Battery Change

[robbyaube2]

Hi all,

No question here at this point but just some complaining.... : )

What a pain in the neck to change a battery on this vehicle.
Took me 1.5 hrs once I figured out I had to take the big black bar holding the fuse box...

Then the clamp holding the battery was not coming off so I had to chip the plastic off the old battery that was under the clamp to get it out. Then had to remove the battery holder completely to gain access to the clamp. Noticed that the bolt held nicely under the clamp by plastic was turning because the plastic was cracked. So i just knocked the clamp section right off. Now the battery is held in place by rope (yuk)...

Anyway it works at lease.

Thought I would share my experience with y'all : )

Robby

['97ventureowner]

Yes it is a PITA to gain access to remove the battery on these vehicles. As engine bays are getting smaller, space is at a premium, so what was once easy to get to may now be hidden under other items. Try adding power steering or brake fluid to these vans and you'll quickly see that point :

[robbyaube2]

Lol yeah i can see that for sure. Would need a bendable funnel for that job probably. I was looking at the alternator as well and that looks like a job and a half. Almost looks like you'd have to drop the motor to get it out : )

[merc81]

Originally Posted by robbyaube2

Lol yeah i can see that for sure. Would need a bendable funnel for that job probably. I was looking at the alternator as well and that looks like a job and a half. Almost looks like you'd have to drop the motor to get it out : )

Its not apparent from looking, but remove the two front engine mount connection screws and loosen the lower engine mount nuts and the engine will roll forward until it bumps into the radiator. That allows just (and I mean by the smallest amount) enough room to get the alternator out of that hole or change spark plugs.

[robbyaube2]

Ahh interesting. Hopefully i wont need to change it. But I will keep that in mind if I do need to do it...

Thanks.

[bigcoconut]

Changed my battery recently, didn't have the pains you had, but even when everything moved the way it should it wasn't any easy thing to change.

Definitely note the engine rotation thing, do a search on this forum and you'll find more info on the how to's for it. Those GM engineer's must have really been laughing when this thing first rolled off the assembly line

['97ventureowner]

Also keep in mind some places will change your battery for you if you purchase it through them, thus saving you some frustration.

[robbyaube2]

Yeah that's true as well. In this case it would be to their loss but hey, if they offer it why not eh!

['97ventureowner]

Ventures aren't the only vehicles made where the batterys are hidden, so I'm sure some of the employees have experience changing them out when they are hard-to-access.

[robbyaube2]

yeah that's true. I remember my mother in law's stratus, you had to go from the wheel well to get to the battery via removing the plastic cover...