies, usually you only count the mechanics of the job, not the breaks, or travel time, or beer runs...:o,,WW