How to secure battery? Keeps coming loose and moving around? - LotusTalk

L0tus · 11-12-2012, 07:26 AM

My battery keeps coming lose from its lock in position and moves around when driving. I am under the impression that the only thing holding it down are the two carpet clamps? Doesn't seem like a good design given how bump/rough the ride is. Any ideas how to secure the battery down so it doesn't come loose?

brgelise · 11-12-2012, 07:37 AM

OE battery had a ridge at its base that the retainer firmly pinched up against. many replacement batteries don't have that ridge so the stock method doesn't work.

Tracker · 11-12-2012, 08:02 AM

Mine was doing the same, so I ditched it and got an Odyssey PC680 with an aluminum hold down. Now it's perfect.

L0tus · 11-12-2012, 08:09 AM

Might consider upgrading the battery then. Pretty crappy design on Lotus's end IMHO.

glb · 11-12-2012, 09:16 AM

Assuming your battery has the ridge:

Glue rubber to mount

Bend mount so it's tighter

Put rubber, or 2 pcs HD Velcro under battery.

My Interstate never moves a bit.

edit: Oh, push mount against battery when tightening mount bolt. Check rear mount bolt, too.

glagola1 · 11-12-2012, 09:35 AM

I took some aluminum bar stock from Home Depot and made a strap that bolts to the back side mount and the wraps/folds around the back of the battery and then makes it way down under the front side clamp. Weighs nothing, was very inexpensive and works well.

It's three segments pop-riveted together.

curtis · 11-12-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glagola1

I took some aluminum bar stock from Home Depot and made a strap that bolts to the back side mount and the wraps/folds around the back of the battery and then makes it way down under the front side clamp. Weighs nothing, was very inexpensive and works well.

It's three segments pop-riveted together.

Could you possisbly snap a few pics of how the strap works that you made? Thanks..I am having the same problem as the op and sorry for hijacking this thread!

JavierBayArea · 11-12-2012, 10:07 AM

Dude don't drive the car hard with the battery like that. I have a friend who had to replace the clam because the loose battery smashed it.

glagola1 · 11-12-2012, 10:26 AM

Here you go. Sorry for the lousy phone pic. Super easy and solid as a rock.

brgelise · 11-12-2012, 10:30 AM

If you're a track junkie, an Odyssey 625 will do just fine. IUts smaller, lighter and more CCA but less reserve. had mine since May 2008 and never an issue even when cranking stereo with sub etc>>>

glb · 11-12-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glagola1

I took some aluminum bar stock from Home Depot and made a strap that bolts to the back side mount and the wraps/folds around the back of the battery and then makes it way down under the front side clamp. Weighs nothing, was very inexpensive and works well.

It's three segments pop-riveted together.

good job.

sturgeongeneral · 11-12-2012, 04:46 PM

Doesn't Sector 111 sell an upgraded battery clamp? Definetely do NOT drive without the battery secure. It WILL bounce around the trunk and crack the clam.

Silver_Surfer · 11-12-2012, 05:44 PM

Industrial velcro the entire bottom of the battery.

bcpower · 11-13-2012, 06:01 AM

This is what I made for my optima battery. There is a matching bracket in the back that you can't see.

hroundy · 11-13-2012, 04:48 PM

I made a similar bracket for an Optima. I cut it to fit into the battery cell towers. I also put a strap around the battery.

driftwood · 11-15-2012, 06:31 AM

i run a pc680 & use the factory bracket to hold it from sliding sideways, but also use a strip of Velcro to keep it from doing the same front to back

never had an issue (but the battery weighing only 12ish lbs probably doesn't hurt my cause

11-12-2012, 07:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
L0tus Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 100	How to secure battery? Keeps coming loose and moving around? My battery keeps coming lose from its lock in position and moves around when driving. I am under the impression that the only thing holding it down are the two carpet clamps? Doesn't seem like a good design given how bump/rough the ride is. Any ideas how to secure the battery down so it doesn't come loose?

11-12-2012, 07:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
brgelise Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CT Posts: 2,512 Images: 9	OE battery had a ridge at its base that the retainer firmly pinched up against. many replacement batteries don't have that ridge so the stock method doesn't work. __________________ 04 Skip Barber Race School, Competition certificate 04 Jaguar XJ Vandan Plas Radiance Red Ivory leather 08 Isuzu Ascender Lux Flint Grey, Grey leather 10 Lotus Evora Persian Blue, Charcoal w/Ivory header 11 BMW Xdrive35d, Vermillion Red w/Cinnamon Brown 2005 Elise gone but never forgotten as it taught me to drive quickly!

11-12-2012, 09:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
glb Unattractive Nuisance Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chester, NJ Posts: 6,221	Assuming your battery has the ridge: Glue rubber to mount Bend mount so it's tighter Put rubber, or 2 pcs HD Velcro under battery. My Interstate never moves a bit. edit: Oh, push mount against battery when tightening mount bolt. Check rear mount bolt, too. __________________ 05 elise (PES chip, SSRs, shift tower mods, Multivex; HID low beams); 05 Corolla XRS; 72 Elan Sprint, 170 hp (Sold) "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." G. Orwell. "Incontinence Emergency Hotline- Can you please hold?"

11-12-2012, 10:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
JavierBayArea Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 399	Dude don't drive the car hard with the battery like that. I have a friend who had to replace the clam because the loose battery smashed it. __________________ Sport Elise #30 BMW Z4 sdrive35i

11-12-2012, 10:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
brgelise Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CT Posts: 2,512 Images: 9	If you're a track junkie, an Odyssey 625 will do just fine. IUts smaller, lighter and more CCA but less reserve. had mine since May 2008 and never an issue even when cranking stereo with sub etc>>> __________________ 04 Skip Barber Race School, Competition certificate 04 Jaguar XJ Vandan Plas Radiance Red Ivory leather 08 Isuzu Ascender Lux Flint Grey, Grey leather 10 Lotus Evora Persian Blue, Charcoal w/Ivory header 11 BMW Xdrive35d, Vermillion Red w/Cinnamon Brown 2005 Elise gone but never forgotten as it taught me to drive quickly!

11-12-2012, 08:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tracker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 35	Mine was doing the same, so I ditched it and got an Odyssey PC680 with an aluminum hold down. Now it's perfect.

11-12-2012, 08:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
L0tus Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 100	Might consider upgrading the battery then. Pretty crappy design on Lotus's end IMHO.

11-12-2012, 09:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
glagola1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 140	I took some aluminum bar stock from Home Depot and made a strap that bolts to the back side mount and the wraps/folds around the back of the battery and then makes it way down under the front side clamp. Weighs nothing, was very inexpensive and works well. It's three segments pop-riveted together.

11-12-2012, 10:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
glagola1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 140	Here you go. Sorry for the lousy phone pic. Super easy and solid as a rock.

11-12-2012, 04:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
sturgeongeneral Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sacramento, Ca. Posts: 1,794	Doesn't Sector 111 sell an upgraded battery clamp? Definetely do NOT drive without the battery secure. It WILL bounce around the trunk and crack the clam. __________________ 05 Elise 56 VW Dune Buggy Lightweight fiberglass toys that simulate street legal rocket ships!

11-12-2012, 05:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
Silver_Surfer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 320	Industrial velcro the entire bottom of the battery.

11-13-2012, 06:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
bcpower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 26	This is what I made for my optima battery. There is a matching bracket in the back that you can't see. Attached Images Last edited by bcpower; 11-13-2012 at 06:12 AM.

11-13-2012, 04:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
hroundy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Concord NH Posts: 165	I made a similar bracket for an Optima. I cut it to fit into the battery cell towers. I also put a strap around the battery. __________________ Howard 2005 Elise AP LSS hardtop

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