Battery Hold Downs Description And Operation; Battery Hold Downs View - Jeep Cherokee 2000 Service Manual

8A - 4 BATTERY
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)
reliable connection of the battery to the vehicle elec-
trical system.
The battery positive cable terminal clamp is die
cast onto the ends of two wires. One wire has an eye-
let terminal that connects the battery positive cable
to the B(+) terminal stud of the Power Distribution
Center (PDC), and the other wire has an eyelet ter-
minal that connects the battery positive cable to the
B(+) terminal stud of the engine starter motor sole-
noid. The battery negative cable terminal clamp is
also die cast onto the ends of two wires. One wire
has an eyelet terminal that connects the battery neg-
ative cable to the vehicle powertrain through a stud
on the right side of the engine block. The other wire
has an eyelet terminal that connects the battery neg-
ative cable to the vehicle body through a ground
screw on the right front fender inner shield, near the
battery.
BATTERY HOLD DOWNS
DESCRIPTION
Fig. 3 Battery Hold Downs
1 – SCREW AND WASHER (1)
2 – NUT AND WASHER (2)
3 – T-BOLT (2)
4 – RETAINER (2)
5 – BATTERY TRAY
6 – UPPER RADIATOR CROSS MEMBER
7 – BRACKET
8 – STRAP
The battery hold down hardware (Fig. 3) includes
two T-bolts with plastic push-on retainers, a hold
down bracket, a stamped steel battery support strap,
two hex nuts with coned washers and a single hex
screw with a coned washer. The battery hold down
bracket consists of a formed steel rod with a stamped
steel angle bracket welded to each end. The hold
down bracket assembly is then plastic-coated for cor-
rosion protection.
When installing a battery into the battery tray, be
certain that the hold down hardware is properly
installed and that the fasteners are tightened to the
proper specifications. Improper hold down fastener
tightness, whether too loose or too tight, can result in
damage to the battery, the vehicle or both. Refer to
Battery Hold Downs in the index of this service
manual for the location of the proper battery hold
down installation procedures, including the proper
hold down fastener tightness specifications.
OPERATION
The battery hold down hardware secures the bat-
tery to the battery tray in the engine compartment.
The hold down support strap provides an additional
anchor point for the upper end of the battery and
hold down hardware at the upper radiator crossmem-
ber. This hardware is designed to prevent battery
movement during vehicle operation. Unrestrained
battery movement during vehicle operation can
result in damage to the vehicle, the battery or both.
The hold down T-bolts are installed onto the bat-
tery tray before the tray is installed in the engine
compartment. The T-bolts are inserted through a hole
in a molded formation integral to each side of the
battery tray from underneath, with the threaded
ends of the bolts extending upward. A plastic push-on
retainer is installed over each T-bolt to secure the
T-bolts to the battery tray for ease of assembly dur-
ing the vehicle manufacturing process. However,
these plastic push-on retainers are not available or
required for service replacement.
The battery hold down bracket is installed across
the top of the battery case and over the two upright
threaded ends of the T-bolts. The round hole in the
support strap is then installed over the threaded end
of the forward T-bolt and the slotted hole of the strap
is secured by a screw with washer to the upper radi-
ator cross member. A hex nut with coned washer is
then installed and tightened onto each of the T-bolts
to securely hold down the battery in the battery tray.
XJ