Leisure battery under drivers seat
Printed From: The Brick-yard
Category: T5 Section
Forum Name: T5 Chat
Forum Description: Forum for T5 specific chat
URL: http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=94370
Printed Date: 23 Apr 24 at 19:19
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Leisure battery under drivers seat
Posted By: chatlow
Subject: Leisure battery under drivers seat
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 18:37
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Hi all, I'm fitting a low profile 110 battery under the drivers seat of my 09 plate T5. I've removed the seat to access the base and struggling to place the battery either front to back (because there's a big bolt in the floor) or side to side (because there's a big bracket holding the connections in place. Undid the connection block but I'm unable to remove the bracket itself. Square bolts won't budge. I then removed the base so that i could get underneath and have a go, but the 2 bolts (think there torq) wont grip. Any suggestions would be very welcome!!!
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Replies:
Posted By: gregozedobe
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 23:32
| Make sure you have the correct socket for those bolts - might be triplesquare ? (I'm not sure) |
Posted By: Rebuild
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 23:37
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I put a 100AH sealed AGM (N70 size i think) under the passenger seat ( more room than drivers side).Had to lay it down on its side, as it fouled the seat mech otherwise. ------------- Steve 2004 T5 2.5 TDI |
Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 12:18
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thanks both - i will try and hunt down a triplesquare adaptor and give it a go from underneath again. I have no tools for the square bolts on top - so tried using a 12pt adaptor which just slipped, so I stopped. With regards to AGM, yeah I went for a cheaper version from Tanya batteries but good reviews. Needs venting and definitely has to stay upright :)
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Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 12:32
| sorry i didnt use 12pt. it was torq 6pt. think the 12pt star is worth a shot |
Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 12:37
| grr, cant edit posts. let me clear this up. tried 12pt socket for the square bolt from above - no luck, it slipped. The tried 6pt torx from below, think it might release that way. but wouldnt fit. so i think i might 12 pnt bit and have another go |
Posted By: Rebuild
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 19:40
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yeah, most of the large bolts that look like torx are triple square/spline. Don't use torx for those, it won't work. Generally, the small bolts (eg for panelling etc) are torx ------------- Steve 2004 T5 2.5 TDI |
Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 09:21
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Have you got room under the floor? Underfloor batteries have fallen out of fashion, however, the position has advantages.
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Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 09:41
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thanks - i am still unsure about this bolt and if it's removed from the above (square nut) or the below small spline/xzn that's there Attached pics of what I am talking about. Maybe others have removed this in the past https://imgur.com/DeEI7Tm" rel="nofollow - https://imgur.com/DeEI7Tm
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Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 11:04
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Stud extractor? https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=stud+extractor&_sacat=0" rel="nofollow - https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=stud+extractor&_sacat=0 There are sockets with a load of rods inside. They work by cam action on any sort of head. Then there's nut splitters. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Nut+splitters&_sacat=0&_sop=15" rel="nofollow - https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Nut+splitters&_sacat=0&_sop=15
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Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 11:12
| https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=1&_sop=15&_osacat=34998&_odkw=wheel+nut+socket&LH_TitleDesc=1&_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H1.Xlocking+wheel+nut+socket.TRS0&_nkw=locking+wheel+nut+socket&_sacat=34998" rel="nofollow - https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=1&_sop=15&_osacat=34998&_odkw=wheel+nut+socket&LH_TitleDesc=1&_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H1.Xlocking+wheel+nut+socket.TRS0&_nkw=locking+wheel+nut+socket&_sacat=34998 |
Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 11:42
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thanks - i have no idea to be honest and may have to ask a garage before buying more tools. The spline bits should arrive today, so will see if I have any joy removing from below
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Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 12:05
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Are we talking about the grey fastener at the top? About 1/3rd along from the left. Or summat else? https://www.google.com/search?q=fits+all+socket&oq=fits+all+socket&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9776j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" rel="nofollow - https://www.google.com/search?q=fits+all+socket&oq=fits+all+socket&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9776j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 12:46
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Hi, no it's the 2 black nuts I have highlighted here: https://imgur.com/HKqBtuE" rel="nofollow - https://imgur.com/HKqBtuE They hold on the bracket you see which the under seat connections screw to (but I have removed for now)
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Posted By: T5 TDI
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 16:38
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They are welded captive nuts. The corresponding bolt head will be underneath. If you can't see the bolt heads (they might even be underneath the van) you might have to take the whole seat out just to get access to them to get that bracket off.
------------- 2004 2.5 174 |
Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 16:42
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Best put some thin oil on 'em too, and let it soak down the threads.
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Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 16:55
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Thanks - good to know - I will leave the nuts alone :-) I did get to the corresponding bolts by removing the seat base - that's where I am up to - going to try using spline bit on them soon. and if that doesn't work, then cry before hitting them with an axe
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Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 17:12
| Drill 'em out from above? |
Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 17:37
| found out the issue. the torque bolt is the security type with pin in the middle - hence I couldnt get the torx bit on it the other night, upside down, in the dark. off to get some adaptor! fingers crossed!! |
Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 19:08
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sorted - security torque bit for the win! Good news.. bracket is off and battery fits Bad news... i've disrupted the wiring either before or inside the box under the seat and now the central locking doesn't work
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Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 19:31
Oh dear :-(
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chatlow wrote:Posted By: T5 TDI
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 20:09
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Could be that you have disturbed/tweaked the famous wiring splice under the drivers seat which causes all kinds of central locking faults. This was mine which was in pretty good shape but it's often badly corroded or even disconnected so a small tug could have finished it off.  ------------- 2004 2.5 174 |
Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 14 Feb 20 at 20:11
| What's the solution please T5 TDi? |
Posted By: chatlow
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 13:14
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Well... 2 nasty cuts and some very steamy windows later.. it's done! Live junction on the loom had failed (badly). Per that link it's around 10-12 inches down the loom from the connectors. Lots of corrosion both at that junction and at the connector box. Pic here: https://imgur.com/Bnn58y5" rel="nofollow - https://imgur.com/Bnn58y5 https://imgur.com/jTkI64i" rel="nofollow - https://imgur.com/jTkI64i Thanks for posting that link and providing tips along the way, much appreciated! Battery in place, albeit held with bungee cords for now and vented using the grommet under the seat. Central locking, windows, wipers all working. Only thing that is dead is my remote (using my spare). Hopefully a battery Cheers
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Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 13:43
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Thanks for letting us know what the problem was, and how you've sorted it Chatlow :o)
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Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 15:23
Are you interested to learn about a far better way to add a leisure battery Chatlow? |
Posted By: T5 TDI
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 16:31
Cut back and re-solder. Chatlow's is a good example of what a bad one is like! Often the complaint is that the doors sometimes refuse to lock or unlock and if ignored it can lead to a deadlocked passenger door (No hole for a key that side and you can't put fuel in!) ------------- 2004 2.5 174 |
Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 17:41
| Thanks T5 TDi :o) |
Posted By: Charlie Dog
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 17:43
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