How to remove the battery cover and replace the battery on a Citroën or DS DS3 (My 09-16)

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  • OVERALL DIFFICULTY INDEX: 1/10
  • IF YOU HAVE NO TOOLS YOU SPEND $5 TO GET THEM FOR THIS JOB
  • IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE YOU SPEND 10 MINUTES TO CARRY OUT THIS JOB
  • NO SAFETY ISSUES
BEFORE YOU START​
Be aware of the weight of the battery that you will have to carry with one hand and high enough above of the engine. Do not do so if you're suffering from back or shoulder / neck pain.
DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.

Which battery to use on Citroën C3 and DS3 vehicles

As a general rule that applies to all almost all French cars:
  • Use a 55Ah battery on French cars equipped with a manual gearbox
  • Use a 62Ah battery on French cars equipped with an automatic gearbox

Removing the battery and battery cover on a Citroën DS3

Disconnect the positive battery lead.
​The positive battery terminal connector on all Peugeot and Citroën cars requires no tools to be disconnected as shown.
Push back the black box found on top of the battery cover with your hand, in order to free it from the cover.
With your fingers, press on the ECU cover holders and take the cover out so you can pull the whole ECU out of its place.
Do not disconnect the ECU, just leave it hanging aside.
This uncovers the battery holder (first picture), which can be taken out after unscrewing its holding nut with a size 10 socket.
You can take out the battery cover before or after removing the battery holding plate, no matter.
The cover has to be pulled up while tilted upwards from the front side first.
Disconnect the negative battery terminal of the DS3 with a size 10 socket and take out the battery:

Refitting a new battery on the Citroën or DS DS3

Start by cleaning well the battery clamps with a wire brush and / or a sandpaper to be used as shown.
Cover the battery clamps with battery terminal grease after reconnecting the clamps.
Do not put any grease on the battery leads prior to refitting the terminals.
Reverse all dismounting steps to refit the battery its cover, the ECU and the ECU cover, then the black box that slides on top of the battery cover. 
If you accidentally broke the plastic flap which protects the positive battery terminal and clamp, like what happened to me, proceed as follows to re-attach the flap to the battery cover:
Cut the sides of the positive terminal flap cover as shown...
...then insert a cable tie in the quick-release clamp and attach the flap with it like a belt:

See also our other tutorials in relation with the Citroën C3 and DS3...