BRZN Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Who decided to put the battery here on my '94 GP SE? Windshield washer fluid reservoir: What's that hiding under there? All this just to get to the battery? What's this? The ECM sitting over on the otherside all by itself? I'd just think it would have made more sence to switch these two around for easier access to the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 at least its not a dodge intrepid/stratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skitchin Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 If I remember right, they put it under the passenger seat on like the olds aurora or intrigue for a while. Mercedes also did this one Probably for better weight distribution, but ughhhhhhhhhh what a pain in the ass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 I thought these batteries are pretty easy to access on the first gens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runt Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 The battery in my bonneville is under the rear seat inside of the car. I'm sure that'll be fun to replace someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 How is that so hard to access? A few bolts, move it out of the way, you're at the battery (Not arguing that it's the smartest design ever, but it isn't hard at all) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMP Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 My lumina is the same way i left the washer fluid reservoir off the last time i messed with the batterie :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 How is that so hard to access? A few bolts, move it out of the way, you're at the battery (Not arguing that it's the smartest design ever, but it isn't hard at all) My thoughts exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Don't worry the 97+ cars had this inconvenience fixed The washer reservoir and battery got switched Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skitchin Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Yeah, having the washer jug above the battery or ecm is sketchy, should that ever leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMP Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Don't worry the 97+ cars had this inconvenience fixed The washer reservoir and battery got switched except for the Lumina's my 98 is like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Oh yeah, I should've said 2nd Gen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 My parents needed a battery in the 94 CS sedan. The shop removed the tire... I told them never go to that shop again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 The battery in my bonneville is under the rear seat inside of the car. I'm sure that'll be fun to replace someday. The seat just pops up, no bolts, nothing. Crazy easy to get to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbex Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 I wouldn't say that it'd hard to get to the battery, just a WTF pain in the ass type thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twenty Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 It's probably because while designing the car, it was discovered that a battery could fit there, so they did it without thinking about the practicality. Reminds me of an article written by Jamie of Mythbusters fame, discussing the difference between designing solely on a computer and designing with physical parts, to test for issues like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRZN Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Definitely not hard just a real inconvenience. I serviced the car and wasn't sure if the battery was maintenance free or one that you needed to check the water on: maintenance free. I try to teach my kids little things on the car so they'll have a clue. I couldn't imagine trying to explain how to monitor the water level of the battery to my 16 year old daughter had it been that type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel87 Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Yeah mine is the same way. Too bad it can't be like old cars... our 87 Cutlass everything is right in front of you with easy access. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brake Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Foolish spot to put it, but it's maybe 5 minutes more work. 2 bolts on the brace and 1 or 2 on the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWeb80 Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 The battery in my bonneville is under the rear seat inside of the car. I'm sure that'll be fun to replace someday. ugh, it'll take you 5 minutes to pull it.....takes longer to get the right sockets out of the tool box. it's derpin' easy. My brother took mine out of my Aurora for me and couldn't believe how easy it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully77 Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 The battery in my bonneville is under the rear seat inside of the car. I'm sure that'll be fun to replace someday. wow how did i never know this? what if you need a jump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Just open the back door or hook it up to the auxiliary post under the hood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitzel Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 The battery isn't much of a PITA on the 1992 Cutlass compared to the ECM/ECU, which is located *underneath* the coolant recovery tank (which is considerably larger than the one depicted in a photograph earlier. Really not looking forward to the day when I have to drain the cooling system and remove a considerable number of pipes just to replace the ECU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mra32 Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 How often are you guys replacing the battery where this is an issue? Its not like thats where the fuel filler is. That picture shows that your airbox is in plain sight and air filter service/replacement happens on a much more frequent basis than replacing a battery. Pitzel, you will lose no coolant if you ever have to replace the ECM. Ive had to replace mine but its supposedly quite rare to replace an ECM, anyway. Its a coolant overflow tank, so disconnecting the line to it will not affect the rest of your coolant system. All you have to do is disconnect the line to the radiator filler neck and undo the 2 stamped nuts that hold it on. Should take you no more than a minute. Its more difficult to disconnect the wires from the computer than to access it. Due to its shape, the tank uses more plastic but holds about the same volume as the windshield fluid reservior. It can also easily slide right out of the engine bay. I really havent found a car easier to work on than my old 3.1 Lumina, other than doing spark plugs. And 3 of those are super easy to do anyway, so its still not that bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitzel Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Pitzel, you will lose no coolant if you ever have to replace the ECM. Ive had to replace mine but its supposedly quite rare to replace an ECM, anyway. Its a coolant overflow tank, so disconnecting the line to it will not affect the rest of your coolant system. All you have to do is disconnect the line to the radiator filler neck and undo the 2 stamped nuts that hold it on. Should take you no more than a minute. Its more difficult to disconnect the wires from the computer than to access it. Due to its shape, the tank uses more plastic but holds about the same volume as the windshield fluid reservior. It can also easily slide right out of the engine bay. I really havent found a car easier to work on than my old 3.1 Lumina, other than doing spark plugs. And 3 of those are super easy to do anyway, so its still not that bad Yeah, there's a proper procedure for *everything*. If you're the kind of guy who 'follows the book', these cars really aren't all that hard to work on. But if not.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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