OMG what hacks, the optimal leverage point was out about an inch for ziptie. that's going to slip right off.
that's what visegrips were invented for.

it does remind me of the time my neighbor the plumber was replacing his battery in his astro van.
He tightened the ground terminal first and then tried to tighten the positive terminal.
The end of the wrench hit the brake line, ZAAAaaap ...1...2...3...****!!!!! of course it blew the copper brake line right in half.

 

 

 

When I was in HS, I did that once and welded a little "hickey" onto the tip of the end wrench. Luckily, the wrench didn't stick to both terminals.

I have kept that end wrench as a "subtle" reminder to be careful around electricity.

 

As dumb as this is, Chevrolet may have come up with something dumber. You have a Chevy HHR. One morning you head out to the garage to drive it to work, but the battery is dead. No problem. You will just remove the battery and take it in your spouse's car to the auto parts store and buy a replacement. But the battery isn't under the hood. It's in the trunk. And the trunk only opens with a remote power latch. No manual latch. Option 1, Push the car out of the garage, get a set of jumper cables, and jump the HHR using the access connectors under the hood. Option 2. Climb into the luggage area, pull out all the carpet and trim that covers the battery, pull the battery out, climb back over the back seat with the battery, then take it to Pep Boys. Option 3. Set the garage on fire, file an insurance claim, and use the proceeds on a PT Cruiser.

 

I have an SSR . I learned that under the left rear fender well is a manual release for the bed lid. It's not in the manual. I'm betting there is a similar mechanism in the HHR somewhere back there.

 

sort of same deal on my GL550.
Battery under the front seat to get to the battery you have to move the power seats forward. Let that sink in for a moment.
Of course they do give you jumper terminals under the hood. But to release the hood you have to be in the car.
When the battery dies the electric power locks don't work. but at least they do give a mechanical key to get into the drivers door.
after you take apart the front lock cover. of course no one has likely turned that lock since the car was built so be real gentle with the application of the key.
and if the hood latch cable is broken or frozen you are going to have even more fun. You can get to it by going in through the drivers side wheel well.
You simply jack it up, remove the tire, remove the wheel well liner, and reach up 2 feet into the engine compartment with vise grips and release the latch.
although it's actually all pretty easy, dial 1-800-for-mercedes and give them you high dollar limit visa card. easy peasy

 

Cannot get much dumber than a battery under the back seat. Like an Audi I had many years ago. I think the 100 LS. The headlights started to get brighter. Turned out to be a surge to the battery. By the time it was removed, the acid had eaten up the carpet in the back. Along with transmission problems, it turned out to be a real lemon. Drove really well, though.