Scottish Elises

The battery on the winter hack gave up the ghost yesterday - hardly a shock given that is has been in there for 9 years, and I had a replacement on standy -by.
Soooo
Has anyone any idea how you get a battery out of a Corsa C - the car MUST have been built around the battery - it would have been quicker to take the engine out than the battery. I have searched t'internet and done everything on there but the trim stopping it coming out is siliconed onto the windscreen and I am fearfull that a new screen could be the outcome if I bend it anymore and that is before I look to put the new one (same size) back in & the trim then needs to be bent down against its 'curve' up.

If I put it all back together and call the AA whats the chances of them changing it over rather than just jump starting the bugger ?

I'm guessing you dont have AA P&L? I think its unlikely they'd change the battery unless they were supplying you with one - might be easier just to get them out and buy a battery off them than risk breaking the windscreen.

Have P&L for the Lotus but not the Corsa. Think AA might be the best bet, thought a battery swap was going to be a 5min job so never even thought of leaving it to them but looking increasingly attractive over another struggle in the dark in -3 temperatures.

Any pics?

Do Halfrauds do free battery fitting?.... if you trust them (doubt I would) and can stomach their cost for the battery in the first place.

Dom, I actually bought the battery from Halfords in the first place (probably early last year) as I thought it was needed then when the car struggled to start a couple of times, but after a charge and some good long runs it was fine so I left it -until this week when it finally called enough.
Will try to post a pic if I get to it in daylight - I couldn't be arsed even looking at it last night so still on the to do list

Google is your friend.

Corsa C, 2000-2007. To remove the battery, you need to remove or loosen the black plastic scuttle panel that sits at the base of the windscreen. In this case you need to have a Torx headed screwdriver or similar. Possibly a T25. There are 3 or 4 screws attaching this to the body of the car. One under the bonnet hinge, a couple across the middle, one is under a flap by the brake fluid reservoir. Just remember where they all come from. Note there is a "bridge" that fits to the battery, which secures a cable and a terminal cover. This needs to be transferred to the replacement battery before fitting.
Source(s):
Vauxhall mechanic the last 10 years.

cstrachan wrote:Google is your friend.

Corsa C, 2000-2007. To remove the battery, you need to remove or loosen the black plastic scuttle panel that sits at the base of the windscreen. In this case you need to have a Torx headed screwdriver or similar. Possibly a T25. There are 3 or 4 screws attaching this to the body of the car. One under the bonnet hinge, a couple across the middle, one is under a flap by the brake fluid reservoir. Just remember where they all come from. Note there is a "bridge" that fits to the battery, which secures a cable and a terminal cover. This needs to be transferred to the replacement battery before fitting.
Source(s):
Vauxhall mechanic the last 10 years.

Read that and tried it - the scuttle panel 'that sits at the base of the windscreen' is, on ours, bonded to the bottom of the screen.

I found pictures that detail the instructions you posted but they appear to be for a car without air con
The torx screws - 'a couple in the middle' -are covered by an air con 'box' on ours and its not for moving, another search suggests that the wipers need to come off in some cars to allow the plastic cover to bend - for this read 'break when the battery is removed' (but that might be because its -3 and brittle )

I only want to replace the battery - not strip the car into component parts.

j2 lot wrote:
I only want to replace the battery - not strip the car into component parts.

Modern cars

Mate used to work for peugot and you have to strip the whole front off to change the oil

They make it sound so easy - http://vauxhall.workshop-manuals.com/co ... hp?id=4791

I know a pretty handy mechanic in EK if you could jump start it and get it down there?

What does "program volatile memories" mean

I have an awesome idea to solve your problem and see no issues with it at all: Place the new battery in the pax footwell, connect jump leads from it to the old battery in situe, for tidyness you could gaffer tape the jump leads to the bodywork, close bonnet and door, and off you go. I'm sure that's how some garages would fix it.... well Arnold's.

Victory is mine -1x battery changed
The slightly warmer temperatures and less frost allowed me to bend the plastic scuttle sufficiently after cutting through the silicone seal. Old battery out and new one in in 10 minutes (after over an hours unsuccessful farting about during the week )
Dom, your suggestion was my next solution

Thanks all for your advice and big to Craig(@MMC) & Flyingscott for offer of practical assistance.