Shoua

I have an Optima Yellow Top battery in my '89 4Runner, and it's sliding everywhere! I am using the OEM Toyota battery hold down only, but it's sliding left and right.

What have you guys done to keep an Optima Battery from sliding around? So far, I have a chain of zip-ties holding it in place.....I know, it's so ghetto.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

If your battery hold down is not holding the battery in place.

If it does not tighten any more .

Deka makes a plastic spacer to go under the battery but any plastic spacer that gives the battery enough height to be held in place will work.

Discombobulated

My red top came with the spacer........

Shoua

I'm already using the Optima spacer that came with the battery to bring it up to proper height.

The problem is, the stock battery hold-down cannot be tightened enough for it alone to hold the battery in place; also because of the shape of Optima batteries.

BigBluePile

iTrader: (3)

Optimas suck.

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

make a subframe...

Shoua

I happen to like my Optima.....although, I did have a bad experience once. Hopefully it was only that one time.

I may have to resort to this.....how is everybody else doing this? I know I'm not the only one running an Optima Battery. Cans I see pichas???

BigBluePile

iTrader: (3)

Why exactly can't you tighten down the j-hook enough? You may have to run some more threads down on the j-hook with a die.

Shoua

It doesn't need to get any tighter.....it's as tight as it can get.

It can't hold down the Optima battery very well because of the shape of the battery itself. It's not a rectangular battery, like normal batteries; it's got rounded corners and top. That's why the stock hold-down can't prevent it from sliding left and right.

BigBluePile

iTrader: (3)

Got pics?

Shoua

I'll post some tomorrow.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

If that is the case just make yourself a new top bracket .

One end will attach to the radiator support the other to the J hook

make two pieces to slide down over the circular part of the battery.

weld to the top piece .

I venture I could modify a stock one to work.

tighten it down and your done.

Do they not make hold downs for this type of battery??

If all else fails the good old tarp strap does wonders.

Roark

If your bungee cord idea isn't cool enough for you, I'd make a box for it instead of a new bracket. A sheet of steel and a few feet of barstock will make you a clean an sturdy box you can just bolt directly into the firewall.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Yes but even with a box you still need something to keep the battery from bouncing around.

The potholes here it would possible to have it bounce up and hit the hood after enough times the rubber boot over the positive terminal rubs through.

I am not sure but I don`t have room to mount a battery to the firewall.

Shoua

Here's my zip-tie setup as of now. It prevents the battery from hitting the power steering reservoir, but now the negative battery terminal hits the fender:



The front part of the hold down is fine, but as you can see here, the rear part doesn't hold anything:



And here's a pic of the battery tray. Also note that I am already using the provided spacer:

Teuf

Necessity is the mother of invention......... Fab / Make something.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I think another 1/4" or 3/8" of spacer will cure your problem.

a piece of plastic angle to fit on the side that does not fit against the battery.

modify your top piece so it fits tighter to the battery

simple fix is put a few flat washers on the j-hook to allow more tension on the battery case.

if it is not tight no matter what you do it will still slide and bounce around

I feel sorry for you best of luck

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Looks like you bought too small of optima to me. I could have sworn I have seen optima batteries fit perfectly.

edit- also looks like the aux positive post should be covered or could still short on the reservoir.
You seriously need to make a spacer...I wouldn't trust those tiny (Harbor freight?) Zip ties...

Shoua

My OEM battery size is a group 25. This is the correct battery for my application, according to Optima's website.

I have post covers on both top posts, which are zip-tied in place. I don't have covers for the side posts though. (I had to use an extension piece so I could install my winch circuit breakers directly to the positive side terminal)

87blackbeauty

I see it's been answered but yes, your optima is too small. The newer ones are smaller I think. My red top doesn't fit either. I hammered the hold down and it grips pretty good now. You've just got to work with it or really dedicate to the optima and weld in a box for it.

EDIT:
The problem is that it's too skinny. Wedge something between the front of the battery and the clamp on your holder. Or cut off your clamp, move it backward to fit more flush on the battery, weld it in place. Of you can't weld, get a shop to. Won't cost hardly anything but will give you piece of mind.