Fiat Swift Royale Leisure Battery

4560 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by autostratus, May 15, 2009

AndrewButler

Discussion Starter · May 9, 2009

Just finding my way around my new van (1998 Fiat Ducato Swift Royale 610). I notice the leisure battery is under the drivers seat. So I need to check its water levels (it is not a sealed battery)....doh! try as I may I can't get to it. It seems the only way is to remove the seat. A real hassle and I am sure the previous owners didn't remove the seat regularly to check the levels - and can you see the service engineer doing so? I doubt it!

So what do I do? My inclination is to leave it be until the battery packs up then replace it with a new sealed one. You may have other suggestions? Ireally cannor believe Swift would create this 'situation'!

Andy

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whistlinggypsy

· #2 · May 9, 2009

Andy, yes its a nuisance but it has to be done and its no great deal, just 4 screws to undo lift out the seat, service the battery and replace the seat and all done and dusted in less than 30 mins.

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chapter

· #3 · May 9, 2009

you will need one of these
to remove the seat (4 screws) i changed the battery on my sundance in about 15 minutes
chapter

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raynipper

· #4 · May 9, 2009

Yep................. my 2000 Hobby on a Fiat has the same problem. I have yet to gain access to this battery. I guess as you say the seat has to come out.

Ray.

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Fatalhud

· #5 · May 9, 2009

Once the screws are out you can just slide the seat forward, no need to remove it

The best bit is when I replaced my battery the new one had the positive + and negitive - posts the opposite way round and the leads don't reach :evil: :evil:

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pieterv

· #6 · May 10, 2009

Whilst you have the seat out to check the battery make sure it is properly vented to outside the van, the oxygen and hydrogen mix bateries produce when they gas is highly explosive.

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AndrewButler

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 11, 2009

Battery

Thanks everyone - so there is no short cut - maybe a job to do when mooching around on site!

Andy

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Pudsey_Bear

· #8 · May 11, 2009

Fatalhud said:
Once the screws are out you can just slide the seat forward, no need to remove it

The best bit is when I replaced my battery the new one had the positive + and negitive - posts the opposite way round and the leads don't reach :evil: :evil:

I found out the hard way too, but you can specify both post type and orientation of the +/-

I'm amazed we don't get more problems from this battery location on Fiat Ducatos, my terminals miss the seat base by about 1mm

Kev.

Posted by Kev.

This post is meant for entertainment purposes only. Your mileage may vary. Do not try this at home. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. For off-road use only. Slippery when wet. Batteries not included. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle, heavy equipment, or any vehicle, especially the newer Fiat ones. Videos may be too intense for some viewers and children under 30 years of age. Please remain seated until the post has come to a complete stop. I am not a professional, I have no training, I'm not even particularly good at horse whispering. Don't believe everything that you know. Please keep your hands in the vehicle at all times. Do not tap on glass. Do not eat anything that has been on the floor for more than 3 days. Keep your hands to yourself. Not to be taken internally. Reproduction is strictly prohibited. Always wear underwear. Poster does not carry cash. Objects in mirrors are further than they appear. Don't eat yellow snow.

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raynipper

· #9 · May 15, 2009

Hi Kev,
Yes it's very tight and it looks like the previous owner wedged a hardwood wedge across the top to keep the posts from bouncing up to the seat frame.

But mission accomplished as I unbolted the seat and found the electrolyte up to the required level. So happy camper now .

apart from that damn shower curtain ..

Ray.

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autostratus

· #10 · May 15, 2009

pieterv said:
Whilst you have the seat out to check the battery make sure it is properly vented to outside the van, the oxygen and hydrogen mix bateries produce when they gas is highly explosive.

Very important.

When we took off the seat of our Swift Royale to replace the battery with a larger capacity we found the existing battery sitting on a squashed plastic vent tube. Well installed, I think not.

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