Battery Hold Down Mount Replacement

[SMWS6TA]

Its going to happen at least once in the life of your car. The bolt that secures the batteries hold down is going to get corrode and break. If your lucky you will be able to use vice grips and with a little bit of luck and a lot of PB Blaster you might be able to back whats left of the bolt back off.


This is in case you are like me and have no such luck.



INB4 - "just go to the auto parts store and......" Did that and no one has anything close to it.


So I went to Lowes and got:

Hex Bolt 5/16 shaft, 6 inches long, threaded all the way (you can use a 1/4 in shaft but the 5/16th was the closest to the original bolts diameter)
Washers - 2
Nuts - 1
Wing Nut - 1
Lock Tight



Step 1: After removing the battery you will see the battery tray that sits on the Coolant Reservoir. This is all one piece. To take it out you remove the 13mm bolt and pull out the coolant tube. Remove the Coolant Reservoir.




Step 2: - The piece in the next picture is what you saw in the first pic. It can be knocked out. This is what was left over from the bolt.



This is where it came out of.




Step 3: - Take the new bolt, slip a washer on, then slide it through the square opening from the underside that the bad on came out of. Hold bolt, slide on the second washer, then a nut. Hand tighten the nut down, I used some Lock Tight to make sure it doesn't walk itself off later on. Tighten the nut, I used 2 wrenches. Should look like this:



Step 4: - Reinsert the Coolant Reservoir, Tighten the bolt and re-insert the coolant tube.





Step 5: - Re-install the Battery. Next place the Battery Hold Down Block on the new bolt, slide another washer and then tighten the wing nut down like so.




Well I hope this helps.

[cammed goat]

Good write up. I have had to do the same with older Dodges with the plastic tray.

[Empatho]

The rust on mine was no way near as bad, but I do need to jb weld the plastic tray tab that hold the battery down.

[JayTA98]

great idea.

[Spaz]

awsome idea... i need to do this... my battery is flopping around right now...

[SMWS6TA]

One thing I forgot to mention with the bolts, I recommend Stainless Steel.


Also, for those that race, one of the pre-checks is if your battery is securely mounted.


If your Battery base plate is broke and need a replacement you have to replace the whole Coolant Reservoir. I priced it at GMPartsDirect for about $31 (Feb 2011).

[0rion]

stickied

[SMWS6TA]

Thx

[sjsingle1]

the coolant tank is also sold by doorman......may be available from your local auto parts store