How to Change the Battery in a 2000 Pontiac Montana
by Jody L. Campbell
The 2000 Pontiac Montana features a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine. The battery is located in the engine compartment behind the passenger side headlight assembly. It fits snugly inside the engine compartment and requires the removal of a cross brace to gain access to the side-post battery. The battery also is very heavy and needs to be maneuvered out of the engine compartment, which can be a challenging task for some people.
Step 1
Open the hood of the 2000 Pontiac Montana after removing the keys from the ignition (if applicable).
Step 2
Remove the two lower retaining bolts of the passenger-side cross brace on the front radiator frame rail, using the ratchet and a socket. Remove the upper retaining bolt of the cross brace near the passenger-side firewall with a wrench. Remove the cross brace.
Step 3
Remove the black negative terminal bolt from the side post battery using a hand wrench. Remove the red cap (if applicable) from the positive battery terminal and remove the terminal bolt with the wrench.
Step 4
Remove the battery hold-down wedge bolt with the ratchet, extension and socket. Remove the bolt and hold down wedge.
Step 5
Tilt the battery slightly toward the center of the engine and place one hand underneath the left side of the battery and the other hand on the right top. Lift the battery out of the engine compartment.
Step 6
Install the replacement battery into the engine compartment by reversing Step 5.
Step 7
Replace the hold-down wedge and retaining bolt and tighten the bolt.
Step 8
Connect the positive terminal bolt to the battery and hand-thread it into the side post. Tighten the bolt snugly with the wrench.
Step 9
Connect the negative terminal bolt in the same way as the positive terminal bolt in Step 8.
Step 10
Start the engine to test the operation of the battery before replacing the cross brace and retaining bolts.
References
Things You'll Need
- Wrench set
- Ratchet, 10-inch extension and socket set
- Replacement battery
Writer Bio
Jody L. Campbell spent over 15 years as both a manager and an under-car specialist in the automotive repair industry. Prior to that, he managed two different restaurants for over 15 years. Campbell began his professional writing career in 2004 with the publication of his first book.
