Hi, can anyone tell me if they have had a problem undoing the bolt which keeps the battery securing thing in place? Is there a nut underneath and if so how do you get a spanner or something in there to allow you to take the bolt out?

Many thanks

Gerry Pat :o

Yes, I had this problem with my TD4. The "captive nut" cannot be accessed from underneath - it has a round head and is recessed into the bottom of the battery tray (a feat of brilliant design, particularly when it is no longer "captive" :blink: ).

There are two approaches. Firstly, you can chop out the battery tray, remove the battery and buy a new battery tray from your local dealer (or breaker). Secondly, you can do what I did ....

Drill the top off the accessible (top) nut to release the battery clamp, and remove the battery. With a bit of jiggery pokery you can now remove the battery tray from the engine bay. Knock the captive nut out of the battery tray, and replace with a slightly longer (proper) nut, bolt and washer (I paid 40p from my local hardware store). With a hacksaw and chisel, form a slot in the side of the bottom lip of the battery tray so that you can access the new nut with a spanner once everything's back in place.

Re-fit the battery tray, install the battery and marvel at why Land Rover didn't do this in the first place!

Hi RR,

Thanks for your reply. I will have a bash at your solution tomorrow. The work-around reminds me of the "special" tools developed by BLMC in the seventies for use in some of their more "creative" engineering examples.

I was beginning to think I was missing something.


kind regards

Gerry Pat

Thanks RR,

BTW have you any tips in a bonnet "catch" that in not catching? The pasky thing does not want to hold the bonnet down properly

Gerry Pat : :(

Not really, other than liberally lubricating everything, and perhaps adjusting the cable. Most people have the opposite problem - bonnet won't open. Then you're in trouble ;)