[jimvw57]

Picked up a battery from Walmart today, almost didn't start when I left for work, after shutting it off, voltage dropped quickly to around 11.5 volts within a matter of minutes. Date on battery says Aug 09 so I would guess it is time.


One note to those who are doing this yourself.... open the rear hatch before disconnecting the battery....Much easier to get the new one out of the back if you don't have to tilt a seat forward and climb back there to get the new battery!! :shrug:

car seems much happier now.

 

[Rustedwrench]

Or you could take it out of the back before you disconnect.

Or you could just put it on the passenger floor for the ride home.

Or you could have the store install it then laugh and point at them when they can not figure out where it goes.

 

[valvestem]

...Or you could have the store install it then laugh and point at them when they can not figure out where it goes.

I would not trust anyone except a Smartie dealer or me to install a new battery. Or maybe another Smartie guy who knows what he is doing.:|

 

[smark]

All you need to know about a 451 car battery. Buy one that's vented to the outside. Since it's in a closed interior space. Battery Gasses Need To Be Vented To Outside.

 

[jimvw57]

Yup did that. the elbow was broken on the old battery so I repaired it and reused it on the new one.

they said it would be 2 hours to install the battery...

 

[jimvw57]

Since replacing the battery, the car seems to run better, shift better, etc. maybe it needed the new juice for awhile now. Glad I got it replaced before it quit completely.

 

[ManchVegas]

My 2009 Passion still has the OE battery in it. Just rolled 66,600 miles today on the odometer. The battery still has 19 good starts left in it.

 

[jimvw57]

I know that over the last few years the battery has been run completely down and sat for some time before recharging, and a year ago I replaced the alternator, so it has been abuses lately. that and the fact that I have roughly 117,xxx miles say that it needed replacement. And Minnesota is not a battery friendly state. Cold winters and warm summers... Batteries usually last -5 years on average. And since I don't park in a garage, they get particularly abused. It has been quite a while since I have been stranded with battery problems.