This document illustrates two procedures for replacing the battery on the Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky.  The first procedure is the recommended procedure from the 2006 Solstice Service Manual as documented by SmallDealer on the Solstice forum (http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/removing-battery-car-23421/#post372541).  The second procedure is a bit less involved and does not require removal of the right fender.  It was documented by Ripple on the Solstice forum (http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f11/battery-swap-w-pix-61973/#post933224)

 

 

Battery Replacement - from Solstice Service Manual

Removal Procedure

1.) Disconnect the negative battery cable (2). Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnect Procedure .

Quote:

Battery Negative Cable Disconnection

Disconnect Procedure

 Caution: Refer to SIR Caution in Cautions and Notices.

Quote:

SIR Caution
 Caution: When performing service on or near the SIR components or the SIR wiring, the SIR system must be disabled. Refer to SIR Disabling and Enabling . Failure to observe the correct procedure could cause deployment of the SIR components, personal injury, or unnecessary SIR system repairs.

Caution: Refer to Battery Disconnect Caution in Cautions and Notices.

Quote:

Battery Disconnect Caution
 Caution: Before servicing any electrical component, the ignition and start switch must be in the OFF or LOCK position and all electrical loads must be OFF, unless instructed otherwise in these procedures. If a tool or equipment could easily come in contact with a live exposed electrical terminal, also disconnect the negative battery cable. Failure to follow these precautions may cause personal injury and/or damage to the vehicle or its components.

1.) Record all of the vehicle preset radio stations.

2.) Turn OFF all the lamps and the accessories.

3.) Make sure the ignition switch is in the OFF position.

4.) Open the negative battery connection cover.

5.) Loosen the negative battery cable nut.

6.) Disconnect the negative battery (2) cable from the battery.

2.) Remove the wheelhouse liner. Refer to Wheelhouse Liner Replacement - Front .

Quote:

Front Wheelhouse Liner Replacement

Preliminary Procedure
Remove the front wheel.

1.) Remove Front Wheelhouse Liner Bolts (Qty: 2)

2.) Remove Front Wheelhouse Liner Screws (Qty: 6)

3.) Remove Front Wheelhouse Liner Retainers (Qty: 3)

4.) Remove Front Wheelhouse Liner

3.) Lower the vehicle.

4.) Open the positive battery cable connection cover.

5.) Loosen the positive battery cable bolt.

6.) Remove the positive battery cable (1).

7.) Remove the front fender rear bracket to side rail bolts.

8.) Remove the front fender to front fender rear bracket upper (1) and lower (2) bolts.

9.) Remove the front fender rear bracket.

10) Remove the battery hold down retainer bolt and retainer.

 Important: Do not tip the battery more than 40 degrees during removal.

11) Remove the battery.



Installation Procedure

 Important: Do not tip the battery more than 40 degrees during battery installation.

1.) Install the battery.

2.) Install the battery hold down retainer and bolt. Tighten the bolt to 25 N·m (18 lb ft).

3.) Install the front fender rear bracket.

4.) Install the front fender rear bracket to side rail bolts. Tighten the bolts to 20 N·m (15 lb ft).

5.) Install the front fender to front fender rear bracket upper (1) and lower (2) bolts. Tighten the bolts to 20 N·m (15 lb ft).

6.) Install the positive battery cable (1).

7.) Tighten the positive battery cable bolt. Tighten the bolt to 17 N·m (13 lb ft).

8) Close the positive battery cable connection cover.

9.) Install the wheelhouse liner. Refer to Wheelhouse Liner Replacement - Front .

Quote:

Front Wheelhouse Liner Replacement

1.) Front Wheelhouse Liner.

2.) Front Wheelhouse Liner Bolts (Qty: 2) Tighten to 10 N·m (89 lb in)

3.) Front Wheelhouse Liner Screws (Qty: 6)

4.) Front Wheelhouse Liner Retainers (Qty: 3)

5.) Front Wheel.

10) Connect the negative battery cable (2). Refer to Battery Negative Cable Connect Procedure .

Quote:

Battery Negative Cable Connection
Connect Procedure

 Important: Clean any existing oxidation from the contact face of the battery terminal and battery cable using a wire brush before installing the battery cable to the battery terminal.

1.) Connect the negative battery cable (2) to the battery.

2.) Tighten the negative battery cable nut. Tighten the nut to 17 N·m (13 lb ft).

3.) Close the negative battery connection cover.

4.) Reset the radio stations and the clock.

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Battery Replacement - without fender removal

 

By Ripple - SolsticeForum.com

 

1. Remove the passenger tire.

2. Remove the wheel liner fasteners, mind you I have the push pin ones in front you might have the screw types (if so when you replace them don't crank them down, you will crack your wheel liner - which is why I have the push pin type). You will also need to remove the one bolt fastener in the back.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2797/4357109365_ab7ec5945f_o.jpg

3. With the pins/screws removed, you can fold back the wheel liner and tuck it behind the brake disc. as shown. You are going to have to remove the fender brace, its three bolts and one nut, the nut is on top and not shown. The bottom bolt, is from underneath the car, and is the one fender bolt you need to remove. With the nut, and three bolts removed you can maneuver the brace out, the top will need to clear a fairly long threaded shaft, so go slow and gentle and it will come out.



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4357135037_de17e8c86c_o.jpg


4. With the brace out, disconnect your battery terminals and the single bolt that is the hold down bolt.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4357898718_d9e27d1540_o.jpg

5. With all that done, you can gently slide the battery past the wire harnesses and out the wheel well.



6. Just reverse it all to insert the new battery and reassemble in reverse. When reattaching the brace, get it in position and tighten up the two bolts to the frame first, then the bottom bolt and top nut, you might need to do a little bit of aligning with it all back in place, but it's very minimal.

and just like that you are all set with a new battery

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/4357828668_8f75e0f249_b.jpg

Start to finish this was less than one hour, sure a battery should take 10 minutes in most cars  but our are not most! All in all, it was fairly simple, the idea of taking this much apart was more daunting then the actual process.

Hope someone finds this helpful