Is there an easy way to remove the battery cables???

[1999montana]

Just replaced the batttery in our japanese import on Sunday after 8 years. Guess it didn't own us anything. The battery in the Montana is about 8-1/2 years old too, and I've never serviced it or tried to remove the cables.

I tried taking the battery cables off the Montana battery last week, only because I noticed that there was a small amount of corrosion on the positive clamp and bolt.

The negative was no problem to remove, but I rounded the head on the positive bolt (using a 6-point socket!) trying to get the cable off the positive post. Even tried vise grips on the stud. Wouldn't move.

So for now I have cleaned the bolt and clamp with a paste of baking soda and rinsed it off. Shot some liquid wrench on the bolt and behind the cable and post as best I could. Will see if that frees it up.

If not, I can only see one way to remove the battery. Remove the negative, loosen and remove the clamp that holds the battery in the battery tray, then disconnect the positive cable from the starter and take the whole thing out as an assembly so I can work with it on the ground.

There has got to be an easier way!

Ideas anyone?
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[1999montana]

Not only do the cables fight you, but there is very little room to work. Easiest way to remove the positive cable would be to cut the connector off at the battery and twist the bolt and clamp off together. Then, either replace the entire cable back to the starter with an OEM cable, OR attach an after market connector. I'll go with the OEM cable!

However the bolt in the plastic battery box/case that clamps the battery to the body fights you as well. Seems GM decided to put a blind nut on the underside of the battery box. Easiest solution for this one would be a new battery box.

Gave up!

The local garage where I bought the battery charges a flat $15 to replace it. I don't care if they destrtoy the box, battery and cable getting it out!

Nice design GM engineers!
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[1999montana]

No there isn't, at least in my case!

Finally got down to business today and pulled the right front corner where the battery lives apart. The cables weren't quite as difficult, but I moved the windshield reservoir out of the way and brought in a grinder to take the head off of the hold down bolt in the battery tray that wouldn't budge. There sure are an awful lot of wires running over and around the battery though!

GM even managed to bundle the positive and negative cables together in a piece of that shielding they use to protect and make everything look nice. Made short work of that. Can you imagine the negative and positive cables chafing against each other and shorting out?

Took the battery tray out and flipped it over. There is a hex nut sunk into the bottom of the tray, and one on the top side too. I tapped it for a 5/16" - 18 threads SAE bolt, greased the bolt and re-installed the battery tray.

Cleaned up the positive cable with a mixture of warm water and baking soda and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Rinsed the cable end off, dried it, then brighened it up with a wire brush and cleaned and lubricated the bolt too.

Took me the best part of two and a half hours.
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