I have an Optima D51 in my 2002 Prius. Original bracket that holds down the battery and keeps it from vibrating while driving is missing. I have a few questions: 1. Where can I buy this hold down bracket? 2. I imagine the hold down bracket is not compatible with the D51, so what modifications are necessary? 3. What happens if the negative terminal touches the positive terminal or of the metal body of the car touches the positive terminal (while the negative battery terminal is grounded)? Does it short out the electronics?
1. Any Toyota dealer parts dept. 2. I think the issue is less with the hold down bracket and more that the original equipment battery is shorter than the Optima so the battery tray will not fit very well. 3. Yes, if you allow the battery terminals to short, that constitutes a fire hazard and can damage the battery. If the Prius is READY at the time, you may damage the DC/DC converter within the inverter.
I'd see if shortened bungee cords would hold it securely, if it were my car. If you have a taller battery you may need an even longer bolt to hold it down. Our battery is shorter than oem, the simple solution was a chunk of 2x4 underneath. You don't have to use the official equipment, as long as you don't compromise on function. P.S. The cover is important, too. Without it, random stuff in your truck could roll over to the battery and cause a short.
The reason I ask is so I can look for one on eBay or another salvage yard. It's just a metal bracket. Not like it goes bad and needs to be bought new from the dealer.
You know the little loose red plastic cap that sits on the positive terminal? What if I just silicon-glue it to the plastic battery body to insulate the positive terminal against accidental short circuits?
Generic answer: (which might not be right) Consult an auto parts store or two. Have them LOOK at the battery and mounting points. They may have a "generic" battery bracket that would work.
Hi Primus, Likely the battery bracket has 2 purposes, to prevent electrical "problems" and to prevent the battery from becoming a projectile during an accident. When your car is moving the battery has enough kinetic energy to become a missile if your car hits something or rolls over. A bungee just can't do that and your back seat may not hold it back. I have sometimes seen the battery a good distance from the scene of an accident! If your stock bracket is completely missing and your nice Optima will fit in a stock bracket there are several presently on Ebay cheap, from people who put in larger generic lead acid batteries. If your Optima will not fit a stock upper bracket, Easyrider's advice above is good, and you can combine the lower part of the stock bracket with a generic upper bracket form a parts store. If you only need the bottom bracket you can template out the wheelwell bolt holes on a piece of paper and get a piece of iron from a local weld shop or junkyard, drill it and bolt it to the floor of the wheelwell, it is needed under the battery to hold the J bolts from a generic bracket. I am a big fan of your Optima, we used them in Iraq, they were the only thing that would take the heat. Now I use one in my antique car because it can sit for a very long time without discharging. That and Avgas in the tank, I can be away for a year, hit the key and go. I am not sure how much of an issue hydrogen gas is on Prius, where we do not crank on the 12v. battery and our amp draw is low. Volume of hydrogen gas production is a function of amp hours charged.
It is also a function of battery design. Under normal conditions, an AGM battery doesn't release ANY gasses into the air.
Given what has been said here, I think the best idea would be to get some pieces of steel, bolt them down to the three holes on the steel part of the trunk just under the trim, and bend a piece from it outwards and over the battery to keep it from moving up or side to side. However, what about using the silicone as an added measure? Just to prevent an accidental short circuit. Does the silicone damage the battery or cause other hazards?
Silicone won't hurt your battery, can create fuel metering problems if used in the engine-see my post on Prius timing belt. Old inner tube material is a great battery tray insulator...
