Ordered an Optima R34, should be here in a week but for now, how do I get the trunk opened to get to the battery? Build date was 7-02 or earlier so no trunk release under the seat - I havent looked but from what I read, it wont be there.

Am I going to have to crawl my 6'3" 270 lb butt through the back seat to change the battery?

 

There is a tailgate release cable. Lift up the rear seat bottom and you should see a pull ring. It is described in the Owner's Manual.

 

His was early build date, so probably no release cable . . .

 

No release cable on mine either. You'll have to get someone into the back seat, fold up and reach under the cargo cover to fold down the seat and get to the battery that way. I'd imagine that once you had the seats down, you can fold the carpet over them and set the new battery next to the old, leaving it in place. Then you can just undo the cable and connect it to the new, just to get the trunk open so you can make the switch from outside.

 

Alternatively, jump it from the positive terminal under the bonnet (next to the airbox.) Much easier than getting 6'3" back there, or renting a small friend...

 

That's not as fun.

 

Nope, not as much 'fun', but that's what I did when my battery died during winter storage, despite being on a trickle charger.

 

That's how we did it on my old May 2002 build MCS. I just recently put an Optima Red Top in my '06.

 

Our 2003 Mini has the trunk release under the back seat

 

There is also a small battery with a connection you can buyat the Autoparts store it plugs into the cigarette lighter plug and that will put enough power to open the trunk

 

Have you verified that it works on a MINI? From the wiring diagrams, it isn't clear that it would do anything. The key would have to be in On position and a relay triggered before it would be able to feed any power into the system.

 

Yea......just connect the new battery to the jump leads and open the hatch.