P500 Battery cover Nut design - free floating nut

[Mat_l_1]

I'm discovering more and more about the "new to me" 520 and decided to put a charge on the battery.

Easy as pie the top bolt came out - the 'nut' stayed in place - no worries like some of the owners that mentioned super tightened bolts.

Start on the bottom bolt -- again came out without issues

HOWEVER when removing the bolt - the rectangular nut went 'clank' and fell right off the backside.

So I pause and think about what I heard... that my bolt only made a clank on metal, but I didn't hear it hit the cement or roll.. I think I should find this.. which means - as I look underneath - there's the little rectangle sitting on a skid plate. Now if I was out in the woods - that nut could have been long gone


So future owners - careful when taking off those battery cover bolts. and current owners - anyone have a fix for this that worksf (I'm beginning to think glue)
Looked quick online and found Honda Side by Side 2021 OEM Parts Diagram for BATTERY | Partzilla.com and sure enough part #12 is a rectangular bolt but it doesn't appear to be secured very well.

 

[Admin]

 

[Mudder]

Welcome to the forum. This link to many threads on that issue may help find the best fix for you, many good options. Thankful for @Hondasxs creating a good Search feature.

P500 - Before leaving dealer - battery cover bolt

TIP, Before you leave the dealership. There’s a common problem with a stripped battery cover captured well nut. Suggest to have the dealer demonstrate removal of the cover, and don’t overtighten when re-installing. Just saying, it can be a pain, better for them to learn the lesson and not...

hondasxs.com

 

[futzin]

Not every design/application is a home run. This one is frustrating, for sure. The thought of removing/replacing that cover fills me with dread! 😖

Probably Hahnda thought: it's a tiny economy utility SxS; just how often (and why) will customers be adding anything to this gizmo??

 

[SILVER_ALERT]

I well remember my experience with that damn cover. I decided to take it off to add a pigtail to plug in to my battery maintainer, when it was going to set for a while. Having been in the military, as well as working in construction, and the oil field, I had a pretty good vocabulary of profanity. I recall running out of cuss words and having to start repeating myself for one of the few times in my life.

 

[KyGal83]

I swear the person who designed that 🤬 battery box cover…. Was a puzzle box designer, I believe that 🤬 sits back reads these post and laughs. I loath that thing. 😡

 

[Kilroy]

The top bolt was overtightened on mine and I had to get the Dremel out to cut the head off. There just isn't enough room to get anything on the nut to keep it from spinning. I now have a zip tie in the top hole.