Resolved the battery and refrigerator issues:
1. Battery removal is tight but found the battery cables were wire tied and the battery wouldn't slide out. Removed the wire tie and was able to work the battery and case out far enough to remove the neg cable.
2. Apparently the wires to the receptacle were not making good contact. Once I removed the plug and reinserted it, all is well with the refrigerator
I guess I am the only owner of a 23BA model