DIY: Changing the battery
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Use as big of a flat-head screwdriver as you can to wedge in there and pry it open. It seems like they have a specialized bendable tool that can get into the slot and push it open. I think I had one small screwdriver pushing in the slot and another to pry it open.
My car will be 4 years old 12/2011. It has a little under 23k miles on it, but my battery recently died. I'm guessing since I live in a desert climate (very hot summers), that's what killed it after only 3 1/2 years (pretty much the normal lifespan for car batteries in Bakersfield, CA).
Anyways, I replaced it yesterday. I decided on the Duralast Gold.
Yes!! This part caused me to yell a few nasty words, but I finally got the plastic housing detached from the side clip. By far the hardest part of removing the battery. 
Yeah the clamp/brace was a challenge too. After a few tries of re-positioning the battery, I got both pieces of the brace to fit over the battery just fine without having to cut the plastic housing. I ended up tying a piece of string through the hole on the vertical piece of the brace/clamp, and I had my dad pull/hold the string up while I placed the new battery into position. Otherwise it's really easy to knock that part of the brace out of place making the horizontal piece hard to fit over the battery.
I barely press my button, and she starts up fine!!
I left the handle on it too.
Anyways, I replaced it yesterday. I decided on the Duralast Gold.
My battery is 5 yrs old, and never needed any water, yet. But, I decided to replace it while I have the time, instead of when I'm late for golf, or something else really important. Consumer Reports latest battery ratings rated an Interstate model best, but the Duralast Gold 24-DLG, above, is almost as good, and cheaper. I wanted to keep the plastic housing, and the Interstate is 11" long, where this one is 10.25", like the Panasonic it came with, so I went with the Duralast. Other dimensions were about equal on either of them.
I had a bit of trouble getting the top clamp back on over the plastic, so I cut a little of the plastic off, in the front, so the clamp is touching just the battery. Maybe I just didn't wiggle the battery/plastic enough to get it settled in good, but cutting the plastic was easy with a box cutter.
This is the first time I've ever replaced a perfectly good battery, and I feel great, knowing it's not going to die at just the most inopportune time.
P.S. I left the handle on there, too. No reason to remove it.
I had a bit of trouble getting the top clamp back on over the plastic, so I cut a little of the plastic off, in the front, so the clamp is touching just the battery. Maybe I just didn't wiggle the battery/plastic enough to get it settled in good, but cutting the plastic was easy with a box cutter.
This is the first time I've ever replaced a perfectly good battery, and I feel great, knowing it's not going to die at just the most inopportune time.
P.S. I left the handle on there, too. No reason to remove it.
I barely press my button, and she starts up fine!!
I left the handle on it too.
Last edited by Little E; Sep 18, 2011 at 08:56 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Guy, chemical reactions degrade / deposit the anodes/cathodes in your battery. Over time, the cells will die with no more electrolysis can occur. Batteries do not last forever.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,102
Likes: 8
From: Hill Country, TX
My '06 has a build date of Feb 2006 and the original battery is still going strong. It just sat for two months in the garage while we were away and it started right up, BUT it is always on a Battery Tender. In my experience a BT will extend the life of a battery by years if consistently used.
I got the 24-DLG. Even though the 25 was listed online, the store I went to didn't have it in stock. I think the others also went with the 24??
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: IL
1) That is an awesome DIY write up
2) I am too lazy to change my battery myself. I had Sam's Club change it with the Interstate battery mentioned earlier on this thread - $77 with installation and tax.
2) I am too lazy to change my battery myself. I had Sam's Club change it with the Interstate battery mentioned earlier on this thread - $77 with installation and tax.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 598
Likes: 21
From: California
Wow, I should have had Sam's install mine as well. I bought from them an Energizer that was supposed to fit. NOPE. Too tall. The saddle clamp would NOT work because of the height difference. All worked out well however and I put in a new Toyota 84 month battery for a great price.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: SC
So I' am new to the battery lingo. Which yellow top are you referring too? The Optima brand or the Duralast brand? I' m going to guess Optima, because they also make the self proclaim "Red top" batteries...am I right?
S/N why are Optima's red top batteries so expensive?
S/N why are Optima's red top batteries so expensive?
