Battery Replacement a Professional Job?!

[bad_idea]

I have a 2018 Yukon XL Denali. Wife took it in for a leaking tire. They tested her battery while they had the car - curtesy check. They said it is a bit weak. I went on to Advance Auto's site to price a replacement, and they have it listed as a 'professional only' job. I've torn a few older vehicles down to the rails and started over. I looked it up on YouTube and they guy shows swapping it out in under 5 minutes. What is the professional part?! Does it require some kind of computer wizardry?

Also, what battery are you guys running? I usually throw the cheapest one available in my cars, but this one is the wife's. I spend a good amount of time out of town, so I like to spend extra to keep her vehicle reliable.

 

[Doubeleive]

interstate AGM from costco is a good one
it doesn't require a professional but it is a little bit of a pita compared to previous generations, just more bolts and moving things around is all.

 

[OR VietVet]

Some non professionals may spark while removing cables and reinstalling cables and also use the wrong tools for the job. If you have mechanical know how, you should be fine. I agree with @Doubeleive for the Interstate AGM battery. I have it in mine and works flawless. If old battery was 5-6 years old, that is why it likely did not do well in a load test. Time for a new one and make sure cable ends are clean of corrosion when you do the job.

 

[swathdiver]

Right, short the cable onto the body and memory settings may be lost, like engine hours.

 

[Stbentoak]

At least you don't have a Jaguar like I do... When you put a new battery in it, the whole BCM/ECM has to be re coded to recognize the new battery or else it will still try to charge your new one like the old rundown one and ruin your new one in short order...500.00 at dealer...

 

[15burban]

The professional only part is them covering their arse on their free installation. Meaning they won't do it. If it's not a disconnect negative, positive, undo battery hold down, remove, and install new battery in reverse order they consider it professional only. Which I don't blame them. I wouldn't trust most parts counter people touching my vehicles.

As far as batteries go I thought I read somewhere that there's only a couple of actual battery manufacturers and everyone else just slaps they're name brand on them. I've had good luck with just the cheap Walmart batteries.

 

[Sparksalot]

The professional only part is them covering their arse on their free installation. Meaning they won't do it. If it's not a disconnect negative, positive, undo battery hold down, remove, and install new battery in reverse order they consider it professional only. Which I don't blame them. I wouldn't trust most parts counter people touching my vehicles.

As far as batteries go I thought I read somewhere that there's only a couple of actual battery manufacturers and everyone else just slaps they're name brand on them. I've had good luck with just the cheap Walmart batteries.

Especially for AGM batteries. There are three. Nose of the nose in the air brands, including Optima, make their own.

 

[OR VietVet]

Whether Interstate makes their own batteries or not, used them for years in shops I have been in with NEVER a problem.

 

[ss4chad]

I work Part Time at O'Reilly's and change these batteries and many others constantly. O'Reilly's has a disclaimer on that Vehicle (and many others) that says;
"Professional Installation Recommended"
The reason is because their are two braces that cover that battery, one (1) vertical brace and one (1) horizontal brace. The Horizontal brace attaches to the firewall and the fender and the vertical brace attached to the Horizontal Brace and the battery tray support. Sadly there are people that work at these stores, O'Reilly's, NAPA, Autozone, Advance, etc... that cross thread these attach points quite frequently. When that happens O'Reilly's has to pay to replace that nut clip in the tray or on the firewall and repair shops or the Dealers charge an ASS LOAD of money to fix that.
Or in some cases like the Acadia, Traverse and some cars, the battery is under the front passenger seat under the floorboard or a plastic cover. Some guys just rip them off and trash the cover so O'Reilly's and NAPA, Advance, etc. have to replace that part on the vehicle and most of the time, to sooth an upset customer, they will give them the battery for free as well as buying a new cover.
That get's ridiculously expensive!!

The Caveat is by having that warning in writing and disclosing that to the Customer, and they still want John Fiddlefuck mechanic to install the battery, when he screws things up or breaks them then O'Reilly's and others aren't liable for the damage. crappy yes but that's how they get out of it.

I've been turning wrenches on cars, trucks, Airplanes and Jet Engines for 40+ years. But if I don't want to change the battery in a customers car/truck because its cold or raining or I'm in the middle of watching YouTube on my phone, I will tell customers that I can't change their battery because it recommends Professional installation!

Hey, don't judge me!!

Chad

 

[Joseph Garcia]

If it were me, I'd replace both battery cables along with the installation of a new battery (cables rot from the inside out, and is hard to see before failure).

 

[Jeff_]

Battery replacements on these vehicles are not a 5 minute job. Definitely more involved than any other vehicle I own, because of how many components hook up to it and the pieces you have to move to get it in an out.
But doable in your driveway if you know how to use a wrench.

 

[bad_idea]

At least you don't have a Jaguar like I do... When you put a new battery in it, the whole BCM/ECM has to be re coded to recognize the new battery or else it will still try to charge your new one like the old rundown one and ruin your new one in short order...500.00 at dealer...

Something like that was my concern, and why I asked. This truck has more widgets and doodads than any vehicle I have ever owned. Glad to learn this one doesn't involve some sort of electronics wizardry.

 

[bad_idea]

Battery replacements on these vehicles are not a 5 minute job. Definitely more involved than any other vehicle I own, because of how many components hook up to it and the pieces you have to move to get it in an out.
But doable in your driveway if you know how to use a wrench.

I had a 2015 Ford Escape, you have to pull the wipers, cowl panel, and several other doodads to get to the battery. I had to google where the battery even was. The wiper studs aren't even splined, they are just tapered. You have to be sure to reinstall the wiper arms clocked correctly. That car was a nightmare to do anything on!

 

[K2 Kaiju]

Its a pita on these rigs - much easier on the gmt900s. After removing the braces, I had to flip it sideways to get it out, and oem doesnt have a handle to get a good grip. Its awkward and heavy - make sure you have a stepladder, a strap, and a fender cover. It also helps to not have anything "partially torn" in your shoulders...

 

[blondie70]

Wife has a '14 Escape. As mentioned above....just finding the battery was an adventure. Changing it is a real PIA. Had to print out a recipie to do it.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

My son had a MOPAR car that he had to remove the front left tire and remove the wheel well shrouding, in order to get access to the battery to slide it out through the wheel well to replace it.

 

[Tonyv__]

At least you don't have a Jaguar like I do... When you put a new battery in it, the whole BCM/ECM has to be re coded to recognize the new battery or else it will still try to charge your new one like the old rundown one and ruin your new one in short order...500.00 at dealer...

I’m fairly certain my wife’s Mercedes requires the same BS. The dealer can kiss my ass though. If the battery that I just put in outlives the warranty, I’ll be happy.

 

[Fless]

At least you don't have a Jaguar like I do... When you put a new battery in it, the whole BCM/ECM has to be re coded to recognize the new battery or else it will still try to charge your new one like the old rundown one and ruin your new one in short order...500.00 at dealer...

Seems like quite a few European cars are like this. My son was a BMW tech for a few years and spoke often about having to code batteries and coils to the vehicle after replacement. Or at least the battery replacement required some sort of re-set.

 

[Stbentoak]

I’m fairly certain my wife’s Mercedes requires the same BS. The dealer can kiss my ass though. If the battery that I just put in outlives the warranty, I’ll be happy.

Well, they went easy on me... only 444.00... Ha Ha...!

 

[CorvairGeek]

At least the replacement won't have the handle removed like the original. I was afraid I was going to have to shift the coolant tank on mine (it has been apart before). Zip tied the top assembly out of the way to get the old one out for a core.