Well, this is a minor thing... but it has me wondering: Do the two bolts for the battery hold down strap have any sort of washers or spacers under the bolt heads?

I replaced my battery the other day and under the head of one of the bolts was an odd square washer/spacer about 1/8" thick. Under the other bolt's head was a random thick nut and two washers.

I'm not sure if the nut/washers combo was to replace a second square washer, or if they both are random.

So, what do you have under the heads of your battery hold down strap bolts, anything?

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There are no spacers but your battery IS NOT the factory original battery and is shorter than the original. The spacers are required if the battery is too short.

Been there, done that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bob gauff

 

Another quick question... which direction is the battery strap supposed to be installed?

The strap has one "dipped" end, which clearly is meant to be installed at the front or rear of the battery (as oriented with the car).

Not only do I not recall if the "dipped" end was installed toward the front or rear of the battery, I have little confidence that the last owner put it in the correct orientation even if I did.

Currently I have the "dipped" end of the strap at the rear of battery so it pushes the battery cleat into and under bracket up toward the front, and the "dipped" end keeps the battery from sliding aft. Not sure if that is correct, but thought I'd check, or if it really even matters.

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Here are two photos that may help.

The first photo shows the strap with its "dipped" end.

The second photo shows this style of strap installed in an XK, with the "dipped" end toward the front of the car.

 

This image says it is from an XJ manual of some sort, but not sure. It shows the "dipped" end at the front of the battery.

 

Anyone know how the strap is oriented from the factory on the battery for certain?

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OK, I reversed the strap to match the diagram above and it seems to fit a bit better. The "warning labels" on the strap also are now aligned so they are legible from the trunk opening, versus being upside down before. So I assume the diagram above is correct.

 

Ah, found a photo from a "hard reset" thread in the X308 forum that reinforces the final "dipped end toward the front" configuration I adopted. So guess I'm good.

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