Battery Shield question

My 2000 Saturn LW2 recently needed a new battery. When I got the car back I
noticed that the black cardboard shield that was originally around the
battery was missing. I took the car back to the dealer and asked them to
replace it, but they told me that they always remove them and throw them
away.

So, do I need the shield? What is it used for? What happens if I don't get
one?

Thanks

d

 

It's there to protect the battery from engine compartment heat. I
don't know how much it harms the battery, but manufacturers wouldn't
spring $$$ for them if they didn't work.

Besides, they really should return the whole car, not just parts they
think you need.

Jim

 

We had a similar issue with our '01 L300 - the battery cracked, and was
replaced under warranty - when we picked up the car, the insulator was gone
and they gave us the same "we throw those away" answer - we had them order
us up a new one, and install that (at no charge) - just be persistent - if
it was there, and you didn't give them permission to toss it, then they had
no right to do so!

The shield, as already indicated, protects the battery from heat and also
probably helps insulate the battery in the wintertime.

 

My wife's 2000 LW3 had a bad cell in the battery. It died and the dealer
replaced the battery and also reinstalled the shield. I guess its which
dealer you go to, to get service. Saturn of Chagrin, in Beechwood Ohio is
GREAT!

Steve

 

since the battery doesn't generate any heat on it's own, wearing a
"blanket" won't keep it warm in the winter. Acid has very low freeze
temps.

As far as being a heat shield, I have yet to see any Saturn that
generates enough heat in the engine compartment to require heat
shielding for the battery.




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True - but the engine does, and while it's running, the battery gets warm
from that - so when things start to cool down, the insulation will help keep
it warm longer. A battery warmer is really the way to go, though, for
extreme temperatures - it's not so much freezing you have to worry about, as
the ability to deliver enough current (which declines sharply with
decreasing temperatures) - not a big deal for most of the country, though
(we don't worry too much down here in NM...)

 

I have not had that great of experience with 3 different Saturn dealers in
North Texas. Not anything I would call bad service, but just not worth
making the effort to return since I live 1/2 hour away. So, as soon as my
Saturns (I have 2) are both out of warantee, I am going to start taking them
to a place that is closer to where I live.

Thanks all for the comments.

d

 

Besides, they really should return the whole car, not just parts they

I agree. Look at it this way. Say the insulator costs 50 cents. If Saturn
makes a million cars a year, that is $500,000. If the part did nothing,or
was not required, then they would not install it from the factory.

-David

 

not to start an argument but you're making the false assumption that
any item on a vehicle is there for a necessary purpose. Sometimes
it's there because the redesign cost, (or subcontractor contractual
obligations), prohibits them from making the change or it's just not
cost effective to change the design to save a few cents.

Also, the insulator isn't an "absorbed" cost. You can bet that the
cost for that part may be 50 cents to them, but it's at least a dollar
to the consumer.

They aren't losing any money in the deal.




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good catch.

Very true. I hadn't thought of that. I would think they could offer
the insulator as a "feature" and jack up the add on accessory for $50.




Personally, when OEM batteries go bad, I've always opted for an
Optima. Yes, they're a little more expensive but they last *at least*
twice as long and I've never had an Optima battery strand me anywhere
no matter what the outside temperature was.





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You are making the false assumption that the price of the vehicle is directly
related to the cost to build the vehicle. This is not at all true. Vechicles are
priced by marketing departments, not engineering or manufacturing. Saving a $0.50
on the manufacturing cost is $0.50 more profit per vehicle. The only reason for
not removing a part such as a battery insulator is that it will affect sales
(which I doubt that it would) or it will increase warranty cost (which it might).

Ed

 

No false assumption at all. In fact you contradict the very argument
you're trying to support.

If the vehicle is *indeed* priced by marketing, they would also
include any items that would draw in more sales (like you mentioned)
that would provide a strong ROI. If a 50 cent doo dad would increase
sales by 100%, then it's a good marketing ploy...even if it does
*nothing*. Stripes and neon colors do nothing for performance or
reliability, however if targeted towards the right demographics, it
*can* and *does* increase sales.

A battery blanket doesn't increase sales since the Saturns largest
target demographic are females who care little if the battery has a
blanket or not. In fact, I doubt a majority of them even know that it
HAS a blanket or even what it's for. The vague answers in support of
such a blanket in this thread even support that.

If warranty costs were an issue, the manufacturer *and* dealerships
would ensure that the batteries leave the bays with the blankets
installed. Additionally, unless Saturns are so unique to the
automotive industry, (they aren't), you would see ALL new vehicles
having such blankets (you don't).







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Maybe check out:
http://www.exidetechnologies.com/products/trans/na/battery_care/keep_cool.pdf

For some thoughts on heat hurting you car's battery.

"
Heat speeds up all chemical reactions. Because a car battery works by

producing a chemical reaction, motorists with older batteries might get
stranded

by premature failure during the relentless heat wave. High outside
temperatures

combined with stop and go traffic on overheated pavement can drive
under-thehood

temperatures to more than 200 degrees. Factor in extra heavy, parasitic

electrical loads such as air conditioners, power windows and stereo systems,
and

the dog days of summer can be deadly for a car battery. "

 

...all I know is that the average life span of an OEM battery is about
two years. That's how long our '00 LS2's battery lasted *with* the
fancy blanket and that's how long our 97 SL2's battery lasted
*without* the blanket. It's also about how long our Dodge Durango's
OEM battery lasted without a blanket. However the replacement
Optima batteries *without* a blanket has lasted (on the Durango and
LS2), over three years and still going strong. Yes, excessive heat
can shorten the life of a battery no doubt. I just think, for the
average joe schmoe who doesn't live in extremely hot climates,
it's not going to make that significant of a difference. If it did,
Saturn (e.g. GM), would of put the battery in the trunk instead of the
engine compartment.









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GM has a service bulletin on this subject that states:

"When a battery insulator is specified for use on a particular vehicle, the
underhood temperatures for that vehicle are high enough to be critical to
battery life. Omitting the thermal insulator when installing the battery
will considerably reduce the life of the battery by exposing it to higher
underhood temperatures. Inspect the insulator for any damage. If the
insulator is damaged or missing, replace as required."

 

2 years! Where do you live? I let them go 5 years and then replace.

And nobody makes whips and restraints from fur...

 

metro DC (Northern Va.). It's not a matter of "letting them go" for 2
years, they let *me* go after 2 years (i.e. dead).

Not uncommon around here. Even dealers tell me not to expect any more
than that from an OEM battery.

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That's terrible. I replaced the 98 Saturn battery last year when the
alternator went south. I bought a new battery for our 96 Explorer last
month for the first time in the six years I've had it, just as a
preventative measure. I doubt it was changed in its first two years, so
that means it gave eight good years with no indication of any problem.
And it's not as though I've been particularly kind to it.

 

DC area can get hot for the summer. But 2 years does seem short.

My SL2 is just over 4 years old with the OEM battery. But, I am thinking
about replacing it before winter. And isn't the ION's battery in the trunk?

 

My 98 SC2 still has the original battery (knock on wood). FYI, my 2000
chevy pickup has the heat shield, so GM is doing it beyond the Saturn brand.

I also read on
http://uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq11.htm
that underhood temperatures have been rising in the last 2 decades so my
guess is that someone at GM did a test and determined that the thin heat
shield gets most batteries through the first 3 years.

Jon