2018 Regal GS battery removal

[Bluegreen]

I need to replace the battery on my 2018 Regal GS. I watched this video which made it seem pretty straight forward:

But, for the life of me, I cant get the Positive Terminal Block off.

I found this other thread that discusses the removal of the positive terminal:

TourX / Sportback battery removal

Has anyone figured out how to remove the terminal block on the positive post so the battery can be removed? It's not obvious how it comes off. There is a nut that loosens the post clamp but the block doesn't seem to want to come free even when that is loose.

buickforums.com

They mention a clip on the side that the youtube video didnt mention.

But I cant seem to figure out how to get the clip off. I've tried with my hands, and with a small flathead screwdriver. But no luck. And I dont want to brute force it off. I dont want to break the clip.

If i could see the clip, I could probably see how to easily remove it. But unfortunately, the battery in the GS in in the trunk, and the access panel is really small. So I cant actually see the clip, I can only feel around for it.

To remove it, do i press the clip down, up or out?
Should it come off easily, or do I need to apply some force?
Does anyone have a picture of the clip so i can see what it looks like?
How hard is it to remove the trunk side paneling to give me a bigger workspace?

Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks!

 

[19wfgs]

I need to replace the battery on my 2018 Regal GS. I watched this video which made it seem pretty straight forward:

But, for the life of me, I cant get the Positive Terminal Block off.

I found this other thread that discusses the removal of the positive terminal:

TourX / Sportback battery removal

Has anyone figured out how to remove the terminal block on the positive post so the battery can be removed? It's not obvious how it comes off. There is a nut that loosens the post clamp but the block doesn't seem to want to come free even when that is loose.

buickforums.com

They mention a clip on the side that the youtube video didnt mention.

But I cant seem to figure out how to get the clip off. I've tried with my hands, and with a small flathead screwdriver. But no luck. And I dont want to brute force it off. I dont want to break the clip.

If i could see the clip, I could probably see how to easily remove it. But unfortunately, the battery in the GS in in the trunk, and the access panel is really small. So I cant actually see the clip, I can only feel around for it.

To remove it, do i press the clip down, up or out?
Should it come off easily, or do I need to apply some force?
Does anyone have a picture of the clip so i can see what it looks like?
How hard is it to remove the trunk side paneling to give me a bigger workspace?

Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks!

Just replaced my GS battery this weekend. There is a lip around the top of the battery that the terminal block clips over. To remove it pull out from the bottom of the terminal block on both the long and short side then after is releases from the lip just pull up. Remember to loosen the + battery cable first. Also the video shows you how to remove the top hold down strap but there is also a hold down block on the bottom towards the rear of the car that needs to be removed. It is a very tight fit to get the battery in and out as you can see in the video. I cut the one plastic hold down clip for the main wire so I could move the terminal block further out of the way. Above the battery is a black box and I carefully broke off the long clip that sticks out, (it doesn't look like it does anything), to make more room. I did bump the fresh air vent flap behind the battery out of position while putting in the new battery but was able to snap it back into position. Not a fun job but doable. Just be careful not to break or tear any of the wiring or connectors.

 

[Bluegreen]

Just replaced my GS battery this weekend. There is a lip around the top of the battery that the terminal block clips over. To remove it pull out from the bottom of the terminal block on both the long and short side then after is releases from the lip just pull up. Remember to loosen the + battery cable first. Also the video shows you how to remove the top hold down strap but there is also a hold down block on the bottom towards the rear of the car that needs to be removed. It is a very tight fit to get the battery in and out as you can see in the video. I cut the one plastic hold down clip for the main wire so I could move the terminal block further out of the way. Above the battery is a black box and I carefully broke off the long clip that sticks out, (it doesn't look like it does anything), to make more room. I did bump the fresh air vent flap behind the battery out of position while putting in the new battery but was able to snap it back into position. Not a fun job but doable. Just be careful not to break or tear any of the wiring or connectors.

Just replaced my GS battery this weekend. There is a lip around the top of the battery that the terminal block clips over. To remove it pull out from the bottom of the terminal block on both the long and short side then after is releases from the lip just pull up. Remember to loosen the + battery cable first. Also the video shows you how to remove the top hold down strap but there is also a hold down block on the bottom towards the rear of the car that needs to be removed. It is a very tight fit to get the battery in and out as you can see in the video. I cut the one plastic hold down clip for the main wire so I could move the terminal block further out of the way. Above the battery is a black box and I carefully broke off the long clip that sticks out, (it doesn't look like it does anything), to make more room. I did bump the fresh air vent flap behind the battery out of position while putting in the new battery but was able to snap it back into position. Not a fun job but doable. Just be careful not to break or tear any of the wiring or connectors.

Awesome! Great advice. I'm going to give it another try this weekend. Thanks!

 

[Bluegreen]

Update: Just completed this job today. Yes it's more difficult than it should have been. 😅

Here's some notes for anyone who might need to tackle this job:

19wfgs's advice was on point. Read his post thoroughly before starting.

Regarding the removal of the positive post assembly. There are 2 clips. 1 on the short side and 1 on the long side.



They lock under the lip of the battery. I tried to stick a flathead screwdriver under the clip to pry it off. But the space is too tight and the clip sits too tightly against the battery. I couldn't get it in.

As 19wfg mentioned, you have to grab it on the long end and the short end and pull out.

The short end has this long piece of plastic that extends further than the clip:


Grab that piece on the short end and pull out while also pulling out on the edge of the assembly on the long end of the battery.

It takes a lot of muscle power to pull the clips off. For me, it didn't come off in 1 motion. I pulled and pulled. I first heard the clip on the long end come undone. I kept pulling and wiggling until the clip on the short end came off. I had to rest in between attempts.

Also, as mentioned by 19wfg, there is a hold down block that needs to be removed. It is located on the short side of the negative side of the battery.

It is a 13mm bolt.

Here's what it looks like taken off:



Lastly, as 19wfg mentioned, it helps to cut that big plastic clip off to make more room. It makes it a lot easier to get the new battery back in. I couldn't see a purpose for it. It seems safe to cut it off.

Here's a before and after cutting that piece of plastic off.




And that's it. The job is unnecessarily difficult for a battery change. But just go slow. Take your time. And rest between attempts. It does take some muscle power, but it is doable. I'm definitely no mechanic. So if I can do it you can too. 👍

 

[rollingtones]

Update: Just completed this job today. Yes it's more difficult than it should have been. 😅

Here's some notes for anyone who might need to tackle this job:

19wfgs's advice was on point. Read his post thoroughly before starting.

Regarding the removal of the positive post assembly. There are 2 clips. 1 on the short side and 1 on the long side.

View attachment 45394

They lock under the lip of the battery. I tried to stick a flathead screwdriver under the clip to pry it off. But the space is too tight and the clip sits too tightly against the battery. I couldn't get it in.

As 19wfg mentioned, you have to grab it on the long end and the short end and pull out.

The short end has this long piece of plastic that extends further than the clip:

View attachment 45395
Grab that piece on the short end and pull out while also pulling out on the edge of the assembly on the long end of the battery.

It takes a lot of muscle power to pull the clips off. For me, it didn't come off in 1 motion. I pulled and pulled. I first heard the clip on the long end come undone. I kept pulling and wiggling until the clip on the short end came off. I had to rest in between attempts.

Also, as mentioned by 19wfg, there is a hold down block that needs to be removed. It is located on the short side of the negative side of the battery.
View attachment 45397
It is a 13mm bolt.

Here's what it looks like taken off:
View attachment 45398


Lastly, as 19wfg mentioned, it helps to cut that big plastic clip off to make more room. It makes it a lot easier to get the new battery back in. I couldn't see a purpose for it. It seems safe to cut it off.

Here's a before and after cutting that piece of plastic off.
View attachment 45399
View attachment 45400


And that's it. The job is unnecessarily difficult for a battery change. But just go slow. Take your time. And rest between attempts. It does take some muscle power, but it is doable. I'm definitely no mechanic. So if I can do it you can too. 👍

If you use a small 90 degree pick tool, which resembles an ice pick with a 90 degree bend in it, the clips can be pulled out and then you can slide the cover straight tUP with ease.