Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Battery removal

Can anyone tell me how to remove the battery from my 1998 long door 4/4.

The car does not have a removable panel in the heel board behind the driver's seat and has telescopic shock absorbers with the associated tube across the top of the rear axle. So it would appear that the battery must lowered downwards to remove it but how?
The battery appears to be clamped to a tray by two long bolts at the sides of the battery.
I presume that somehow I have to lower the tray (complete with battery) down from the car
Looking from above there is a long bolt at the rear of the tray up to and through the cross tube - this appears to support the rear of the tray. If I slacken this off nothing much seems to happen. How is the front of the tray fixed to the car?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Geoff

Hi Geoff
I have changed batteries in my Plus 8 from above.
First step is to remove and isolate the negative connector (plastic bag)
Then remove the positive. I normally remove the guard caps from the new battery and put on the old one whilst removing it and of course refit to new prior to transition.
Undo the 10mm from memory battery retaining clamp bolts and remove battery by moving slightly towards rear of car clear of hoop and Bob’s your uncle.
If you have any doubts about your back don’t risk it although the battery is not heavy the angles exerted on your spine are.

Good luck

on a 93 +4 after removing the terminal connectors Neg first, the two bolts holding the clamp are undone and the clamp bar removed, the battery is then slid off the tray and lowered to to the floor, the car is then jacked up to enable the battery to be slid out. replacement is in reverse, new battery must be placed correctly before vehicle is lowered. On some cars it is not possible to remove battery from above. Hope that helps Geoff.

That is how I did it on my 97 +4 it wouldn't come out upwards.
But please use axle stands to secure the car before getting your arms inside it.

Excellent bit of extra safety advice from JohnV6 there Geoff, there is another general issue with Morgan info, I have found over the years that excellent advice is available for all models, however apart from variations in different models there is also significant differences in the same models in different years, even months apart sometimes so while advice is given with the best intentions I would think the most accurate info is from an owner with the same model /year hopefully.
Whether this is relevant to newer models I have no idea, but would not be surprised as cars get more complex.

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It's a bit of a faff having to work from top and bottom, and I must admit that whereas the last time i changed the battery, I did it myself, this time Anthony at BHM did it for me for a very reasonable price. My excuse is advancing age, stiffening joints and lack of a 4 post jack!

yes it is a faff Alistair but you only need front chocks and just jack up the rear on to axle stands to give enough clearance to slide out the battery, understand the age thing though.

Just a thought but whilst battery removed is it possible to cut a rectangular hole in the back board to allow easy replacement then cover hole with aluminium panel as with later cars 🤔

its a thought but I suspect from memory my passenger seat will not slide forward enough, plus the battery case buts up to the plywood so the panel would need to be quite firm, will have a look though.

Cutting a hole and using an aluminium cover panel sounds like a good idea and is something I might consider if I have trouble getting the replacement battery in position.
Could someone have a look and let me know the size of hole and size of the aluminium panel?
How many screws secure it?
Photgraph from inside the car?

Geoff