Ok, so my battery is dead, needs to be replaced. At the risk of sounding like a complete moron, what in the devil holds it in place? Please tell me I am not going to have to get at it from underneath somehow, as the car is sitting in about 3 inches of mud at the moment.
Stumped in Arkansas

On my SDL (and I think the SD is the same) there is a plate that is bolted to the 'front' of the battery base that holds it in place. You will need a socket extension to reach it from above. Once undone, the battery can be slid forward slightly to clear the retaining lip at the rear of the battery shelf and then lifted out.

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1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

I second Dervman.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

I wonder if the sd is different. The windsheild washer fluid container is so close the battery on the front that I doubt a socket will even get in there, let alone see anything. Its no more than a 1/4 inch clearance.

You need to lift the washer fluid container up, nothing is holding it down.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thank you much Hattersguy. Never dawned on me that the washer fluid container was just sitting loose. I really had a horrid vision of having to get at it from underneath. Now to go get a new battery....

Bruce,

Get your new battery at AutoZone: Great battery, low price, long nationwide warranty with just your phone number based on the purchase price.

P E H

PEH knows what he's talking about.

Just ask for a group 49 battery so you can avoid that year/make/model crap. They should know exactly what it is when you bring it in, cause there are no other batteries that look like it.

I second that notion.

I too got my battery at Autozone, 1000 cold cranking amps.. (which is about the amount that the start sucks)

I think it was around 50$

On my 85 SD There wasnt anything holding it in place, I just took off the terminals and took it out. I do not think this is how it is supposed to be. The windshield washer fluid container was also unattached.

Not good! The misconception is that it won't go far enough to short against anything. But what if the case cracks! What a mess! It would be a good idea to install the proper clamps.

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

gee maybe you have to get rid of the car and find one with a good battery....

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

And DOn't buy a Exide battery..............they go out of their way to not cover a warranty.....My 80 month battery in my W116 died 8 months into its life.....took screaming at 5 different distributers before one would replace it.....with a 75 month one......not a 1 for 1 replacement but next one will be anything BUT Exide.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Too late. I bought my battery from a local batterry shop that I have been buying from for a number of years. They cost more, but in my expeirience have a better product, and absolutely no warranty hassles. Know them well, local guys been there for years, I would rather give them my money than autozone.

Just a side note, you might want to make sure your Alt. is charging right, a bad Alt. will make a good battery go dead. Just a tip.

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-Randy Wakefield

1969 220D 4 speed (parts car)
1976 280C
1976 280S
1981 240D 4 speed (parts car)
1982 300D
1983 300TD (Ivory)
1983 300TD (gold)
1985 300TD (gray)
1987 190D 2.5
1970 280SEL (sold)
1977 240D 4 speed (sold)
1974 280 (rusted to death)
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1927 Chevy 4 door sedan
1938 Chevy 2 door sedan
1950 Willys Jeepster
1955 Studebaker President 4 door
1977 Ford F250
1979 Glastron 17'
1948 John Deere A
1960 John Deere 2010
1979 Satoh S650G
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2000 Bichon (Doby)