Are there any significant upsides or downsides to moving the battery to the the trunk? My impression is that it's just a preference thing that doesn't really affect anything at all in any real way. Here is what I have - want to know what I am missing:
Cons:
- May affect manufacturer warranty if your car is covered
- May affect insurance pay out in accident? (really doubt this, but who knows)
- Effort / parts cost to install
- Shock / fire risk: Single highest-power-in-car wire going through cabin (presumably through firewall, into cabin, into trunk through passenger-side floor)
- Mechanics may be reluctant to work on it (doubtful if they understand the basics)
- Wasted trunk space - need battery bracket, suddenly not so easy to fit luggage
- More rust - Drill trunk for ground wire location
- Fire risk from battery gasses? (Seems like a dated risk, but it's still a battery in the trunk with felt / cloth, rather than behind a firewall)
Pros:
- More room in engine bay! (My sole reason for considering this - I have to take half the car off to work on things)
- Better weight distribution on most cars (so negligible that it doesn't matter)
General question, but the car I am thinking of doing this is a manual 2009 Civic Si. If I get rid of the battery, get a small intake, get rid of the ABS, half size the radiator, I may actually be able to get to things like the starter without spending 2 days taking the car apart.