• Welcome to the DeeperBlue.com Forums, the largest online community dedicated to Freediving, Scuba Diving and Spearfishing. To gain full access to the DeeperBlue.com Forums you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

    • Join over 44,280+ fellow diving enthusiasts from around the world on this forum
    • Participate in and browse from over 516,210+ posts.
    • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
    • Post your own photos or view from 7,441+ user submitted images.
    • All this and much more...

    You can gain access to all this absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

Changing the battery in a D3

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Bill McIntyre

Bill McIntyre

San Clemente, CA
Staff member
Forum Mentor
Jan 27, 2005
3,739
1,378
368
86
I've changed mine quite a few times over the several years I've owned it, and I've always been able to unscrew the battery cover with a coin. This time it won't budge. I've used a big screwdriver, and all it will do is deform the plastic slot.

I know I've read of others having this problem, but I don't recall how they solved it, if in fact they did.

Before I tear the damn thing up, I'd appreciate any tips. I sure don't want to buy a D4.
 
Well, never mind- I think I solved it myself.

I heated the tip of a big screwdriver in the flame of a gas stove, then pressed it down into the plastic to make a new slot perpendicular to the old screwed up slot. I still had to press the thing down very hard and twist it so that I could hardly hold on to the watch to keep it from turning, but it finally budged.
 
Just to make sure Bill. You did try to turn it both ways???
I messed up my first try and had to drill it open. It works but I was very careful and the dead battery acted as a drill stop OK. I made sure to use too much lube on the new o-ring.
 
Bill said:
Just to make sure Bill. You did try to turn it both ways???
I messed up my first try and had to drill it open. It works but I was very careful and the dead battery acted as a drill stop OK. I made sure to use too much lube on the new o-ring.
Click to expand...

Yes I did. Interestingly, It would turn just a bit in the wrong (tighten) direction, but not at all in the right direction until I did my heated screwdriver trick. I'm going to use a lot of silicone on the new one.
 
Heated screw driver sounds safer than a drill or Dremel tool. Think I'll steal that off you and put it in my 'bag of tricks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.