Battery Hold Down Bracket

I purchased my 2004 KJ used last year. Over the past few weeks I've noticed it taking a second longer than normal to start so I figured I would have the battery checked out. Sure enough it was headed towards bad so I went ahead and purchased a new battery.

Everything went ok with the change but I did realize that the battery is just sitting lose in the tray. Is there supposed to a bracket, strap, or hold down of some sort? My previous car (a Mazda) had an a metal bracket and then a plastic box that went over the whole thing. Just having it sit there seems odd, but I guess it is close enough that the hood could keep it down.

I'm going to assume it is supposed to have something holding the thing down there. So, does anyone have a part number or even a picture of what the thing looks like?

I believe its a plastic wedge with a bolt through it on the side of the battery your looking for

yup .. closest to the windshield on the battery tray.


2005 P/N 55136 959AC BRACKET, Battery Hold Down

Yours is probably still there. Just check it out, windshield side. Not headlight side.

In Massachusetts your car will not pass inspection if it's not secured down.........

Why do I live here?

You guys rock.

Unfortunately it really isn't there but I do see where the bolt attaches. My local dealership is not the most helpful, so I really didn't want to call and ask the question because they would just want me to schedule a service time at a minimum charge of $80 so they can research it. If I call with a part number though they will simply answer yes/no if I ask if it is in stock and give me a price.

mikeandamy said:

In Massachusetts your car will not pass inspection if it's not secured down.........

Why do I live here?

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We don't have vehicle inspections in Oklahoma anymore.

Even when we did it was a simple process of giving a mechanic their $5 and they slapped an inspection sticker on your car. It wasn't worth their time to actually inspect it for just $5 and no one at the state legislature was willing to raise the price. Eventually everyone decided to do away with the charade.

nws2002 said:

You guys rock.

Unfortunately it really isn't there but I do see where the bolt attaches. My local dealership is not the most helpful, so I really didn't want to call and ask the question because they would just want me to schedule a service time at a minimum charge of $80 so they can research it. If I call with a part number though they will simply answer yes/no if I ask if it is in stock and give me a price.

Click to expand...

Get the parts guy email. only way i get quotes for what i want as the can't seem to be efficient at getting prices on the fly. through email, 100%.

You can get the clamp at the dealership's parts department. Can't remember how much it was, but I broke mine a few years ago...

In the battery tray there is a slot on the headlight side that the lip on the bottom of the battery slides into, then the wedge shaped clamp on the Windshield side secures it. Not the best hold-down I've seen, but Chevy has used something similar for years.

You could make your own clamp if needed....does not have to be a wedge....a large washer or metal bracket would do.

However the the original plastic wedge would look the best.

Just go directly to the parts dpt. at the dealership and ask the parts guy for a battery hold down. They most likely have one and it can't be too expensive. Then you will have one and be done with it and not worry about the battery roaming around on the tray.

Just my opinion.

Dave

Dave said:

Just go directly to the parts dpt. at the dealership and ask the parts guy for a battery hold down. They most likely have one and it can't be too expensive. Then you will have one and be done with it and not worry about the battery roaming around on the tray.

Just my opinion.

Dave

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Already done. :icon_lol:

Went first thing this morning, part was $12. Like I said though, the parts dept at my local dealer is a PITA to work with and they usually try to shuffle you off on the service dept if you walk in without knowing exactly what part you need.