Ford Transit Battery Location (With Photos)
Updated: Feb 1
✔ This article has been fact checked.
The Ford Transit is a popular commercial van that has been in production since 1965. It is known for its durability and reliability, but like any vehicle, it requires regular maintenance.
One important aspect of maintaining your Ford Transit is keeping the battery in good condition and knowing where the battery is located and how to jump-start it is crucial.
The battery location on a Ford Transit can be a bit tricky to find, as it is not located under the hood / bonnet like in many other vehicles and is instead found under the drivers seat due to safety reasons.
In this article, we will provide a detailed guide on where the Ford Transit battery is located, how to find and replace it, what size and voltage you need, and how to jump-start the Ford Transit if necessary.
Table of Contents:
Where Is the Ford Transit Battery Located?
Unlike most vehicles where the engines battery is found under the hood, the battery for the Ford Transit is located in a spot underneath the driver's seat. This can be a bit difficult to access, as the seat and flooring need to be removed to get to it.
However, once you know where to look, it is not a difficult task to find the Ford Transit van battery.
How to Find the Ford Transit Battery
Follow the steps below to find the location of the Ford Transit battery.
Because the battery is located under the drivers seat, you must first completely recline the driver's seat. Find the two plastic screw covers that are on each side of the front of the seat's foundation. These coverings may be removed by pressing them inward with your hands. A rail stop bolt will become visible as a result.
Unbolt the screws with a T-40 torque bit.
Fully raise the armrest of the seat.
You may now fully advance the seat after removing the bolt stops.
Now the battery box is visible. On the side that is facing you, find two plastic tabs, and pull up. The cover will be removed as a result.
You can see the back battery cover below. The lid is taken off and placed aside after two topside bolts are loosened. The next thing you'll see is two electrical cables that are joined. The metal bar that spans the top of the casing must first be unfastened before being removed.
You must now take off the battery cover. Remove this panel by hand. The negative battery wire is then made visible.
Once this panel is gone, unfasten the pole clamp bolts and take the cable away from the battery.
The front tab on the side with the negative battery wire should now be free to be unclipped.
You can then move the cover all the way forward.
Now the complete battery will be shown.
This is usually the same across all models of Ford vans such as the Transit Custom and Transit Connect.
How to Replace the Ford Transit Battery
Replacing the battery in a Ford Transit is a relatively simple task. Start by following the steps listed above to locate the vans battery. Once you have found it, remove the negative cable first, then the positive cable.
The old battery can then be removed from the compartment and the new battery can be installed. Make sure to securely connect the positive cable first, then the negative cable.
What Size Battery Do I Need for a Ford Transit?
The H6 battery, also known as a group 48 battery, is required for the Ford Transit van. This rectangular-shaped battery has dimensions of 11 inches long, 7.5 inches high, and about 7 inches broad. It is about 54 lbs (24.5 kg) in weight.
Ford Transit Battery Price
Ford Transit batteries are commonly found and have a price range of approximately $120 to $350 (£90-£280) depending on the where you're located and who's selling them.
What Voltage Is the Ford Transit Battery?
The Ford Transit uses a 12-volt AGM battery. AGM stands for Absorbed Glass Mat, which is a type of lead-acid battery. AGM batteries are known for their high performance and long life, making them a popular choice for many vehicles.
How Long Do Ford Transit Batteries Last?
The lifespan of a Ford Transit battery will vary depending on a variety of factors such as the following.
Extreme temperatures (very cold and hot climates)
Temperature changes (often changing between cold and hot)
Regularly driving short trips
Long periods of inactivity and discharging of the battery
Vibrations
Power draw from the battery (higher power draw increases wear)
On average, a Ford Transit battery can last between 4-5 years under normal use. However, it is important to regularly check the battery's performance and have it tested to ensure it is in good working condition.
How to Jump-Start a Ford Transit Van
If the battery in your Ford Transit is dead and needs to be jump-started, the process is relatively simple.
Open the Ford Transit battery jump box that is located on the driver's side of the engine to get started. On this jump box, there will be a little, red access box. To reveal the positive battery post, carefully pull open the red box. (see the image below)
Your jumper cable's positive end should be connected to this positive battery terminal.
Next, find the "ground" inside the fender on the driver's side. This long bolt has a nut at the base that is tightly fastened. Connect the jumper cable's negative end to this bolt.
Start the car that will be used to jumpstart the Ford Transit once the cables have been attached, and let it run for at about five minutes.
Start the Ford Transit after that and let it run for at least 20 minutes to let the battery finish recharging.
It is important to note that if the battery is completely dead, the jump-starting process may not work and the battery may need to be replaced. Also, if the battery is frequently jump-started, it may be a sign that the battery is failing and needs to be replaced.
How to Connect Jump Leads to Ford Transit Battery?
To connect jump leads to the Ford Transit battery, you will need a set of jumper cables (like these ones) and another vehicle with a working battery.
Locate the batteries of both vehicles being used for the jump-start.
Identify the positive and negative terminals on the Ford Transit battery. The positive terminal will typically have a "+" sign on it, while the negative terminal will have a "-" sign.
Attach the red clamp of the jumper cables to the positive terminal of the Ford Transit battery.
Attach the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the working vehicle's battery.
Attach the black clamp of the jumper cables to the negative terminal of the working vehicle's battery.
Attach the other black clamp to a clean, unpainted metal surface on the Ford Transit, such as a bolt or the engine mount.
Start the working vehicle and let it run for a few minutes.
Try starting the Ford Transit. If the battery is not completely dead, the engine should start.
Conclusion
The battery for the Ford Transit is located in a spot underneath the driver's seat, which can be a bit tricky to access. However, once you know where to look, finding and replacing the battery is not a difficult task.
Ford Transit vans require a H6 battery, also referred to as a group 48 battery, which is commonly found and has a price range of approximately $120 to $350 (£90-£280). The Ford Transit uses a 12-volt AGM battery, which is known for its high performance and long life.
The lifespan of a Ford Transit battery can vary, but on average it can last between 4-5 years under normal use. If the battery needs to be jump-started, the process is relatively simple, but if it fails frequently, it may be a sign that the battery needs to be replaced.
Remember to check your battery's performance regularly, and make sure to have it tested to ensure it is in good working condition.
Sources
Halfords. "How Long Do Car Batteries Last?" https://www.halfords.com/motoring/advice/how-long-do-car-batteries-last.html
VehQ. "Where Is The Ford Transit Battery Located" (Aug 29, 2021) https://vehq.com/ford-transit-battery-location/