I recently took my truck, a 2016 GMC 1500 extended cab Sierra with about 23,000 miles on it, to Sam's Club to get a new battery installed. They refused to install it saying they were not trained to install it and because it has a strange hook-up on the battery, it can have problems if it is not installed correctly. They did offer to sell me a battery, and I was tempted to buy it and install it myself. What do you think? Is there some special equipment that I need to do this? Should I just bite the bullet and take it to a mechanic? I was hoping to save some money and just buy a Duracell battery at Sam's Club for about $120 and do the install myself, but I don't want to mess up my truck.
It is more complex than a regular battery change. The connector is more than just the classic 2-cable connection, and there is a lot of bracketage in the way. But it’s definitely DIY-able If you have good hand tools (you need a good socket set with extensions). If the owners manual doesn’t have adequate instructions, there are a number of YouTube videos on the subject. Also might be a good excuse now to invest in a Haynes manual or AllData subscription.
Welcome new member.
Is there anything written about that in the owner's manual?
My only caution, check to see if you battery needs to be “registered”. Some newer (German) cars require battery registration, which is a simple reset button on the scan tool.
If you plug in an ODBII Memory Saver (Scotty recommends this) before changing the battery then in general you don’t need to register the battery (not sure if your truck even needs battery registration like German cars do). But it’s a good idea anyways to have an OBDII Memory Saver hooked up before changing battery so your settings are not reset.
I just looked at a picture of it, and like @dad2lm2.
It looks kinda like my Prius 12 volt battery setup, with a complicated looking bracket on top.
Although I was able to do it myself, I should have looked it up, in retrospect. I spent way to much time trying to figure out how to disconnect without damaging anything, where if I had just looked it up, it would have been so much easier.
And that’s what I suggest, look up videos of how to change batteries for your specific truck. And also look in the manual for details.
I’m not a mechanic, but I like to do things that I can, and changing this kind of battery was definitely in my wheelhouse. I think it is a DIY friendly endeavor.
My only caution, check to see if you battery needs to be “registered”. Some newer (German) cars require battery registration, which is a simple reset button on the scan tool. But you have an American car, so I’m not sure if they need it or not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8qicXeadJs
Take a pic before disassembly to make sure to get the wiring correct.
