Midnight_Rider's progress log

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:05 am

Midnight_Rider wrote:Guess what here did? After I washed the car and parked it for the winter last Thursday, I must have left the trunk ajar... the battery is now dead. EJ, NickKo, rtsrt4- please refresh my memory and tell me what size rachet I'll need to remove the lock from the battery tray (going to take the battery to the dealership for a charge).

10mm on the terminals and 13mm on the lock on the back. you'll need a minimum of a 6" extension to get back in there

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:42 am

thomas_w wrote:Since you park the car for longer periods of time it may be worthwhile to buy a battery charger to charge it yourself from a 110V outlet. They are not expensive.

Yeah, I've been planning to get one for a long time but just hadn't gotten around to it. I want to take the battery to the dealership to make sure that it will still hold a charge as the battery is still under warranty.

Hudson_Neon wrote:10mm on the terminals and 13mm on the lock on the back. you'll need a minimum of a 6" extension to get back in there

Thanks, I knew that I could count on you. Guess that I get to go tool shopping now!

EDIT to correct spelling error.

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 2:51 pm

thomas_w wrote:Since you park the car for longer periods of time it may be worthwhile to buy a Battery Tender to Maintain charge from a 110V outlet. They are not expensive.

Fixed.

A tender will also recharge a dead battery, might take a while, but the slower the better.

theColonel · Post by **theColonel** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:58 pm

thomas_w wrote:Since you park the car for longer periods of time it may be worthwhile to buy a battery charger to charge it yourself from a 110V outlet. They are not expensive.

AutoZone stores in New Orleans will charge car batteries and test rhem for free ... it doesn't have to be a battery purchased from them to get this free service.

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:22 pm

It would not be Mopar amperes filling that Mopar battery. Each little ampere must have an "M" stamped upon it.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 1:07 am

occasional demons wrote:It would not be Mopar amperes filling that Mopar battery. Each little ampere must have an "M" stamped upon it.

Sad but true. The hard part will be trying to find American-made tools to purchase so that I can remove the battery to take it to the dealership.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 4:22 am

for all you know, it's chinese tools taking out your battery!!!

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 8:07 am

Hudson_Neon wrote:for all you know, it's chinese tools taking out your battery!!!

You're referring to chipdogg's tools? Could be, but I didn't buy his.

ianguilly · Post by **ianguilly** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 10:23 am

Midnight_Rider wrote:
occasional demons wrote:It would not be Mopar amperes filling that Mopar battery. Each little ampere must have an "M" stamped upon it.
The hard part will be trying to find American-made tools to purchase so that I can remove the battery to take it to the dealership.

Craftman might have some American tools left. Menards sells alot of american made tools. Or there is always tool trucks.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 11:39 am

Midnight_Rider wrote:
Hudson_Neon wrote:for all you know, it's chinese tools taking out your battery!!!
You're referring to chipdogg's tools? Could be, but I didn't buy his.

no, his were nice. i'm talking about the ones at the dealership... there are plenty of tools in the shops i've worked in that weren't made in 'Murca

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 1:24 pm

ianguilly wrote:Craftman might have some American tools left. Menards sells alot of american made tools. Or there is always tool trucks.

I was surprised at the number of negative comments on the Sears website from dissatisfied customers due to Craftsman tools being Chinese-made and their lack of quality compared to the older Amercian-made ones. I know from experience that I'll have to visit a Sears store to look at the tools to see their origin rather than just buying them online.

I also looked at the Snap On website but, since I don't have a shop where one of their franchisees could pay me a visit, my only option there is an online, sight unseen purchase. I'll check Menards.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:50 pm

I just realized that I'm going to have to remove the new strut brace to get the battery out.

Maybe I should just buy a trickle charger instead.

ckrock946 · Post by **ckrock946** » Sat Nov 09, 2013 10:20 pm

You could just get rid of the strut brace... I'll pm u my address, let me know when it ships

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:46 am

After what I went through to get the brace (not to mention the help I got in installing it), I think that I'll keep it. The Ebay seller where I got mine still has nine available.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/P4510874-New-OE ... 22&vxp=mtr

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:18 am

October loan for parts will be paid off this payday.

Now to get the parts installed before Carlisle (and possibly buy more?

).

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 7:51 am

hey gramps, could you get a shot of the rear strut bar where it attaches to the strut tower? i'm curious to see how they trimmed the carpet to install it.

i also recommend getting a trickle charger, it'll come in handy since you park your car every winter.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:16 am

rtsrt4 helped me figure out where to cut the

carpet

and insulation- there really isn't a standard way to do it, it's more of how you think they should be cut. He completely removed some of those materials in his SRT but I wanted to just make a small slit that wouldn't be very noticeable. Be careful with the box cutter so that you don't cut yourself like butterfingers here did.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:21 pm

i already did mine, i just wanted to see how yours was done. i made small rectangular holes in mine too. i dont like it when ppl hack a huge hole in theirs

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:24 pm

OIC. So you were more careful than I was! My goal was to save as much of the carpet and insulation as possible. After I replied to your request for a pic this morning, I got to thinking that maybe the flash on my camera would provide enough light if you still would like a photo.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:11 pm

it probably would work (your camera), and yes if you dont mind gramps, pics always tell the full story

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:29 am

Sorry, I completely forgot about taking pics. I'll try to get them posted before the weekend is over.

I will be going to Sears on Sunday to buy tools-
What size wrench will I need for the nuts on the front strut tower bolts? I need to remove the strut bar to get the battery out.

ckrock946 · Post by **ckrock946** » Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:00 am

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think its 13mm but someone else should confirm that, it's been a few months

redneckmoparman · Post by **redneckmoparman** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 2:33 am

factory strut nuts are a 13mm i know aftermarket like bc is different though

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 5:24 pm

Gramps should still have all factory nuts. And yes 13mm

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:19 pm

r/tguy02 wrote:Gramps should still have all factory nuts. And yes 13mm

im so mature gramps has OEM nuts.....lol

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:47 am

Fuzzyneon wrote:
r/tguy02 wrote:Gramps should still have all factory nuts. And yes 13mm
im so mature gramps has OEM nuts.....lol

Yup, Mopar all the way.

Went to Sears today and bought a 154 piece metric tool set, American-made and under $40 with rewards points.

I did have to buy a separate, Chinese-made 6" extension since one didn't come with the tool set.

Eager to get the battery removed and then to the dealership pronto. I also have some parts there waiting to be picked up.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:03 am

we're turning gramps into a DIYer

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:33 pm

Battery charged at dealership but will still need to be replaced. It did have enough juice to start the car though! $\:D/$

gtxtreme19 · Post by **gtxtreme19** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:47 pm

Why not have it replaced before you left? Is that not a warranty item?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:14 pm

IIRC, the warranty ran out last summer.