battery hold down options for 24f battery in 2015 rav 4 xle

[apollo18]

hey all sorry to make a new thread so i have a 2015 toyota rav 4 xle. i bought it used about a year ago and it had a aftermarket interstate costco group 35 battery inside. i am pretty certain with some research that it originally in 2015 came with a 24f battery however most replacement battery sources spec a 35 such as costco since they prob dont carry the 24f

also recently toyota has put in a recall about something about the battery hold down not working properly and the battery coming loose, not fully sure about all this but something along those lines

so today i needed a battery replacement and am on the road so didn't have the time to do full research. i looked at the bottom battery holder slot thingy and it was larger then the aftermarket group 35 battery thats in my suv right now. so i assumed that meant that my vehicle came with a 24f battery or a special toyota sized group 35 yada yada yada. i picked up a 24f from walmart and installed it, it sit at the bottom and fit snug but the hold downs arent properly secured. i tightened it decently well but its not a proper fit

any idea on what to do about this or how to better secure it?

thx

 

[Leo99]

They sell replacement hold downs at AutoZone, etc. Check them out and see what fits your application.

 

[Racer4]

We have a 2017 XLE and the correct battery is group 35 for my year model.

 

[apollo18]

We have a 2017 XLE and the correct battery is group 35 for my year model.

Hmm is your battery fully snug in the bottom holder?

Cuz my holder is much bigger and I heard Toyota branded group 35 is bigger then a real group 35

 

[eljefino]

There are universal hold-downs. Is your bottom tray bolted in or just loose?

 

[nomas]

Amazon ...

 

[apollo18]

There are universal hold-downs. Is your bottom tray bolted in or just loose?

seems loose to me, when i put the batt in it was moving around

 

[The Critic]

seems loose to me, when i put the batt in it was moving around

The design is very finicky and some brands of 35's do not fit very well.

But 35 is the correct battery.

 

[Kira]

What/where/how "fit snug" and, "...but the hold downs arent properly secured. i tightened it decently well but its not a proper fit", isn't descriptive.

Why aren't the hold downs properly secured?
Are the J-bolts too long?
Is your tray equipped with a threaded hole for the small block style of hold down?

 

[DuckRyder]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCMN-23V734-9460.pdf

 

[apollo18]

What/where/how "fit snug" and, "...but the hold downs arent properly secured. i tightened it decently well but its not a proper fit", isn't descriptive.

Why aren't the hold downs properly secured?
Are the J-bolts too long?
Is your tray equipped with a threaded hole for the small block style of hold down?

Thanks for reply ill explain better

So it looks like there is a metal platform at the bottom which is obviously attached to the frame or something. Then there is a little Metal square thing that kind of the battery will sit on but when I was installing my battery that metal square was wiggling and moving so I don’t think that is secure or glued or welded to the frame. However the sides of that Metal square has edges that are raised so the battery kind of has lips so it doesn’t fall off or anything. It seemed at this time the battery is very easy to be toppled over or pushed off because it will just slide off the metal platform at the bottom. But I never tried it because I knew I was going to install the hold down. Then for the wall down there is a metal crossmember I think you call it with A j hook which I installed and you tighten it up and then the other side bolts into the hood somewhere. Once this is all installed it is pretty secure however it seems that the Toyota original Jayhawk and crossmember pulldown thing is only made for their battery so small batteries won’t be properly clasp down add large batteries will be a tight fit. In my case I have a slightly larger battery. It is tight I made sure it was snug however I do not want to tighten it too much because I don’t want to crack the battery or something I’m not sure if that is even possible but I just don’t want to do too much however I don’t want it to lose in which that it is moving. I drove around for a bit and never noticed it moving or wiggling and anytime I try to push it the battery is pretty secure however I still want to find a better option to secure it because I don’t want the positive terminal to somehow end up hitting the middle cross member which is probably grounded and would cause a short

 

[Kira]

After reading post #10, it looks like your problems will be solved by the dealer. Unless they demand an "OE" sized battery.

 

[Danno]

Interesting that Toyota can screw up something as simple as a battery tie down system. At least a $500 fix for Toyota to eat.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Bailin' war' has secured many a battery in my time...
I have also used them new plastic ty strappers. I can tell you they work nearly as good as war'.

 

[eljefino]

The battery in my off road plow truck is held down by a $2 nylon ratchet strap. If one gets the ratchet in just the right spot they can get a satisfactory, if very ugly, result.

Toyota likes to have, as OP describes, a "frame pad" that goes under a tray, sometimes plastic, that goes under the battery and it all gets sandwiched together with the J-hooks and hold down. The tray seems there to catch acid if the battery burps any, presumably to keep it from dripping down the car's subframe and corroding stuff. If a battery has bigger "feet" than OE I wouldn't object to trimming them slightly-- I had to do this to fit a Group 26 in my wife's Prius that takes a H6 stock. It's obviously up to your personal pucker factor as to how much case you can abrade before you "strike acid."

 

[apollo18]

sadly guess i gotta pop by walmart or think of some other alternative battery securing methods. really don't want it to slide and hit the cross member and cause it to short. dealer won't touch it cuz i put in a 24f and they want a 35 for the recall fix it seems

if i go one of those walmart battery hold downs or amazon one is it kinda certain to work? i looked and seems like there is a few spots a j hook could fit, was also maybe thinking of doing a type of ratchet tie down kinda thing

i know my q is stupid i just have troubles with aftermarket stuff in the past

 

[Kira]

dealer won't touch it cuz i put in a 24f and they want a 35 for the recall fix it seems

Holy Cow! I was right.

i just have troubles with aftermarket stuff in the past

Think BIG PICTURE. Hold the battery down onto something or strap it aside something.
Also: Think 'square'. Just hold the battery down stationarily.

From my perspective, DO NOT go the "case shaving" route EVER.
Striking acid is something you do not want to do.

A battery broke free on my 1972 Toyota Corolla De Luxe and went into the fan on a long turn.
I heard the buzz. It abraded into a cell and threw droplets of H2SO4 into the air and I was breathing it.
I coughed up patches of red, wiggly tissue.....NOT COOL.

 

[apollo18]

thank you, i am hoping i can find a good solution, i will take a look over next few days but open to inputs if someone got something to work

my oh my tho does the higher cca battery crank the engine easy

 

[Kira]

the higher cca battery crank the engine easy

Especially when they're fully charged.

 

[DuckRyder]

Id consider putting the correct battery in it if a close to factory solution could not be found.