hey.
basically my fiat punto 1.2 (2001 reg) was having problems starting for a while. I was in an emergency and had to push start it (which it did), then immediately the little engine sign came on my dashboard(orange colour). The car now wont start at all. I have spoken to people on the forum and they say its probably the battery. my problem is should I change the battery myself (which Ive never done before) and hope that fixes my problem, and that the orange engine light goes away. Or do I go to a garage and get it changed professionally, I have been quoted £50 ofr the battery and £40 for coming to pick up the car. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Any replies would be much appreciated.
Michael
The fact that you say the battery was giving problems 'for a while', rather than going flat as a result of lights left on, etc. (hard to do on a FIAT), suggests to me that the battery is quite likely to have just worn out and therefore needs replacing.
Another sign of a battery in distress is the presence of green/white corrosion on the terminals, which seems to happen more when the battery is struggling than when it is in good condition (and I cannot really explain this, though it is also cause-effect the other way around, because corroded terminals will limit performance).
The quickest way to remove terminal corrosion is to pour boiling water over the terminals.
The battery is held on by a small metal tab-shaped clamp at its base, usually only one 13mm bolt (pity I don't have a Punto yet so can't say for certain, but I assume it is similar to all other FIATs). The two battery terminals have either 8mm or 10mm nuts that clamp the terminal closed. Use small ring+open end 'combination' spanners for this job rather than socket spanners (which may be too large to fit next to the battery). It is worth buying some good-quality spanners in the sizes you need (e.g. 8mm, 10mm, 13mm).
Undo the nut a little way and then gently try to rotate the terminal around the post on the battery - rather than trying to pull it off. If this doesn't work, get a wide flat-blade screwdriver and insert into the 'split' beside the post, and gently twist to expand the terminal. Remove the negative terminal first, and then tuck the cables out of the way so that you can remove/replace the battery easily. Many battery designs have a pop-up handle.
While you have the battery out, consider washing the battery tray (boiling water again) if there is any sign of battery acid leakage, and perhaps spray the metalwork with lithium grease or anti-rust wax as a measure of protection. Bare metal should be painted first with anti-rust primer. There are also neutralising mats available.
The replacement battery needs to be the correct size/shape and with the right terminal posts; before you go to buy, take note of any size code on the old battery, e.g. DIN44 (I don't know if this is the correct size for your car but it is an example size code). The battery should have a securing lip on both sides of its base.
If there is a drain tube (overflow) fitted to the top, this needs to be directed into the plastic battery tray which usually also has a drain. Often the tube can be fitted into either end of the battery top (there is a plug at the opposite end).
Ensure when you fit the new battery that it is held in place securely and cannot tip forward (I saw an engine bay fire once caused by the battery terminals shorting on the bonnet underside).
Be very careful to ensure the terminal posts are the right way around before you connect the terminals. Some batteries have the poles reversed - so obviously make sure they are the same way around when you buy, and when you put the battery into place. One terminal is larger than the other, so it shouldn't be possible to interchange them, but I have seen it happen and it wrecks the alternator and/or ECU. The negative terminal '-' is the exposed terminal that is fitted to a black cable bolted to the car's structure. The positive terminal '+' should have some sort of cover fitted, and usually has red cables.
For a few pounds you can buy a special wire brush (pictured below) which cleans the battery post and the terminal clamp easily.
Many people apply Vaseline on the terminals to avoid corrosion problems. I don't have any Vaseline lying around (wonder why?) and so I just leave the terminals dry. Do not overtighten the terminals - moderate hand pressure on a short (100mm) spanner is sufficient. If you're wondering how to judge 'moderate hand pressure', try pushing as hard as you can with your thumb only
Fit the positive terminal first (so as to avoid the danger of accidentally shorting it to a metal part of the car) and then fit the negative terminal. Also, make sure the keys are not inside the car, since in rare cases the central locking or alarm may lock the doors.
Sorry if any of the above is stating the obvious or too basic for your requirements, but I wanted to attempt to summarise the whole process for fitting a battery 'professionally' - personally, I would never pay to have a battery replaced and would always do these things myself. In my opinion there are no amateurs or professionals; it merely comes down to the need for a thorough and caring approach which you can apply better than someone who is rushed and/or doesn't actually care what they are doing...!
Of course there are jobs that require more skills or equipment, such as computer-diagnosis and transmission rebuilding - and so it is fine to pay someone for these - but fitting a battery should be possible for any driver to do
-Alex
