My battery hold down is really rusty and nasty looking, the rubberized coating has come off. Are there any people out there that had the same issue and found a cheap alternative? I don't want the down time associated with taking the hold down out, and waiting a few days for the paint to dry (it's cool here now) while not being able to drive my XJ for fear of the battery arcing against soemthing or bouncing around.

Bungee cord or rope for now.

I'd rather not, but thank for the suggestion. It's not at the point of breaking yet, but I saw a new one for $25.00 That's about as cheap as you can get since I don't have a welder.

I bought the kit for mine, works good. the "bolt" was abit too big so i just threw some sockets to hold it down on the mount
http://www.carquest.com/webapp/wcs/s...6167?acesApp=0

Well mine was originally tied up ( not down ) with an used Wal-Mart plastic bag. Until I obtained another good condition factory hold down and refurbed it ( I used the plastic cote stuff you buy to do handles of tools ) I purchased an inexpensive small ratchet strap. Can't remember where I got it ( it's almost a mini version ). It worked perfectly and never got even slightly loose.

Good Luck

small stuff like that is always free at the pick and pull, if ur sneaky

rachet strap

I second the junk yard idea...get the part cheap, refurb or customize it, install it at your leisure...

Surprisingly hard to find at jy, at least that is my experience. I searched for weeks for a hold down and battery try. No Cherokees in the yard had the hold down those seem to get ripped out with the battery.

Battery trays were also hard to find, eventually coughed up and bought the hold down from some place online and the battery tray from the dealer.

Pull the existing hardware, sand down, paint and place inside a 250-deg. oven for a few minutes to cure. Cheap, quick, easy.

Your food cooked in the oven will taste like paint for 6 months.

Divorces are neither cheap, quick, or easy.

You will end up buying a new oven to appease your wife.

Good ideas. I like Dazrok88's the best though. Thanks guys!

Resurrecting this thread to see if more ideas.

My OEM hold-down is corroded under the plastic coating. Winter coming so time to clean the battery and terminals.

Pull it and redip in rubber coating. They sell it at Lowes

I had the same issue with my truck. I used a knife to cut off the old plastic coating and cleaned it up with a wire wheel. Some primer and black paint and good to go. At the JY they pull the batteries before putting the cars in the yard. You may need to ask them what they do with the hold downs. They probably throw them to the side or trash.