So much for easy battery replacement...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 0
From: Machine Silver Z06 The Golden State......... Bay Area
St. Jude Donor '05
So much for easy battery replacement...
Ok, it was time for a new battery so I decided to go with an Optima Red Top despite all the negative feedback they've been getting. I figure what the hey, since I'm a gambler I'll give one a try. ($99.99 at Costco, no core charge)
What should have been a 10 minute job, tops, and that's for someone that's all thumbs mind you (not me of course
), turns out to be much longer.
I pop the hood, get the ratchet, and start to undo the hold down bracket bolt and it backs off for awhile but won't come out. Manual shows the following pic:
So I figure what the he.. is going on here. Turns out there's a nut underneath that is impossible to get a wrench on. So I had to remove the wheel well skirt to get at it.
After repeated trys to get a socket on it, turns out this little bugger is a square nut.
Anyways after a lot of frustration I get the battery out and the new one in place. But there's no way I'm going to secure the hold down bracket with that square nut again. So after some pondering I chose to use a J bolt so I won't have to remove the wheel well skirt next time. More pics in the next thread.
What should have been a 10 minute job, tops, and that's for someone that's all thumbs mind you (not me of course
), turns out to be much longer.I pop the hood, get the ratchet, and start to undo the hold down bracket bolt and it backs off for awhile but won't come out. Manual shows the following pic:
So I figure what the he.. is going on here. Turns out there's a nut underneath that is impossible to get a wrench on. So I had to remove the wheel well skirt to get at it.
After repeated trys to get a socket on it, turns out this little bugger is a square nut.
Anyways after a lot of frustration I get the battery out and the new one in place. But there's no way I'm going to secure the hold down bracket with that square nut again. So after some pondering I chose to use a J bolt so I won't have to remove the wheel well skirt next time. More pics in the next thread.
Last edited by Target Chaser; May 30, 2006 at 12:52 AM.
Cherish your Hopes...
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,074
Likes: 236
From: West Palm Beach FL
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
I didnt know ther was a square bolt...
...good fix...
I wouldnt want to have to remove tires and wheelwell covers either
Thankfully, Ive never had the problems on StuzVette that you ran into...
...good fix...
I wouldnt want to have to remove tires and wheelwell covers either
Thankfully, Ive never had the problems on StuzVette that you ran into...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 0
From: Machine Silver Z06 The Golden State......... Bay Area
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by StuzVette
I didnt know ther was a square bolt...
...good fix...
I wouldnt want to have to remove tires and wheelwell covers either
Thankfully, Ive never had the problems on StuzVette that you ran into...
...good fix...
I wouldnt want to have to remove tires and wheelwell covers either
Thankfully, Ive never had the problems on StuzVette that you ran into...
I'm thinking this was specific to my car. I haven't heard of anyone else having the nut like I came across. I'm guessing the previous owner or dealer stripped out the threads that the bolt screws into or this is a different type of battery tray.
I saw in one of Patches threads where he got a new hold down bracket from Optima that contours better to the base of the battery. I'm going to look into this, I don't like the way the bolt angles to the front instead of being vertical due to the shape of the stock bracket. It doesn't conform to the base of the new battery like it did flush with the stock battery.
Last edited by Target Chaser; May 30, 2006 at 01:15 AM.
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What an ordeal. Glad you finally got the battery changed. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,505
Likes: 42
From: Nashua NH
I just had to go through the same ordeal. My battery died and I had to remove the fenderwell also. I didn't have a square nut, mine was round, but it turned with the bolt. Of course I didn't take precautions for the next time, so I will have to go through the same bs the next time. It really is a PITA
Cherish your Hopes...
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,074
Likes: 236
From: West Palm Beach FL
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Target Chaser
Thanks Stu!
I'm thinking this was specific to my car. I haven't heard of anyone else having the nut like I came across. I'm guessing the previous owner or dealer stripped out the threads that the bolt screws into or this is a different type of battery tray.
I saw in one of Patches threads where he got a new hold down bracket from Optima that contours better to the base of the battery. I'm going to look into this, I don't like the way the bolt angles to the front instead of being vertical due to the shape of the stock bracket. It doesn't conform to the base of the new battery like it did flush with the stock battery.
I'm thinking this was specific to my car. I haven't heard of anyone else having the nut like I came across. I'm guessing the previous owner or dealer stripped out the threads that the bolt screws into or this is a different type of battery tray.
I saw in one of Patches threads where he got a new hold down bracket from Optima that contours better to the base of the battery. I'm going to look into this, I don't like the way the bolt angles to the front instead of being vertical due to the shape of the stock bracket. It doesn't conform to the base of the new battery like it did flush with the stock battery.
...I looked into several interstate batteries for StuzVette and some of them came with a difference brace to hold down the battery...
In fact they had a drawer full of options...
peace
Stu
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach NY
The square nut is supposed to be "captive", not meant to be removed, the weld broke.
The same thing happened with my car when the dealer tried to remove the Battery, they ended up replacing the complete Battery Tray.
Since they paid, not a problem.
I would try a Well-Nut available I think at Home Depot. You could insert it from the top without going the wheel well route.
Just a thought, I have not done this.
Barrier
The same thing happened with my car when the dealer tried to remove the Battery, they ended up replacing the complete Battery Tray.
Since they paid, not a problem.
I would try a Well-Nut available I think at Home Depot. You could insert it from the top without going the wheel well route.
Just a thought, I have not done this.
Barrier
Race Director
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From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Mine was a breeze when I replaced my OEM with an Optima which included removing the tray from above so I could clean up the acid that had leaked. What did take far too much time was replacing my positive cable that remained attached in it's frozen state in the side of the original battery that broke out. Attempting to remove and then attach the new cable to the back of the starter from under the car is a real trip when there is only about 1/2 inch clearance to reach the nut.
Attempting to remove and then attach the new cable to the back of the starter from under the car is a real trip when there is only about 1/2 inch clearance to reach the nut.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Seekonk MA / RI border
Kernel Dee - I went through pretty much the same thing you did...except I didn't have to replace my positive wire. I was able to cut off the original terminal, clean up the wire end (and the mess that the leaking Delco made) and put on a new terminal.
Funny how the original Delco looked brand new (it was 4 years old at the time) and in perfect condition...until I started pulling it out and saw the leakage it had done. PITA Those sidepost connections can cause and hide problems.
Funny how the original Delco looked brand new (it was 4 years old at the time) and in perfect condition...until I started pulling it out and saw the leakage it had done. PITA Those sidepost connections can cause and hide problems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 25
From: Tacoma WA
Yeah - my RedTop from AutoZone came with about 3-4 different pieces of hardware depending on what type of mount you needed. I used the special front peice that forms to the battery perfectly, and fit exactly where the stock one went.
GJ on your fix.
Dan
GJ on your fix.
Dan
Race Director
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I'd try JB Weld on the square nut to hold it in place. What a PIA to say the least. The JB Weld is great stuff I've used it on several things and no falures as yet. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,076
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From: Machine Silver Z06 The Golden State......... Bay Area
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Stock Man
I'd try JB Weld on the square nut to hold it in place. What a PIA to say the least. The JB Weld is great stuff I've used it on several things and no falures as yet.
I decided to go with a simple J bolt after all the trouble this gave me. Much easier next time around, which I hope isn't soon (hope this Red Top lasts longer than some others here
).I agree though, JB Weld is great stuff, have used it in the past with great results.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 5
From: Silver Spring MD
Wow, can you add that to your list of mods?!? I too just went with an Red Top last week despite the negative feedback... So far so good, but then again, I've only started her up once on it! Glad you got it fixed!