mshultz
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2019
- Messages
- 242
- Reaction score
- 29
- Points
- 28
- Buick Ownership
- 2019 Encore Essence AWD
This is not your typical battery problem post. I had been keeping a close eye on my 6.5 year old AGM battery (Direct Injection engine with Auto Stop/Start). When the backup camera flickered on a cold day, and I had trouble getting the odometer to display with the engine off, I decided to replace it. GM no longer offers an OEM replacement battery, so I went to an auto parts store and bought the best Size 48 AGM Diehard. The positive post clamp would not lift up high enough to clear the battery post, so I removed another bolt (Whether this problem is specific to my Encore, I do not know).
I had forgotten that 6.5 years ago when I installed anti-corrosion felt pads, that removing the bolt allows the terminal connector to fall off. I should have put a laminated tag on the assembly to remind my future self. This time I was not as lucky. The part fell into the engine bay, and I was unable to locate it. Removing the battery tray would be a major project, and removing the left front tire did not help. I gave up and called the local Chevrolet dealer (I am not a customer). I was informed that this part was not individually available; it would require replacing the positive battery harness. I asked for a recommendation on a towing company, had the Buick towed in, and told them I'd pay the extra $50 for next day part delivery. All this happened on Wednesday morning.
Thursday morning, the dealership called me back, and said that he had been able to save me a lot of money. I thought that they found the missing part, and that I would have to pay for next day delivery, plus a restocking fee. Instead he said my Buick was ready for pickup. It turns out that they had a Buick Encore on the lot that was destined for the junkyard. He got upper management approval for the technician to remove the needed part from the junk Buick and use it to fix my Buick. I only had to pay for the technician's time. I thought about walking to the dealership, but it's a 5 mile walk, much of it without sidewalks, and crosses a few busy streets, so I called a taxi instead. Remarkably, Wooster still has taxi service, along with a subsidized bus service.
The end result is that a $285 battery replacement ended up costing me $645. However, I was only reduced to pedestrian status for one day, and am grateful at how it turned out.
I had forgotten that 6.5 years ago when I installed anti-corrosion felt pads, that removing the bolt allows the terminal connector to fall off. I should have put a laminated tag on the assembly to remind my future self. This time I was not as lucky. The part fell into the engine bay, and I was unable to locate it. Removing the battery tray would be a major project, and removing the left front tire did not help. I gave up and called the local Chevrolet dealer (I am not a customer). I was informed that this part was not individually available; it would require replacing the positive battery harness. I asked for a recommendation on a towing company, had the Buick towed in, and told them I'd pay the extra $50 for next day part delivery. All this happened on Wednesday morning.
Thursday morning, the dealership called me back, and said that he had been able to save me a lot of money. I thought that they found the missing part, and that I would have to pay for next day delivery, plus a restocking fee. Instead he said my Buick was ready for pickup. It turns out that they had a Buick Encore on the lot that was destined for the junkyard. He got upper management approval for the technician to remove the needed part from the junk Buick and use it to fix my Buick. I only had to pay for the technician's time. I thought about walking to the dealership, but it's a 5 mile walk, much of it without sidewalks, and crosses a few busy streets, so I called a taxi instead. Remarkably, Wooster still has taxi service, along with a subsidized bus service.
The end result is that a $285 battery replacement ended up costing me $645. However, I was only reduced to pedestrian status for one day, and am grateful at how it turned out.
