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Optima Battery Tie Down

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Old Jan 19, 2007 | 08:06 AM
  #1  
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Default Optima Battery Tie Down

Anybody else have problems with the Optima "V" shaped tie-down holding their battery? I try to tighten it down pretty good, but not too much, but the battery always seems to slide out from under it.

Has anybody come up with a better tie-down solution for these batteries?
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Old Jan 19, 2007 | 11:41 AM
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I've got the same tie down and don't have any problems although I see how it could slip out since it angles up to the battery. You might try to raise the bolt down end up so it's not angled as much. You could use washers or a spacer on the bolt. That's what I was going to do if it did not hold. Hope this helps. $.02
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Old Jan 19, 2007 | 01:41 PM
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Default Optima Tie Down

I have a Red Top with no issues. I make sure the battery is slid all the way back such that it catches the lip at the back of the battery tray and it won't lift up. Next I hand fit the hold down puck so it rests against the middle can of the battery. I tighten the bolt until just before tight and push the puck back towards the battery to make sure. I've never seen the battery move around in the tray. Good luck.

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Old Jan 19, 2007 | 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by HollywoodFRC
I have a Red Top with no issues. I make sure the battery is slid all the way back such that it catches the lip at the back of the battery tray and it won't lift up. Next I hand fit the hold down puck so it rests against the middle can of the battery. I tighten the bolt until just before tight and push the puck back towards the battery to make sure. I've never seen the battery move around in the tray. Good luck.

Not sure if GM made any significant changes between the model years but on my 04, I've had no trouble with my Optima Redtop moving while using the stock battery holddown hardware.

As Hollywood mentioned, you need to make sure the back part of the battery is pushed all the way back (toward the firewall) to ensure a proper fit

Larry
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Old Jan 19, 2007 | 03:33 PM
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It took me a couple of tries to get the position right but once I did it works just fine on my Red Top.
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Old Jan 19, 2007 | 05:32 PM
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mine is in there solid doesn't move at all.
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Old Jan 19, 2007 | 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 87bob
It took me a couple of tries to get the position right but once I did it works just fine on my Red Top.
Same here.
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Old Jan 23, 2007 | 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by LarryW
Not sure if GM made any significant changes between the model years but on my 04, I've had no trouble with my Optima Redtop moving while using the stock battery holddown hardware.

As Hollywood mentioned, you need to make sure the back part of the battery is pushed all the way back (toward the firewall) to ensure a proper fit

Larry
When I push the battery all the way back, the puck cannot reach the front lip of the battery!
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Old Jan 23, 2007 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by C5 ChemE
When I push the battery all the way back, the puck cannot reach the front lip of the battery!
C5 ChemE, can you post a pic of what your battery tray looks like? Maybe GM made some changes (mine's an 04)

This is what mine looked like while I was installing my Optima (the holddown piece and the bolt are not in place just yet but you can see how the Optima is seated perfectly on the tray; it's hard to see the lip of the Redtop in this pic but it's there and the factory holddown piece fits perfectly):



Larry
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Old Jan 23, 2007 | 05:18 PM
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I'll take a pic when I get home from work tomorrow evening!
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Old Mar 20, 2010 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by C5 ChemE
I'll take a pic when I get home from work tomorrow evening!
Here's the way my tie down looks w/ the battery pushed all the way back towards the firewall. Maybe it's because I have a diff model battery? (I go the one w/ the side and top posts)




As you can see, the tie down just misses the bottom lip of the battery.

So.... Any suggestions??
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Old Mar 20, 2010 | 10:36 AM
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Are you sure the back of the battery is seated in the holder and not sitting on top?
I have the one with top and front connections and have had no trouble.
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Old Mar 20, 2010 | 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by bobnjudy
Are you sure the back of the battery is seated in the holder and not sitting on top?
I have the one with top and front connections and have had no trouble.
I'm an idiot! That was it! I thought it was seated all the way down in the tray but you were right- it was on top of the back!

Thank you VERY much for the help!!
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Old Mar 20, 2010 | 11:06 AM
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For future reference, OPTIMA has available a variety of adapters which allow for different sized batteries in battery trays...

http://www.optimabatteries.com/_medi...s/adapters.pdf
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Old Mar 20, 2010 | 11:13 AM
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I have an Optima RED top version and am using the side posts, not the top, mine is in a 98 vert with no clamp down issues.
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Old Mar 21, 2010 | 02:50 PM
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i just had the same issue, mine was sitting in top of the lip on the back side of the tray
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Old Mar 22, 2023 | 07:43 PM
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Default Optima tie down problem

Originally Posted by C5 ChemE
Anybody else have problems with the Optima "V" shaped tie-down holding their battery? I try to tighten it down pretty good, but not too much, but the battery always seems to slide out from under it.

Has anybody come up with a better tie-down solution for these batteries?
the battery isn't sitting in the tray properly..its sitting up on the lip on the back of the battery tray..reposition it towards the front and it will set into tray ..I know I had the same issue..
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Old Mar 23, 2023 | 01:48 AM
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^ he resolved that issue....thirteen years ago
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Old Nov 18, 2024 | 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
^ he resolved that issue....thirteen years ago
​​​​​​And yet his comment was still helpful because other people read these threads for help... Years and years later. Go figure.
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