Battery installation

[wm69]

OK, so got my 34R redtop and need to install it on the wife's 01 LTD. Is there anything I need to worry about with disconnecting the current battery? I know a lot of cars now have a code for the radio (Hondas) or some have to have the computer system rebooted if you unhook the battery (Mercedes). Anything like this on the 4runner? Also gonna need a spacer of some type. I guess Optima is no longer offering them. I figure I'll use something like a few 2x4's or similiar underneath to raise the batt up a little. I'd kinda like to get something lined up to make this a quick install so I'm trying to get my spacers done before I start (which is why I'm asking instead of measuring the old battery). Just want to make sure I'm not gonna screw up some electical/computer thingmagic before I start.
Thanks

 

[lee]

nope you should be ok.

my alpine HU lost all the presets, but thats about it.

if youre gonna put a piece of wood beneath it, youll be fine. if you decide to put something on top (i put a little rubber thing to keep it in place), then youll have to move the ground cable up one bolt.

besides that, its straight in, straight out.

 

[NViejeP]

What a coincidence, i'll be getting my 34r Monday. I bought it from summit racing and they said that they include a spacer in the box. Or at least the service guy said that. Hopefully they keep their word, Idon't know what I;m going to do if I don't get the spacer.

So let me know how your install goes and what you did.

 

[lee]

oh also your clock will reset

 

[wm69]

oh also your clock will reset

Yeah, got it in this afternoon. Used a piece of wood to raise it up a little. What I found was that 1 piece of wood (1/2 in) wasn't enough but two was too much to allow the cable to reach. With only one the bracket was still not tigh enough so I slid a couple of washers under the angle iron on the top bracket where it grabs the battery. That seemed to do it.......Nviejep let me know how that spacer works and I might try one of those. My setup will work but I'll always know it's rigged up instead of done right. If the spacer allows a perfect fit I'll pick one up somewhere.

 

[NViejeP]

According to tracking it should come tommorow, if not Tuesday.

Can you post a picture of it? So I have an idea what to do if it doens't fit? Hopefully if it doens't come with a bracket, I'll have to find a piece of wood somewhere.

 

[wm69]

yeah if yours doesn't come with a spacer or if the spacer doesn't work let me know and I'll post pics. I was suprised that the battery is sitting in a more or less unattached plastic tray. I expected to at least find a metal tray down there to hold the bottom of the battery. Guess the setup they used works ok though.......

 

[Red3.slow]

most auto parts stores have something called a settings saver or something of that sort pretty much its a cigarette lighter plug that you hook up a 9v battery to and it should save your radio and clock settings for a short amount of time.

 

[NViejeP]

It came, but theres no sapcer, im thinkin gabout putting some stereofome under it, the one they used to hold it and protect it in the box. Looks like it will work ,any second thoughts?

 

[NViejeP]

nope you should be ok.

my alpine HU lost all the presets, but thats about it.

if youre gonna put a piece of wood beneath it, youll be fine. if you decide to put something on top (i put a little rubber thing to keep it in place), then youll have to move the ground cable up one bolt.

besides that, its straight in, straight out.

What do you mean move the ground cable up one bolt? The red and black cable seemed to go in just fine. Given that they are kind of like this: \ instead of | - It looks fine. Is there a problem with mounting it diagonal instead of straight up?


I attemped instaling it today. Ran into ltos of trouble, styrofoam was too big, couldn't install it. It was dark and I decided to work on it tommorow. I really don't know what I'm going to do, maybe I'll get a piece of wood and put it underneath, if not, i'm just going to get a piece of wood and put it on top of it.

 

[lee]

What do you mean move the ground cable up one bolt? The red and black cable seemed to go in just fine. Given that they are kind of like this: \ instead of | - It looks fine. Is there a problem with mounting it diagonal instead of straight up?


I attemped instaling it today. Ran into ltos of trouble, styrofoam was too big, couldn't install it. It was dark and I decided to work on it tommorow. I really don't know what I'm going to do, maybe I'll get a piece of wood and put it underneath, if not, i'm just going to get a piece of wood and put it on top of it.

i didnt put anything underneath the battery, i put a piece of rubber on TOP.

so since it was sitting lower, i had to move the neg terminal cable up one bolt on the side of the truck (there are ground bolts in that area, take a look) to make it reach. the pos. cable reached just fine.

if you put something underneath (ie a piece of wood or the spacer) you wont have to do that.

 

[NViejeP]

I put a piece of wodo on top. Fits okay, it wont stay put if I get in an accident though, so i think I'll order a spacer adn see how that works.

Didn't have to move nay bolts or anything for the wires. Firts pretty good.

I'm very surprised at how fast the truck starts compared to my old battery.

 

[wm69]

I put a piece of wodo on top. Fits okay, it wont stay put if I get in an accident though, so i think I'll order a spacer adn see how that works.

Didn't have to move nay bolts or anything for the wires. Firts pretty good.

I'm very surprised at how fast the truck starts compared to my old battery.

I put a piece of wood under the battery (1/2 in thick cut to barely fit down in the plastic tray) and then put 2" wide (not thick) washers under the angle iron (stacked on top of each other) and then tightened the bracket down and it's in there tight.

 

[wm69]

Just to update, I was at the Parents' last weekend visiting and what do I find in Dad's junk pile but a couple of Optima spacers. I asked if that's what they were and he says "yeah, I figured I might need them one of these days and didn't need them for the Jeep or the tractor so I kept them just in case"
I picked one up and swapped it out for my piece of wood this morning. The batt with the spacer is a PERFECT fit. With the wood I had to wedge spacers in between the top of the battery and the hold down bracket to hold it in tight and when I tried to use a taller piece of wood the cables were stretched. The batt + spacer fit right in, cables fit fine without being stretched, and the hold down no longer requires washers to keep it tight. Optima still has a "cover" that is the same thing as the spacer (it's marked "not to be used as a spacer" so I'm guessing it's some kind of liability thing) so if anyone is purchasing an Optima for their runner get the spacer. I'm pretty good at ghetto-rigging stuff but the batt fits much better with the factory spacer.