Does anyone do a mobile car battery replacement? [Very old thread]

[Incinerator]

If you really don't want to do it just ask around your block and see if any of your neighbours are AMA members, offer them a beer or two to come over and wait for the AMA truck on the weekend while you watch the Super Bowl. Chances are one of your neighbours will be an AMA member.

[kipperfan]

Yes, I am bumping this 6 year old thread…

Anyways I too am now wondering about mobile battery replacement and specifically, the service offered by AMA. I am not an AMA member, but on their web page they seem to indicate that they offer this service for both members and non members, as once you enter in your vehicle info it gives you the proper battery type, and then both and member and non member price. With that said, it is fairly unclear and I can't find any other reference anywhere on the web indicating non members might be able to take advantage of this service.

I tried to simply call their roadside assistance # and ask, but was on hold for quite a while and gave up as they're likely pretty busy today. If anyone knows first hand and would like to let me know, that would be swell.

[DownhillGoat]

No idea about the non-member service. My buddy had CAA out to replace his, but he was already a member. Would it not be like towing, where they give you the option to buy a membership at the same day?

LOL what's the charge for non-members? I've got a 4x4, there's a Canadian Tire real close and I'm off for the day.

[kipperfan]

The charge for non members for my battery type is allegedly $145.00, which seems to me to be a very competitive price considering I don't have to try and change a battery in -25 weather. I probably could buy the membership at the same time, but don't honestly see a huge need for it going forward (I have honda roadside assistance) and with the cost of the membership + the service it's no longer a good deal.

Edit: AMA also doesn't specify the brand of battery they sell, so it might be a piece of junk, considering the cost it can't be top of the line that's for sure.

[ken0042]

Just thinking- would today be a good day to call AMA? I'm thinking they would be quite busy, and I'm not sure what priority they would give to a non-member call.

Is the car running? Can you get a battery at Canadian Tire, then go into a heated parkade and replace it?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Edit: AMA also doesn't specify the brand of battery they sell, so it might be a piece of junk, considering the cost it can't be top of the line that's for sure.

It wasn't an Optima or anything but IIRC my buddy got an okay battery. It ran fine in his truck for the next 4 years until he sold it.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Just thinking- would today be a good day to call AMA? I'm thinking they would be quite busy, and I'm not sure what priority they would give to a non-member call.

Is the car running? Can you get a battery at Canadian Tire, then go into a heated parkade and replace it?

I guess I could do that, but with all the trouble of finding someone to boost me and then finding the parkade and then paying to park there…might as well just find a good pair of gloves and do it in my parking spot here at home, if that's what it comes down to.

[Shawnski]

Photon, what year, make and model is it? I will go next door and check AllData to see if there is anything you need know.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Shawnski

Photon, what year, make and model is it? I will go next door and check AllData to see if there is anything you need know.

Check when Photon made that post, I'm guessing his issue is resolved.

[photon]

Still have the same car though

[Shawnski]

LOL, bloody necro thread.... carry on...

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by photon

Still have the same car though

Almost time for a pro-active battery replacement then!

[calf]

For AMA to come by for a battery replacement, if you're in an unheated garage, out in the open, etc, it has to be above -10 or they won't come.

[Shaggin Wagon]

I tried to use the AMA service last year. The truck that came out didn't even have a battery. I had specified that is why I wanted them out. The driver said even if they had one, he wouldn't do it because of the model of vehicle (Saturn SL1). I had to call AMA back and get them to take the service call off the books and changed it myself. It took me a while but I did it.

Edit: I would PM Kunkstyle and try to lowball him into doing it.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Shaggin Wagon

Edit: I would PM Kunkstyle and try to lowball him into doing it.

Ha! Better hurry, I'm almost off the clock and about to tie into a nice bottle of Irish Whiskey I just picked up.

[Titan]

OOH!! A couple of drunk idiots changing a battery!!

Internet GOLD Jerry!!

Be sure to hold the camera horizontally though!

[Titan]

Disclaimer: I do not know Kunkstyle nor am I in a position to judge his "idiot" capacity. Merely a drive by quip in a five year old thread.

Carry on with your normal programming.

[kipperfan]

So, I'm back again, apparently I should have taken kunkstyle up on his offer...

I went out and got myself a new battery and was all set last night to change it out, I'd never replaced a battery but watched a few youtube videos (including one done with my exact model and year of car) and thus felt pretty confident that it would be an easy job. Well, it wasn't.

I disconnected the negative and postive terminals, no issue there. But it was at this point that I realized that my battery setup was not the same as the one in the video (I have a 2010 Civic Si for reference) because in the video (and in every under hood civic pic I have ever seen) there is only a single cable running to the positive terminal (see the video for reference) and there is enough slack in the cable to move it out of the way of the battery so it can be removed after the plate holding it down is removed. On my car, I have two cables running to the positive terminal and even after removing both terminals and attempting to wiggle the cable every way possible there is no feasible way it will ever be out of the way of the battery....meaning I am missing something here.

To expand a bit further, I had a car audio system installed in the vehicle shortly after purchasing it and have a feeling this 2nd cable is related to powering the amp as there is a "Tsunami" thingy attached to the battery cable which appears to be some kind of amp regulator or some such thing.

I spent most of last night and this morning on google and can't seem to find a single person who has run into this issue, which again makes me think I am missing something fairly basic. if nobody is able to help based off this description I will take a pic this afternoon when I get home to try and help illistrate the issues I'm having.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Edit: here is the video if any wants to watch it for reference: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gOVT2Xnpic

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

To expand a bit further, I had a car audio system installed in the vehicle shortly after purchasing it and have a feeling this 2nd cable is related to powering the amp as there is a "Tsunami" thingy attached to the battery cable which appears to be some kind of amp regulator or some such thing.

It may be some sort of regulator, or more likely some sort of fuse for your amp. Yes, often installers connect the amp directly to the battery to help reduce the amount of background noise the alternator can create.

I'd say take a picture. I have swapped batteries with extra accessories connected to the battery, and have never had an issue removing both cables.

[Sliver]

Where are you and where is the car? Maybe somebody close by can stop over.