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Chassis batteries

Yahoo Message Number: 12565
The chassis batteries have failed. I am not surprised, While it is a 2009 Seneca Duramax, it is built on a 2008chassis, so the batteries 5+ years old.

I have replaced the coach batteries on a couple of previous RV's, as well as the Freightliner chassis batteries on our Fleetwood Expedition, so doing the replacement myself is not particularly scary, but then I am blissfully ignorant about the job.

When the GMC service center was dong some previous work under warranty, it appeared to me that the procedure for getting to the batteries must begin with "Remove the passenger step". They had the step off and I could see the batteries sitting in their tray.

Does anyone have any experience with doing this job yourself that you could share? The cost to let the service center do it vs. doing it myself and purchasing the batteries for less than the service center would charge? Labor worth it?

Thanks for any insight.

Re: Chassis batteries

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12567
i pulled the step and the batteries out along side the freeway one day trying to reset the brake alarm that was going off. (learned how to fix that on this site). took about 15 minutes so i think you could probably do it yourself. just the weight of the batteries might be an issue lifting them out and in.

mark
2006 seneca 34SS
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Re: Chassis batteries

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12568
I changed mine out this year and it's no big deal. I think it was an
18mm bolt on each side of the step and then it just slides down and out.
It won't fall off or anything like that.

Greg

Re: Chassis batteries

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12569
Here are a couple of pictures that show where the bolts are that allow step and batteries to slide out for maintenance and removal.
[URL=http://s35.photobucket.com/user/ronjhall/media/GS%202004%20Endura%206340/batterybox1.gif.html][IMG]http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/ronjhall/GS%202004%20Endura%206340/batterybox1.gif[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s35.photobucket.com/user/ronjhall/media/GS%202004%20Endura%206340/batterybox.gif.html][IMG]http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/ronjhall/GS%202004%20Endura%206340/batterybox.gif[/IMG][/URL]
Best
Ron Hall

Re: Chassis batteries

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12571
Even though it is pretty simple, snap a pic with your phone of the cable connections. I didn't change mine but I took them out and had them tested/charged at the auto parts store after they went dead. Obviously, it turned out they were still good.

Removal and reinstall was easy enough. Just don't throw your back out and you'll be fine!

Re: Chassis batteries

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12572
I just had mine done a few weeks ago. I could not believe it lasted this long, and neither could the dealer. It is a 2005 (on a '04 chassis), original battery. I was in a hurry, and it was raining, so I just took it down to the GM dealer. Luckily I live just a couple of blocks from a Chevy Medium Duty dealership. They had me in and out in 40 minutes. The process for pulling out the tray looked simple enough. They only charged me something like 32 bucks to do it.
Good luck,
Biill