GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Nothing like leaving late for work and your Fiancees Car battery goes dead in her Caravan, so much for that 7:30a deadline...and the best part was usually it takes about an hour give or take to change a battery in a car, not this one, oh no, as i was pulling the terminal off from the Neg. post, not only did the terminal come off, but the post did as well...So after trying to pound with a hammer and trying to cut with a dremel tool and getting nowhere fast, I got frustrated and grabbed the old 18volt drill and a 1/2 inch drill bit...Within seconds that sucker was bored clean out of the terminal.the thing that got me thinking the most of this, was apparently one of the goodyear stores replaced the battery a couple of years ago before her and i started dating. since when did goodyear start supplying mopar batteries?? someone got ripped off...Replacement battery....$80Time and Labor.........2Getting a high off of the power tools.....Priceless

Quote, originally posted by silvrhawk7 »usually it takes about an hour give or take to change a battery in a carWhile I can feel sorrow and pain for your lateness and ordeal. I would have to argue with this statement. It takes about 5-10 minutes tops on every car I have owned. Remove the bracket, disconnect the terminals, pull battery, put in new, put bracket on and attach terminals. An hour seems an awfully long time to change a battery.

The fact that it was a Mopar battery and that the terminal was "frozen" to the terminal leads me to believe it was OEM. I have always used those back and red felt pads - don't know if they really work but for 99 cents a set they are worth a try. [I have the same philosophy re multiple vitamins - cheap, can't do any harm, might do some good.]

When I did my battery, it was easy, there really wasn't much left OF the terminals.. lol

What are you people doing to your batteries that they look like that!Every spring and fall I take my terminals and clean them up. Metal bristle brush and some cleaner (Simple Green usually does the trick). The clamps are OEM for me right now. The battery will get replaced soon, especially with these temps. I may just do it tonight.

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »What are you people doing to your batteries that they look like that!Every spring and fall I take my terminals and clean them up. Metal bristle brush and some cleaner (Simple Green usually does the trick). The clamps are OEM for me right now. The battery will get replaced soon, especially with these temps. I may just do it tonight. Michigan and NY Winters I would guess... Look at the corrosion on the other nuts/bolts in the engine bay there.

Wow. A good steam clean or simple green on the engine each time you detail will help a lot. Even in harsher conditions. We may not be upstate NY where I am, but I live on the shore so I deal with salt air as well, especially on windy days.