Ratchet advice required.

[Dustydog]

As we used to say "Read the ******* handbook", then these days even that basic skill passes many by.

Show him the tangentially placed cold chisel technique

Once he’s mastered the use of the Bypass Modulator Valve he can look at This You Tube video

 

[Buckman]

A torque wrench, to undo the battery terminals?
If you are unsure of the size then buy a small adjustable spanner!!
The nuts will not be that tight. But as other have said you are clearly not confident, or indeed competent so maybe this job is best left to someone who knows what to do? (A friend or neighbour?)
Have you looked on you tube for "How to undo a nut"?

The issue is nothing to do with competence as I have changed plenty of batteries myself. The most recent change was the battery on our Corolla.

The aux battery in the Jeep needs the correct tools to be able to use to remove the battery and nothing to do with competence. It is accessing the bolt or the nut that is holding the strap that keeps the aux battery in place that is an issue. You cannot use a spanner and need a small ratchet with an extension bar.

I do not want to waste money buying a full socket set with ratchet only to find that the ext bar is not long enough. What is the point in buying sockets when you already have a good quality socket set, but minus a 150mm or more ext bar.

I was asking for advice on the correct size of ratchet for my existing socket set and not whether I am competent or not.

 

[Dustydog]

A cheap set of old fashioned box spanners would do the job. Looking at the You Tube Video there’s nothing special in the tools he uses

 

[Buckman]

A cheap set of old fashioned box spanners would do the job. Looking at the You Tube Video there’s nothing special in the tools he uses

The terminals on the battery are not an issue, it is the retaining nut for the strap that is the issue for me as difficult to access without the correct tools.

Due to issue with hands plus arthritis, the ratchet is easier for me to hold than a normal spanner or even box spanner. Can I assume that the 1/2 inch would be suitable for my current socket set? In metric it looks to be about 14/14mm.

 

[otherclive]

The terminals on the battery are not an issue, it is the retaining nut for the strap that is the issue for me as difficult to access without the correct tools.

Due to issue with hands plus arthritis, the ratchet is easier for me to hold than a normal spanner or even box spanner. Can I assume that the 1/2 inch would be suitable for my current socket set? In metric it looks to be about 14/14mm.

0.5 inch is 12.5mm so you are in the right ballpark. You can get adapters to go between 1/2 to 3/8 or 1/4 if that gives better accessibility. Halfords sell them as do many other outlets.

Draper Expert Socket Converter Set

Manufactured from chrome vanadium steel, hardened and tempered with a polished finish. Sizes: 3/8'' (F) x ¼'' (M), ½'' (F) x 3/8'' (M) and 3/8'' (F) x ½'' (M).

www.toolstation.com

 

[Mel]

No you don't know. I am surprised The Prof hasn't jumped in.

That’s a point Hutch. Thinking about it, the Prof has been very quiet on this forum lately. Anyone know if he is OK?
Mel

 

[JTQ]

Buy yourself an extension bar LIKE THIS IF QUICK

Clumsy for this task but usable with what you have.

 

[Beardy]

A cheap set of old fashioned box spanners would do the job. Looking at the You Tube Video there’s nothing special in the tools he uses

Looks like something like this would be the cheapest option, but without seeing the job it's impossible to determine whether there is adequate access.

 

[JTQ]

Using a box spanner for the securing strap washer-nut gets over the need for having a "deep" type socket to accommodate the stud's extensions.

 

[Buckman]

0.5 inch is 12.5mm so you are in the right ballpark. You can get adapters to go between 1/2 to 3/8 or 1/4 if that gives better accessibility. Halfords sell them as do many other outlets.

Draper Expert Socket Converter Set

Manufactured from chrome vanadium steel, hardened and tempered with a polished finish. Sizes: 3/8'' (F) x ¼'' (M), ½'' (F) x 3/8'' (M) and 3/8'' (F) x ½'' (M).

www.toolstation.com

Thanks OC that is the confirmation i was hoping to get. Not too much of an issue using tools, but don't want to order the incorrect one only to return it.

 

[Buckman]

Buy yourself an extension bar LIKE THIS IF QUICK

Clumsy for this task but usable with what you have.

Thanks but looks to be a bit too long and could snag the seat?

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks but looks to be a bit too long and could snag the seat?

May be at our ages although the spirit is willing the flesh isn’t quite as flexible as it was😉.
Sometimes what looks simple and something you may have done 20 years ago takes on a different image. These days we use GSI. Get Someone In.

Surely there’s a young lad or lass locally who could do it for you for a beer? Have you asked one of them who may do “moonlighting”when not at one of the tyre exhaust places😉🤪

 

[JTQ]

Is it a case where the physical issues with the spanner fade into insignificance relative to potential issues with the CANBUS?
Or is JEEP one of the brands that look after that DIY issue?

 

[Buckman]

May be at our ages although the spirit is willing the flesh isn’t quite as flexible as it was😉.
Sometimes what looks simple and something you may have done 20 years ago takes on a different image. These days we use GSI. Get Someone In.

Surely there’s a young lad or lass locally who could do it for you for a beer? Have you asked one of them who may do “moonlighting”when not at one of the tyre exhaust places😉🤪

Being macho I am hoping to do it myself however there have been the odd occasion that a ratchet would have been handy for a small job. Never been one to impose on people to do stuff for us unless we are paying them.

 

[Buckman]

Is it a case where the physical issues with the spanner fade into insignificance relative to potential issues with the CANBUS?
Or is JEEP one of the brands that look after that DIY issue?

Not too sure what you are asking. The battery is under the driver's seat and the issue is accessing the retaining nut for the strap that holds the battery in place. t is a well hence the need for an ext at least 150mm long, but not more than 200mm in length.

 

[JTQ]

Not too sure what you are asking.

Whilst JEEP might not be similarly affected, changing either of my Disco 4's batteries, starter or stop/start, then requires the car's "brain" to be told about them.

The main starter battery could be done through a special routine using one of the front window winders, the AA man thankfully knew the details.

The stop/start battery coding I had to take to my friendly indy who did that using his plug in digital tool.

Changing modern car batteries can be more involved than a physical swap out.
Our Golf Mk 7 fortunately self codes after a short drive.

 

[Hutch]

That’s a point Hutch. Thinking about it, the Prof has been very quiet on this forum lately. Anyone know if he is OK?
Mel

Probably like myself, I gave PC forum a couple of weeks miss, to calm down from people getting their underpants in a twist.
But back in form again.

 

[Buckman]

Whilst JEEP might not be similarly affected, changing either of my Disco 4's batteries, starter or stop/start, then requires the car's "brain" to be told about them.

The main starter battery could be done through a special routine using one of the front window winders, the AA man thankfully knew the details.

The stop/start battery coding I had to take to my friendly indy who did that using his plug in digital tool.

Changing modern car batteries can be more involved than a physical swap out.
Our Golf Mk 7 fortunately self codes after a short drive.

Not sure about ours, but you are correct about earlier models. If message comes up, I need to leave the negative terminal off for about 30 minutes for it to reset.