Battery Issues from RA

#1

Hey Everyone,

For those of you that were at Road Atlanta you’ll know on Sunday we had a car catch on fire (I believe due to a loose battery). All SpecE30’s went through tech at the end of the race and there were a good number of us that were not in compliance anymore with the rules. Here is how the CCR’s read:

11.4.9 Battery
The battery should be securely fastened to the car. No Bungee cords or rubber cords may be used to function
as the sole hold down mechanism. An electrically non-conductive material should cover the positive battery
terminal. Any battery located inside the driver’s compartment should be fully covered and firmly secured to the
chassis (or tub) in a marine type battery case. Dry cell, gel cell, and AGM batteries may be mounted without a
surrounding case, however a case is still recommended.

18.5 Battery
The battery should be securely fastened to the car. No Bungee cords or rubber cords may be used to function
as the sole hold down mechanism. An electrically non-conductive material must cover the positive battery
terminal. Any battery located inside the driver’s compartment shall be fully covered and firmly secured to the
chassis in a marine type battery case. True dry cell and AGM type batteries may be mounted without a
surrounding case.

I know that Ryan Whittinger has done a very good job at meeting these rules. Ryan, any way you could post a picture out here for those of us that need to update?

We have determined that this must be fixed by you next event that you attend. This item will be checked again so let’s make sure we’re all in compliance. :slight_smile:

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Laura

#2

Pretty simple

[URL=http://s1184.photobucket.com/user/65_Daytona_Coupe/media/battery_zps3d8e3593.jpg.html][/URL]

#3

Note to all in the SE: Jim, Nevitt, Robert, Fred…we will all be looking for the correct battery holddown on your cars.

We have been forewarned and the consequence of not prepping your car will be a DQ or no-start. Since half of the cars inspected on Sunday were not correct, the race director did not do the DQ thing to us.

DQ or no-start sounds harsh, but it beats having a fire and a burned race car and a burned self.

Note to all:
While Ryan’s picture shows the metal tie strap and a nicely covered battery +terminal, I’d also like to see the original OEM plastic that goes on the rear wheel well to prevent the + terminal from digging into exposed metal.

Ryan, can you find an OEM plastic cover? Likewise, maybe a cut-to-size 2x4 to keep the battery from going forward if the strap were to come loose.

RP

#4

I have the cover in the other two cars but this one did not have it. I will try and located one before next event.

Sounds like another trip to Pull A Part

#5

Having seen a bunch of Miatas and E30s suffer acid damage and/or electrical issues due to the batteries being in the stock location in an impact, I decided to move mine here:

[attachment=1971]batteryphoto.JPG[/attachment]

#6

Ryan, better than the pull-a-part, this is a reason to buy a new e30.

RP

#7

[quote=“Patton” post=72922]Ryan, better than the pull-a-part, this is a reason to buy a new e30.

RP[/quote]

Good idea! :laugh:

#8

Ballistic Fabrication (no affiliation) makes some nice battery hold down “boxes” that you can trim up to fit in the stock location. This is one of the first improvements I made to my car. They offer a custom box for many of the popular car batteries for under $30.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Ballistic-D51-Optima-Battery-Box-_p_1644.html

#9

With the RA event comming up this weekend this is just a simple reminder to all: Please make sure the battery is properly secured.

Thanks, RP

#10

How’s this look?
[attachment=1978]image.jpg[/attachment]

#11

[quote=“Laszlo” post=73379]How’s this look?
[attachment=1978]image.jpg[/attachment][/quote]

Looks secure to me!

#12

[quote=“Laszlo” post=73379]How’s this look?
[attachment=1978]image.jpg[/attachment][/quote]
You taped over the ground wire? Hmm. Don’t see that every day.

I’ve been helping a guy on FB re. coolant pressure switches. One of the questions was how to wire the light to the sensor. The light has 2 connectors but sensor has only one.

It was like trying to explain electricity to my 10yr old. I tried hard tho to be helpful and not snarky.

Not snarky.

#13

I am about to tackle the battery mounting issue. I purchased a marine battery case. Is it advisable and within the rules of specE30 to place it in the spare tire well?

#14

“8.16.1 The 12 volt battery may be relocated from the OEM location…”

It is within the rules to place it in the spare tire well but you may choose to put it by the right rear shock tower/cage base. If you are moving it, you might as well put it in the safest location. Plus that leaves more room for a cool shirt system and/or stuffing the trunk full of stuff if you’re an open trailer guy.

#15

That’s fine except it needs to be fastened down by steel. If it’s a plastic case that means something steel needs to go over it’s top. A steel strap ought to be easy enough to fab.

#16

You’d rather have the weight between the axles, as opposed to hanging out either end. Up against the bulkhead, probably offset to far right to help with corner weights, would be a good spot.

Also, if you’ve seen what the spare tire well can look like after a really bad rear impact, you’ll agree having electricity swimming around in there probably not a great idea.

Ask the Palacios. I think they had a search party in to find what was left of his battery, in the stock location.

#17

[quote=“Ranger” post=73383][quote=“Laszlo” post=73379]How’s this look?
[attachment=1978]image.jpg[/attachment][/quote]
You taped over the ground wire? Hmm. Don’t see that every day.
[/quote]

Interestingly in the land of Aust I failed a scrutiny check this year cause they wanted ALL terminals on the battery taped up…I thought easier to tape than argue and move them away from my car in case they broke something through whilst trying to use their brain.

#18

[quote=“Ranger” post=73383][quote=“Laszlo” post=73379]How’s this look?
[attachment=1978]image.jpg[/attachment][/quote]
You taped over the ground wire? Hmm. Don’t see that every day.
[/quote]
Having dropped a wrench across the terminals a few times I try to cover both :wink:

#19

Get real. You don’t use wrenches.

#20

MONKEY wrenches for Jim.

RP