Aghhh...blasted battery securing bolt!!!

minty2 · 19th March 2017, 10:17

As a follow up to my report on the vandalism to my car last week, I returned to the car this week to find the battery dead. I had inadvertently left the key in the ignition

Anyway, I decided to take the opportunity to buy a new battery and keep the old one as a spare (after recharging it of course). No problem getting old one out and new one in but could I get the *naughty word* bolt through to the securing plate at the foot of the battery? Not with my big mits! Anyway, having left the strap loose for now (battery shouldn't move anyway with securing plate tightened down), it left me wondering why I didn't have this problem with my slightly older rover 75. Turns out the bolt on that is almost as long as the battery holder is deep, making it far easier to get everything into place and secured. I suppose this must have been a project drive change (for the worse)? Makes a job far longer to take than it should and annoys me somewhat too

!

Retrorob · 19th March 2017, 12:19

I use a rachet with a long extension socket with a bit of blue tac on the bolt head to hold it in place while I line up the securing plate and bolt with the thread hole. Still not easy but it works

COLVERT · 19th March 2017, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retrorob

I use a rachet with a long extension socket with a bit of blue tac on the bolt head to hold it in place while I line up the securing plate and bolt with the thread hole. Still not easy but it works

That makes two of us.--

---Lateral thinking----

marinabrian · 19th March 2017, 13:53

I stretch a bit of insulating tape across the socket, then push the bolt into the tape which holds it in place

However the PPD battery bolt is considerably easier to fit

Brian

RogerHeinz57 · 19th March 2017, 15:29

I too find the long bolt considerably better design, I have fitted many of these that get found in the yards that I visit and have a couple available if anybody would like to purchase one. It also means you only need 1 13mm tool to remove and re-install a battery !

Mike Noc · 19th March 2017, 16:23

Bit of kitchen towel around the head of the bolt holds it in the socket for me.

suffolk boy · 19th March 2017, 17:23

changed mine to a longer one its old bmw item

MSS · 19th March 2017, 19:38

I attach a magnet on one of the telescopic pick-up tools to the outside of the socket.

Arctic · 19th March 2017, 20:58

Small piece of plastic on the back of the securing plate the bolts goes through this and creates a sort of captive bolt, hold the strap and with the socket on the head of the bolt lower it down into the threaded hole works every time

oswestryalex · 20th March 2017, 10:15

Hi,
just had exactly the same problem with my MG ZT - took me ages to get the small bolt out from inside. I checked my Rover 75 and noted that it had a sensible long bolt that you could easily access. My solution was to replace the short stub with a Rover V6 long battery bolt and clamp - which I bought off eBay (with the plastic battery box) for under £20.

19th March 2017, 10:17	#1
minty2 Loves to post Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Leeds Posts: 494 Thanks: 68 Thanked 76 Times in 43 Posts	Aghhh...blasted battery securing bolt!!! As a follow up to my report on the vandalism to my car last week, I returned to the car this week to find the battery dead. I had inadvertently left the key in the ignition Anyway, I decided to take the opportunity to buy a new battery and keep the old one as a spare (after recharging it of course). No problem getting old one out and new one in but could I get the naughty word bolt through to the securing plate at the foot of the battery? Not with my big mits! Anyway, having left the strap loose for now (battery shouldn't move anyway with securing plate tightened down), it left me wondering why I didn't have this problem with my slightly older rover 75. Turns out the bolt on that is almost as long as the battery holder is deep, making it far easier to get everything into place and secured. I suppose this must have been a project drive change (for the worse)? Makes a job far longer to take than it should and annoys me somewhat too !

19th March 2017, 17:23	#7
suffolk boy This is my second home fiat panda Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: haverhill Posts: 6,720 Thanks: 96 Thanked 586 Times in 526 Posts	changed mine to a longer one its old bmw item __________________ fiat panda 1.2 eco

19th March 2017, 12:19	#2
Retrorob Regular poster Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Margate Posts: 54 Thanks: 9 Thanked 27 Times in 16 Posts	I use a rachet with a long extension socket with a bit of blue tac on the bolt head to hold it in place while I line up the securing plate and bolt with the thread hole. Still not easy but it works

19th March 2017, 13:53	#4
marinabrian MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 20,151 Thanks: 3,565 Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts	I stretch a bit of insulating tape across the socket, then push the bolt into the tape which holds it in place However the PPD battery bolt is considerably easier to fit Brian

19th March 2017, 15:29	#5
RogerHeinz57 I really should get out more....... A Reasonably Priced Car Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Burton Latimer Posts: 2,530 Thanks: 408 Thanked 1,064 Times in 712 Posts	I too find the long bolt considerably better design, I have fitted many of these that get found in the yards that I visit and have a couple available if anybody would like to purchase one. It also means you only need 1 13mm tool to remove and re-install a battery !

19th March 2017, 16:23	#6
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,555 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Bit of kitchen towel around the head of the bolt holds it in the socket for me.

19th March 2017, 19:38	#8
MSS This is my second home Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7,085 Thanks: 283 Thanked 624 Times in 440 Posts	I attach a magnet on one of the telescopic pick-up tools to the outside of the socket.

20th March 2017, 10:15	#10
oswestryalex Loves to post Rover 75 1.8T connoisseur saloon 2003 in blue , MG ZT 190+ 2003 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oswestry Posts: 308 Thanks: 159 Thanked 99 Times in 57 Posts	Hi, just had exactly the same problem with my MG ZT - took me ages to get the small bolt out from inside. I checked my Rover 75 and noted that it had a sensible long bolt that you could easily access. My solution was to replace the short stub with a Rover V6 long battery bolt and clamp - which I bought off eBay (with the plastic battery box) for under £20.