Have to replace the battery on my Fabia - it died lastnight :(

Not having changed a battery before is it something that is relatively straight forward? i.e. undo terminals and swap old for new? or is there a little more to it.

Any knowledgeable pointers greatfully received

TIA

J5

A *little* more to it than that, but yes its a DIY job.

There are 2 types of battery covers fitted to the vRS, any chance of a piccy to see which yours is?

A *little* more to it than that, but yes its a DIY job.

There are 2 types of battery covers fitted to the vRS, any chance of a piccy to see which yours is?

Yes. Later though as the car is at my house and I'm in work

It'll be the earlier two part full cover Tom, not that later cheapskate cover - if that answers your question.

Usually pretty simple. Main rule to remember is when disconnecting, remove earth lead first. When re-connecting, connect earth last. This avoids any nasty sparks if the spanner happens to touch something else metal.

Not a fan of the later one then Stu!! I'm sure I've seen the later cover on cars as early as 05s though??

If thats the case, then if my memory serves me correctly, then unclip the top cover by pulling the clip on the left hand edge outwards, rotate the cover upwards and move it out of the slots on the right hand side. Similar story with the lower cover, but this obviously stays connected to the car.

Remove the negative terminal first, then the positive.

The battery box simply lifts out.

The battery clamp it pretty obvious.

Its been a long while since I removed my old Fabia battery, but tbh its pretty obvious when you look at it...

Usually pretty simple. Main rule to remember is when disconnecting, remove earth lead first. When re-connecting, connect earth last. This avoids any nasty sparks if the spanner happens to touch something else metal.

For sure, I've welded a 12mm spanner to a battery by it shorting out against both terminals!

The Fabia battery has 2 covers on them with a fuse box type arrangement on the lower cover, so it looks a little intimidating to the amateur...

It's an easy DIY job (it must be if I managed it! ) and you'll want a long socket to get the nut on the clamp undone if you like the skin on your hands Also worth noting there's only one clamp and it's located in front of the battery (between the battery and the headlight)

Chris

It is the "earlier" two part cover (I found this out lastnight with the midnight jumpstart to get home from work)

I assume there are no specific sizes etc for replacement batteries :confused: i.e. you can walk into halfrauds and say "i'll have me a new car battery please" without having to give your inside leg measurment?

Just make sure you get one the right size ffs. There will be a sticker on the top of your battery, just get ome atleast as good.

I'd go to unipart or wilko tbh.

Just make sure you get one the right size ffs. There will be a sticker on the top of your battery, just get ome atleast as good.

I'd go to unipart or wilko tbh.

Cheers Tom

You want not just the same sort of physical bulk, but a similar charge capacity as well.

You want not just the same sort of physical bulk, but a similar charge capacity as well.

Yep - make sure you jot down the spec that is on the battery (and I think in the handbook) when you go to buy it. I replaced mine with a Bosch one from Halfords because I needed it in a hurry, but worth ringing around and also trying tyre and exhaust places.

Chris

hence me telling him to look at the sticker!!!

hence me telling him to look at the sticker!!!

But you didn't say which sticker or what to look for :P

Chris

All fitted now thanks all especially Stu

Anyone know how to re-set one-touch windows as they appear to have been affected by disconnecting the battery :confused:

You can either use the key in the door and move them up and down, or just move each of them down and up and hold the button for 5 seconds once it reaches the top of its travel.

Chris

for 'Jonny5ive's information,

just like the range of dry batteries we all use ( type AAA, AA , C and D) batteries , car batteries are 'SPECIFIC SIZES'. The car make and model relates to a battery model number . The same battery will sometimes fit other makes and models . The only confusing part is that as technology move on batteries with higher capacities are in the same size case.

The only variables are capacity (ampere hours) ,construction (wet type, or sealed for life where the same distilled water the battery was initally made with ,is recycled inside the battery), and quality.

The only variables are capacity (ampere hours) ,construction (wet type, or sealed for life where the same distilled water the battery was initally made with ,is recycled inside the battery), and quality.

Not quite true... You can have MF (maintenance free) lead acid which is what you describe, but you can also have AGM (Asorbed Glass Mat) which are able to be turned upside down and are hellish expensive. Both are referred to as VRLA (vapour regulated lead acid) and require a different charger than a coventional flooded lead acid...

However, having seen the inside of the Fabia battery box last night to check charging (battery light came on intermittently for 10 mins yesterday) I am pleased to see it's a DIY job... I wasn't sure how far all those cables from the bus bar in the top cover were going to bend.