You can get into a sealed battery, although I've never opened one of the Delco units used in the HHR, its not something I really advise...you can get splashed with battery acid and possibly injured.

As to charging the battery out of the vehicle, that was something I was taught to do by an old mechanic many years ago. When you're unsure of a battery and its deeply discharged with a possible internal short, always remove it from the vehicle in order to prevent damage if the battery should explode or vent acid violently.

 

when working on your battery DO NOT do it the car, I was in the Industrial battery industry foe a little over 21 years with the 2 major battery companies, I questiond one of the Engrs. in the auto batteries what is the major thing about maintenace free batteries, he stated they put 5 years of water but in diffrent climates very hot or very cold, if you look at the warranty and pro rate it always in favor of the MFG. there is no free lunch.

 

Well, after one day, no issues on my HHR with the new battery. Next: Replace Struts and Strut mounts.

Thanks for all your comments!

 

"It´s alive!"

Excelente Juan, me alegra escuchar las buenas noticias!

 

Batteries generally have a 4-5 year life expectancy depending on how you treat them. I have seen them go at 1 and last for 8..

 

Yes, I know this is and older thread, but for the record:

Batteries are fairly cheap. It's -30 degrees celcius (that's freaking cold for you non-metric guys) here in Calgary right now (4-5 days straight total). My 09 isn't holding enough charge to crank in this temperature which is a pretty big issue if you live in Calgary or similar climate (freeze to death in the middle of nowhere!). Jumped it yesterday and let it charge for an hour. Remote started it a couple times with 4 hours cool down between just fine. This morning - same thing - cranks over once if I'm lucky (as yes - block heater was hooked up all night). I also have a fairly decent stereo (big sub) and have ran quite a few deep cycles on the stock battery - never helps. I have a 04 VW Jetta that has a new battery - cranking strong and starting fine in this temp. Decided the HHR should be doing at least as good as the old crout rocket, so I picked up a new battery from Canadian Tire today (Motomaster brand). I'll let you know the difference in cranking I get tomorrow morning, but I bet she'll be fine. Tomorrow is the last wake-up to this temp hopefully for a while, but it could come back any time. Having a baby soon and can't have the wife stranded while I'm at work for something that costs $100 to fix properly.

But yes - admittedly I am extraordinarily hard on batteries. Totally worth it, though!

Hoping my hands don't break off doing something like this in this weather!

PS: Even have sythetic oil in since it was new (always optimizes starting hopes in this weather).

 

In our '96 LHS I have the original Mo-par battery. It used to be a sealed maintenance free battery but around 2003 I drilled holes in the top so I could top off the cells with fresh water. The car was still starting fine but I was concerned that the battery was so old and had never been topped up.

I also added some stuff called VX-6 to each cell. I had a box of the stuff in the garage since the late 70's and thought “What the heck, the battery is way out of warranty anyway so might as well try it” to be frank I am surprised it still works so well.

You can find the 'vintage' stuff on eBay or you can get the newer stuff called 'Charge It' either on eBay or Amazon, there may be other places to obtain it too, its a cadmium additive.

I don't really know if it will work with your battery but it is available and fairly cheap.

 

In the late '60's I started working at my neighbors body and radiator shop. One of the things we did fairly regularly was rebuild batteries. In those days there was a groove around the top of the battery you could dig the tar soaked 'punk' out of and remove the battery top.

You had to drain the acid out of the battery then take the top off. Once the top was off you would gather up the lead and remelt it then cast it into new plates.

The plate separators we used were made of a sort of corrugated plastic that had holes in it. We bought it in large rolls in the day then cut it to the size needed.

Once the new plates were in place and soldered together it was time to put the acid back in, we would filter the acid through several 'milk pads' then let it settle for several days and draw the acid off the top so we only got clean acid. We also bought bulk jugs of new electrolyte to add to the refurbished batteries.

Since we heated the shop with wood back then it was cheap for us to melt the lead, at least in the winter. We already had the molds for casting new plates and could adjust the size as needed.

Once a battery was fixed we would put a set of headlights on it to totally kill it then charge it in reverse then kill it again and recharge it the right way. My neighbor said that was to get some lead oxide going in the electrolyte which was supposed to help it maintain its charge.

Most of the batteries we rebuilt lasted as long as any new battery and some lasted longer, it all depended on the owner and how well he took care of it I guess.

 

has anyone noticed you can't get the key out of the ign..when the battery is dead,,,you can turn it to try and start it but you can't turn back to pull it out

 

hook up a battery tender under the hood, for those extreme temp nights..