850 GLT What is this piece? Topic is solved

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 10 Nov 2019, 15:16

I found this piece of hard plastic/rubber resting on the against the new battery AAA put in, and the square metal battery frame the battery sits on top of.

I don’t remember what this is- also think a piece has broken off.

Took a few different views to help people.

Post by **scot850** » 10 Nov 2019, 15:37

That is the battery hold down clip. It fits (looking down on the battery from the front of the car, on the left hand end of the try nearest the radiator. If you look at the front edge of the battery try there are a few slots in the edge.

You position (the correctly sized battery for your car) and either of the sizes can then be locked in using this clip.

1) Push the battery as far as you can to the driver's side inner fender and there is a lip the battery bottom edge should slide into to lock that end in place.
2) The battery should also be slid back as far as possible to the rear of the engine bay (airbox) so again the bottom lip of the battery slides into the rear lip of the battery tray.
3) The clip should then be able to be fitted to the front radiator side of the try and lock the battery in place. This is done by rotating the clip from top to bottom and it should slot into one of the slots on the try and hold the battery in place.

This is a very important piece of safety so fit it ASAP!! Having said that, yours is missing a chunk of it. It might stil work but I would replace it when you can.

In your 2nd picture, you have the clip as it should fit. The 'finger' as you see in the 3rd picture should slide down the side of the battery and hold it in place and the continuation of that is what locks into the slot in the battery tray preventing it sliding to the left or right.

Neil.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 10 Nov 2019, 17:05

You know I had a feeling that was this pieces job.

Maybe when AAA removed the old battery it broke- don’t know. If I hadn’t been in a rush I would have replaced the battery as I often do.

Thanks a lot!!

Post by **scot850** » 10 Nov 2019, 17:11

Glad to help.

Neil.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 10 Nov 2019, 17:13

Unrelated - have you ever bought one of those after market intermittent wiper relays? I know my 95 can accept one, but haven’t needed one till now

Post by **scot850** » 10 Nov 2019, 21:06

Personally no. I have thought about it but it never went further than that.

I know it can be done, and sure I have read about it on this forum.

I would suggest starting a new thread on the subject as you are more likely to get help or pointers.

Good luck,

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 10 Nov 2019, 23:43

I have one of those relays, it is nice to be able to control the length of the lag time between wiper swipes.

They are commonly known as "Volkswagen 99" relays on eBay or at the junkyard. Just pop it in, it works.

Post by **abscate** » 11 Nov 2019, 02:15

That is the worlds best designed cleverest battery hold down.