Working on the Hawk as WE SPEAK...
Yes you can get the "bolts" at an autoparts store. They are usually an 8mm head for future reference. Get some anti-corrosion gel (they sell it in packets on the counter) and squirt some on after you tighten her back up. Rub it around and cover the exposed metal with it.
The batteries like to strip out too, so don't get them insanely tight.
Always remember. Black off first and on last. If you remove the positive (red) first, your wrench might make contact with the body or other post (which are grounded) and give you a shower of sparks. Same goes for putting them back on.
Oh and BTW - "Red's hot, black's not."
The batteries like to strip out too, so don't get them insanely tight.
Always remember. Black off first and on last. If you remove the positive (red) first, your wrench might make contact with the body or other post (which are grounded) and give you a shower of sparks. Same goes for putting them back on.
Oh and BTW - "Red's hot, black's not."
Go ahead and buy some new terminals from the auto parts store, so that u dont have trouble with electrical shortages in the future. and you might want to have a friend help you whenever you put everything back together, because i think i recall the battery being pretty important.
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,807
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver,[KITSILANO].B.C. Canada *WestCoast*
Originally Posted by BIG_MIKE2005
ok, I wouldn't work on my car alone if I couldn't figure out how to get my own battery out. Thats kinda a bad sign of lack of mechanical knowledge. Just make sure you don't mess anything else up while your at it.
Good luck
Good luck
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 589
Likes: 6
From: Dallas, TX
Originally Posted by 98SS1LWEE
Not being mean buddy, but it's time you get yourself a good mechanic and don't touch your car, in fact, find someone to wash and wax it for you. Jsut drive it if you dare
Originally Posted by 98SS1LWEE
Not being mean buddy, but it's time you get yourself a good mechanic and don't touch your car, in fact, find someone to wash and wax it for you. Jsut drive it if you dare
if you weren't being mean, what were you being?
battery dude, you need to get a haynes, chiltons, or helms manual for your car(i prefer helms) you'll need a 13mm socket with an at least 6" long extension, and like everyone said, an 8mm for the terminals. once you get the old battery out, check the tray for corrosion. if there is some, get some battery acid neutralizer or Arm & Hammer to clean it with.if that optima is new, it should have come with a new retainer, and you'll only have to reuse the retainer bolt from the old one.
Originally Posted by slowpoke96z28
if you weren't being mean, what were you being?
battery dude, you need to get a haynes, chiltons, or helms manual for your car(i prefer helms) you'll need a 13mm socket with an at least 6" long extension, and like everyone said, an 8mm for the terminals. once you get the old battery out, check the tray for corrosion. if there is some, get some battery acid neutralizer or Arm & Hammer to clean it with.if that optima is new, it should have come with a new retainer, and you'll only have to reuse the retainer bolt from the old one.
battery dude, you need to get a haynes, chiltons, or helms manual for your car(i prefer helms) you'll need a 13mm socket with an at least 6" long extension, and like everyone said, an 8mm for the terminals. once you get the old battery out, check the tray for corrosion. if there is some, get some battery acid neutralizer or Arm & Hammer to clean it with.if that optima is new, it should have come with a new retainer, and you'll only have to reuse the retainer bolt from the old one.
HONEST
But seriously, do what he says and get a haynes manual, then get the proper tools, that's your first two steps before anyhting else. If you want mechanical knowledge, make sure you can use it, so have the right tool, not shadetree channel locks, that's for plumbing!!! Get a set of sockets and socket wrench, and haynes manual. Make sure in the haynes manual you are reading on your specific car too, and good luck
Last edited by 98SS1LWEE; Jul 6, 2006 at 08:30 PM. Reason: Kinda mean
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TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville, Va
Hey not everyone can be a mechanical genius right off. I do think though you need to get a friend that has a little mechanical advice just to guide you through. I have been working on cars since the age of 12, there is still stuff I can learn, you are never through learning.
-Brandon
-Brandon
I say screw what these haters and keep wrenching. If you break something, **** happens. Be careful and READ. Getting a manual will really help.
One of my earliest memories of wrenching is sticking my arm inside a fuel cell full of methanol on a dirt track car to retrieve a rag stuck in the fuel pump pickup bung. I was small enough that my whole arm fit in there all the way to the shoulder.
One of my earliest memories of wrenching is sticking my arm inside a fuel cell full of methanol on a dirt track car to retrieve a rag stuck in the fuel pump pickup bung. I was small enough that my whole arm fit in there all the way to the shoulder.
Last edited by TheBlurLS1; Jul 7, 2006 at 01:07 AM.
yea, i just posted in here to make sure. I have never done anything mechanical in my life. However I do know how to drive it. and quite well.
But yea, everyone has to start somewhere. No one is automatically mechanical genious.
Thanks to the ppl that helped me out on this one..
But yea, everyone has to start somewhere. No one is automatically mechanical genious.
Thanks to the ppl that helped me out on this one..
You are probably already done but the tab i was talking about is the one on the opposite side of the one that has a bolt. It is the molded piece that is stationary. I guess if you dropped a battery in there kinda hard right on it you could break it. When i called a few dealerships about the part they all asked if the battery acid had been leaking and if that was why i was replacing the overfow container so i guess it is a good idea to make sure no battery acid is present.
Originally Posted by 98SS1LWEE
HONEST
But seriously, do what he says and get a haynes manual, then get the proper tools, that's your first two steps before anyhting else. If you want mechanical knowledge, make sure you can use it, so have the right tool, not shadetree channel locks, that's for plumbing!!! Get a set of sockets and socket wrench, and haynes manual. Make sure in the haynes manual you are reading on your specific car too, and good luck
But seriously, do what he says and get a haynes manual, then get the proper tools, that's your first two steps before anyhting else. If you want mechanical knowledge, make sure you can use it, so have the right tool, not shadetree channel locks, that's for plumbing!!! Get a set of sockets and socket wrench, and haynes manual. Make sure in the haynes manual you are reading on your specific car too, and good luck
you should learn about what your talking about before you go and run your mouth...channel lock is a company, not a name of a tool, that makes all types of tools...i believe most of the bolts on your firebird are metric so do go out and buy some sockets...isnt shadetree mechanics an auto show on tv?
Sorry i'm too high speed for you too, but i already told the guy what he needed to know, and you must not know anyhitng either or you wouldn't take up for someone who doesn't need it. This guy is doing fine on his own, he knows what to get he knows how to handle the problem now. You're spinning your wheels and for what??? To try and belittle me??? Well, you forget i don't care what you think personally, i am looking to help someone out on here, and this guy never said he wanted his car broken or messed up by his ignorance, therefore, if i didn't know something, i would definitely post up and be honest baout it, not try and rag someone cause they have mechanic's terms for tools like channel locks or vice grips, or shadetree. If you were to do that, it would show you are jsut making fun of someone's terminology, and that's just computer geek sad. So good luck to the guy who cares abotu his ride and will take constructive criticism if it keeps him from screwing himself, and to boondick...Sorry you already screwed up and broke somehting trying to figure it out yourself