chrisjpainter Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 (edited) The car's battery's knackered, so needs replacing. Halfords charge £25 for fitting, which I thought was a bit criminal. So, I googled my car, found the Haynes manual video and had a bash at it myself. It's convaluted, but not difficult and in ten mins (including watching the video and pausing and such) the battery was out ready to fit the new one. Two things bother me: Why don't [more people look to]* save money by trying to figure things like this out for themselves, because it's not that hard? How can Halford's justify £150/hr for a ten minute job?! I bet the chap who would do it doesn't get the £25. Edited March 10, 2020 by chrisjpainter *Smokersmith's pointed out some do try and save money! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 9 minutes ago, chrisjpainter said: Why don't people save money by trying to figure things like this out for themselves? How can Halford's justify £150/hr for a ten minute job?! 1) They do 2) They are a business and need to make money - if people will pay, and I'm sure many do … ! Google videos have literally saved me thousands in garage bills … there's not a lot out there that you can't find nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 hello, mine cost £60 and put on free of charge, and warranty, have used this garage for years, and it an ATS branch, no need to get my hands dirty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 I would be asking "why DO people pay" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diver One Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 Just swapped ours on XC90...took longer to find it than it did to swap it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 Just had a new battery on my CRV, the garage used a jump start battery box gadget connected across the leads, to avoid losing all the info in the computer thing. Years ago I would have done it myself and the only thing that needed re-setting was the clock, but now with electric everything, it would take me a year to reset it all again ! It went to the same garage for an MOT, the mechanic had fiddled with the buttons on the steering wheel, trying to get the mileage displayed. It took 3 different people at the Honda agents to reset it. The one that managed to do it was about 12 years old ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTaylor91 Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 Some cars even need a battery change coding to the car now. I know a lot of BMWs do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted March 10, 2020 Report Share Posted March 10, 2020 I have one of those plug in your cigarette lighter socket gadgets, that saves info when the battery is changed. On most cars, you can change the battery in a minute if you wanted. That said, I changed a battery on a Ford Focus for a mate's daughter and it was tucked under the scuttle at the rear of the engine. A real pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 When i had a navara the passenger side headlight used to reularly give up the ghost, and it was a pain to try and get out with my fat hands and inevitably i was left with a cut on my hand, so i paid halfords 6 quid to replace the bulb, it took him 45 minutes and he had cuts all over his knuckles and back of his hand, all i had was a warm feeling from the coffee i bought from the cafe next door while watching him. I don't think he was a happy chap when he finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243deer Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 The only things I do not use my local garage for are light bulbs, batteries and wipers. Bulbs in particular used to be so easy and quick to change. It is interesting to note that despite it being a lawful requirement in many European countries to carry spare bulbs the eurocrats never did anything as useful as making sure that there was a standard for all cars where the bulbs could be changed by the driver in less than 2 mins without tools and without requiring antiseptic and bandages for aftercare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 19 hours ago, Gordon R said: I have one of those plug in your cigarette lighter socket gadgets, that saves info when the battery is changed. On most cars, you can change the battery in a minute if you wanted. That said, I changed a battery on a Ford Focus for a mate's daughter and it was tucked under the scuttle at the rear of the engine. A real pain. As it happened, that's what mine is! New battery's in and the car works now. Always useful. Mine's a 2012 model. It's a bit of a vexin place for the battery; I guess the idea is to encourage people to get ripped off at their dealers rather than local garages/themselves. Still, Youtube is a wonderful thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord O War Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 The worst car I have had the misfortune to replace bulbs on is my mums old volvo xc70. It would make a saint swear! My MK3 Mondeo was the best, 2 pegs and the headlights just come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 22 hours ago, JTaylor91 said: Some cars even need a battery change coding to the car now. I know a lot of BMWs do. correct.people fit incorrect batterys cars start ok but dash and communicating control units can go bonkers especially on bmw and mini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 (edited) Quote As it happened, that's what mine is! I remember rolling up at Kate / Lee's and saying this won't take a minute. I then said that it couldn't possibly need parts removing to change the battery. It would come almost all the way out, but not sufficient clearance. I also remember saying that it was designed by an idiot. There is no reason whatsoever to make it so hard. Edited March 11, 2020 by Gordon R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 1 hour ago, Gordon R said: I remember rolling up at Kate / Lee's and saying this won't take a minute. I then said that it couldn't possibly need parts removing to change the battery. It would come almost all the way out, but not sufficient clearance. I also remember saying that it was designed by an idiot. There is no reason whatsoever to make it so hard. Correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 Our Mitsubishi Outlander rear light clusters are an absolute pain to pull out. They are on a clip at the back and take a bit of effort to get out. £6 for Halfords to change is a bargain..... the last one the guy used a tool behind and it went ping as the plastic light broke. They just ordered a new one and fitted next time we popped in £120 up on that one we were! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted March 12, 2020 Report Share Posted March 12, 2020 Batteries are one thing but headlights can be nuts. I had to partially disassemble the air intake to change one side and the windscreen fluid bottle and feed for the other on my koleos (an xtrail will be the same). Had an mr2 and sx200 that were both pains in the rear also. Easiest was a Vauxhall cavalier. They should make then easy to access, trying to do it at night when a light blows is sometimes like the krypton factor that requires the hands of a child with the dexterity of a bombmaker and grip strength of a power lifter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 some cars can be a pain to work on batteries in boot / under seat / scuttle panel a ton of bits to come off before changing a £20 part not to mention bulbs the amount of cars with one sidelight mot failure around town not to mention no lights nobody gets under a bonnet these days and leave it until the MOT get it all done and cry about the bill guts ripped out as have to have it done my daughter pulled over to two guys and showed them how to change a spare wheel they were amazed I was a proud dad 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainhastings Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 Who ever designs these must be idiots to hide a part that you know will need changing quite a lot. I have to take the battery out just to change a sidelight bulb on one side and the other is nearly impossible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 On 11/03/2020 at 10:05, welsh1 said: When i had a navara the passenger side headlight used to reularly give up the ghost, and it was a pain to try and get out with my fat hands and inevitably i was left with a cut on my hand, so i paid halfords 6 quid to replace the bulb, it took him 45 minutes and he had cuts all over his knuckles and back of his hand, all i had was a warm feeling from the coffee i bought from the cafe next door while watching him. I don't think he was a happy chap when he finished. If I remember correctly it was quicker and easier to remove the air box or take the whole headlight out to change the bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 13, 2020 Report Share Posted March 13, 2020 My Range Rover battery is easily accessible - but it's so heavy that you really need to stand on the engine to get above it to lift it out. Headlights and service parts are all a doddle - can do a complete Oil/Filter change in 5 mins using a pump to suck out the old Oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.