Battery terminal cover

[Lenard]

Hi.

        On other motorhomes I have had with the engine battery in the box in front of the p/seat they have aways had a black plastic cover over the positive terminal set up, which clipped in place.  Can you knowledgeable people come up with a Fiat part number..  Sadly my ace Fiat's parts Guru has passed on.

       It was missing from new. 

Cheers Lenard

[onecal]

Hi

You can always  buy connection posts covers as in Red + and Black - at most good motor factors and Halfords 

As per photo is this what you may be looking for part No 1331260080 

Regards

[rayc]

The battery fuse board covers  are no longer fitted by Fiat when new.  I guess cost cutting. My 2009 Chausson also came with a metal bolt down cover that was not fitted on my later ones.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126225481135?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274444944871?

[Derek Uzzell]

20 hours ago, Lenard said:

Hi.

        On other motorhomes I have had with the engine battery in the box in front of the p/seat they have aways had a black plastic cover over the positive terminal set up, which clipped in place.  Can you knowledgeable people come up with a Fiat part number..  Sadly my ace Fiat's parts Guru has passed on.

       It was missing from new. 

Cheers Lenard

I THINK your motorhome is a 2019 Elddis CV40 panel-van...☹️ ☹️

As rayc has said, a large metal cover-plate was often fitted above the under-floor starter-battery storage compartment of Fiat Ducato X250 vehicles built from 2006-2009 (photo of plate here)

This advert

https://coastalmotorhomes.co.uk/fits-fiat-ducato-peugeot-boxer-citroen-relay-genuine-oe-battery-terminal-cover-2001-2014.html

suggests that the plastic cover (as shown in onecal's posting) was (or could be) fitted over the battery's positive terminal of 2006-2014 Ducato X250 vehicles, but later Ducato X290 vehicles (built mid-2014-onwards) have had as standard neither the metal cover-plate nor the plastic terminal cover (photo below relates to my 2015 Ducato X290-based Rapido motorhome).

You could probably fit the metal cover-plate if you so wished, and you might be able to fit the plastic terminal cover even though adverts state a 2014 cut-off date.

I notice that - in this 2018 forum thread - 

https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/42670-flat-starter-battery/

I said "There may well be no metal cover over your battery and no plastic cover over its positive terminal. Don’t worry if that’s so - my Rapido does not have them."

[John52]

2 hours ago, Derek Uzzell said:

You could probably fit the metal cover-plate if you so wished,

That would be difficult because the plastic floor covering that goes over it was changed. Its a different profile on the underside that intrudes into the space where the metal battery cover used to go.  All the necessary insulation is supposedly in the new floor covering making both the metal plate and the plastic cover over the terminals superfluous.

My 2021 Ducato came without the cab parcel shelf and central glove box.  I missed the parcel shelf so much I took that and the glove box from my 2009 X2/50 and installed it in the 2021 Ducato  along with the rest of the cab trim and single passenger seat because the 2021 Ducato came with a steel headboard and much of the cab trim cut out to accommodate it. You used to be able to order a new Ducato with single passenger seat and without the headboard and trim cut out to accommodate it but that option seems to have gone.  Apparently the steel headboard is required for load security.  Citroen still offer the van with single passenger seat and without the headboard but apparently you then have to get stage 2 type approval yourself?

Sorry for the diatribe but the upshot of it all is, having transferred so much else, I could have transferred the metal battery cover to the new van as well but could see it would be more trouble than its worth because it wouldn't allow the new plastic floor cover to go on over it.  I would have had to transfer all the brackets, with rivnuts to bolt them in, and the old worn out floor covering as well.

If it bothers you, you could get the plastic bit that goes over the positive terminal fuse box from an old van. (which would fit easily) Or just cover it with lino if you might short the terminals accidentally whilst working in the battery area.  But it isn't really necessary once the floor cover is on.  The battery is (or should be) already securely clamped in with a thick insulated cover fixed over it.

Edited December 20, 2023 by John52

[onecal]

Hi 

From your original post you asked for a positive plastic + post cover that clips in place and part number for same 

I think this is what you are looking for  < Part No 1331260080 

Lets us know 

16 hours ago, Lenard said:

Hi.

        On other motorhomes I have had with the engine battery in the box in front of the p/seat they have aways had a black plastic cover over the positive terminal set up, which clipped in place.  Can you knowledgeable people come up with a Fiat part number..  Sadly my ace Fiat's parts Guru has passed on.

       It was missing from new. 

Cheers Lenard

 

[Derek Uzzell]

2 hours ago, John52 said:

That would be difficult because the plastic floor covering that goes over it was changed. Its a different profile on the underside that intrudes into the space where the metal battery cover used to go.  All the necessary insulation is supposedly in the new floor covering making both the metal plate and the plastic cover over the terminals superfluous...

You are, of course, correct.

I occasionally accessed my 2015 Ducato X290's starter-battery to check its electrolyte level (and eventually replaced the original battery) but I'd forgotten what the initial steps were. 

I now recall that there was a large hard plastic 'lid' in the floor that first needed to be removed (easy enough and shown here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM0FLWVlMlY

As you've highlighted, the padding/strengthening on an X290's lid's underside intrudes into the battery storage compartment and would inhibit the metal cover-plate from being retro-fitted.

My Rapido's cab floor was 'bare' and, with the vehicle being left-hand-drive, I disliked the lid's hard plastic surface beneath my dainty little feet and the lid's slight flexibility. So I bought from a French Rapido dealership a cab-carpeting 'kit' that added some extra rigidity and was easily removable when the need arose.

[onecal]

Hi

I think the OP was looking for a black plastic cover over the positive terminal , not sure a lid ? 

Maybe he will confirm 

Regards 

[John52]

3 hours ago, Derek Uzzell said:

You are, of course, correct.

I occasionally accessed my 2015 Ducato X290's starter-battery to check its electrolyte level (and eventually replaced the original battery) but I'd forgotten what the initial steps were. 

I now recall that there was a large hard plastic 'lid' in the floor that first needed to be removed (easy enough and shown here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM0FLWVlMlY

As you've highlighted, the padding/strengthening on an X290's lid's underside intrudes into the battery storage compartment and would inhibit the metal cover-plate from being retro-fitted.

My Rapido's cab floor was 'bare' and, with the vehicle being left-hand-drive, I disliked the lid's hard plastic surface beneath my dainty little feet and the lid's slight flexibility. So I bought from a French Rapido dealership a cab-carpeting 'kit' that added some extra rigidity and was easily removable when the need arose.

I just use lino instead of carpet - makes it much easier to sweep out than the original floor with all the gaps that trap dirt.

Interesting video.  Can't see the point of painting the hole when the rivnut will scrape the paint off again.  If its was going to start rust it would be the swarf falling into the box section when he drilled the hole.  But the galvanising from 2006 onwards is pretty good - when I took the wet plywood floor up in my X2/50 there was no rust even where the paint had rubbed off and self tappers had pierced the floor leaving bare metal exposed around the screw shank.

If you want to cover the fuse box you could do it with an offcut of lino held by cable ties.  Might save an accidental short circuit when working on the battery with the lid off. But once the clamp and lid is on it looks well enough protected to me   If we had never had the metal battery lid and fuse box top we would never have missed them.

[onecal]

21 hours ago, Lenard said:

Hi.

        On other motorhomes I have had with the engine battery in the box in front of the p/seat they have aways had a black plastic cover over the positive terminal set up, which clipped in place.  Can you knowledgeable people come up with a Fiat part number..  Sadly my ace Fiat's parts Guru has passed on.

       It was missing from new. 

Cheers Lenard

Hi Lenard,

Again I hope this works for you Part Number 1331260080 

Let us know if it does 

Regards

[Derek Uzzell]

onecal

I don't think there has been any confusion over the Fiat part Lenard was referring to - the clue was in the title ("Battery terminal cover") that he gave to his enquiry. And, as you advised earlier, the Fiat part-number for that cover is the one you've provided above (1331260080) and gave photos of.

Prior to Lenard's Elddis CV40 PVC (bought new in 2019) he owned a Ducato X250-based Chausson Allegro 94 coachbuilt motorhome and, as this was a 2007 model, it's to be expected that it would have had as standard the 1331260080 plastic clip-on cover for the + terminal's multi-connector of its starter-battery (and may have had the metal battery-compartment 'lid' too).

On-line adverts for the 1331260080 part tend to specify its applicability to Ducato X250 vehicles (built from mid-2006 to mid-2014) , so there's a (possibly minor) risk that it might be unsuitable for Ducato X290 vehicles. Only way for Lenard to be 100% certain would be to obtain the part and try it.

Evidently the 1331260080 plastic cover was (or could) also be fitted on the positive side of the starter-battery of Ducato X244 vehicles (2001-2006). As the X244's battery was shoe-horned into the engine compartment, there would have been a much greater incentive to protect the battery's + terminal and its connectors/fuses.

For Ducato X290-based motorhomes that do not have the metal 'lid' that might be accidentally dropped on to the starter-battery, I can't see any persuasive reason to retro-fit the plastic cover. As John52 has said, a Ducato X290 owner could easily and effectively cover the battery's + terminal area temporarily or permanently (and cheaply!) without needing to source the 1331260080 Fiat part.   

[onecal]

Hi Derek

I had no idea what year his motorhome or van was ? But to me it really looked like as so many do look for is the plastic cover for the positive battery terminal , and fit same ,not in fact the lid , that  bolts down in place ?  be it the metal lid  or plastic one as you advised which are also available I referred to the part number as Lenard requested Part Number 1331260080 which is available as are the cheaper versions which are also available but of course with no part number as Lenard requested 

Regards

22 hours ago, Lenard said:

Hi.

        On other motorhomes I have had with the engine battery in the box in front of the p/seat they have aways had a black plastic cover over the positive terminal set up, which clipped in place.  Can you knowledgeable people come up with a Fiat part number..  Sadly my ace Fiat's parts Guru has passed on.

       It was missing from new. 

Cheers Lenard

 

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by onecal

[John52]

1 hour ago, Derek Uzzell said:

 

... adverts for the 1331260080 part tend to specify its applicability to Ducato X250 vehicles (built from mid-2006 to mid-2014) , so there's a (possibly minor) risk that it might be unsuitable for Ducato X290 vehicles. Only way for Lenard to be 100% certain would be to obtain the part and try it.  

I can confirm the positive terminal fuse box cover Part Number 1331260080 fitted to the X2/50 does fit the X2/90 - I have tried it.  But I don't think its worth getting one for the X2/90.  If you want to cover it a bit of lino and a couple of cable ties would do the job just as well.  Its not as though you are going to see it, or take it off very often. 

[onecal]

Hi John,

It sure does  , lets leave that to Lenard as he requested same and part number , but yes they are cheaper versions and as you say many ways around it

[Lenard]

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies to my post.

Yes Onecal is quite right I was only asking about a protection cover over the positive terminals. Not the steel floor plate. I have made one from a plastic food container but would like a more professional looking version. 

I will drop round Halfords and enquire.

Cheers. Leonard.

[onecal]

Hi Leonard,

The part 1331260080 is available and will fit About as professional as you will get for £18 approx

May I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 

Brendan 

[Derek Uzzell]

10 hours ago, Lenard said:

...I will drop round Halfords and enquire...

You'll be wasting your time visiting Halfords if you are looking for a cover for your Ducato's starter-battery's positive terminal.

Halfords might stock 'generic' battery terminal covers (examples here)

but these would be unsuitable for your battery's positive terminal or its negative (earth) terminal. However, 'generic' covers might be useful for the terminals of your motorhome's leisure-battery if that does not already have protective covers. (My Rapido's leisure-battery had protective covers fitted as standard to both terminal cables.)

As onecal has said, for a proper clip-on plastic protective cover you'll need to use the Fiat product  (Part No 1331260080). The asking-price of this varies dramatically and - if buying on-line - you'd need to check very carefully for any extra delivery charges. It would definitely pay you to shop around as I've seen the part advertised (used) in the UK for under £4 and for under €10 on foreign websites (example here)

https://www.dgjauto.fr/fr/fiat-lancia-alfa-romeo-iveco/86842-couvercle-protection-centrale-batterie-fiat-1331260080-pour-fiat-ducato-2-3-ii-iii-peugeot-boxer-citroen-jumper-de-2002-a-2014-l.html

but it is clearly not a 'popular' part and a lot of the adverts mark it as not in stock or unavailable. 

[John52]

12 hours ago, Lenard said:

I have made one from a plastic food container

Good idea!

People may be more likely to have that than a lino offcut.

As Derek says, waste of time going to Halfords.

(although Halfords can be good for other stuff like Bosch Oil filters - much cheaper than carparts4less / Euro Car Parts who promote their own brand Crossland)

And I would advise against ordering anything from anywhere that is not in stock

I once ordered a belt fitting tool from carparts4less / Euro Car Parts

Only time I have ordered anything not in stock and only time I have had bad service from them

Waited weeks during which they were very difficult to contact

Eventually gave up and asked for a full refund - which they were happy to do immediately

I think they were as fed up of it as I was

[onecal]

Hi Lenoard

The part No 1331260080 is in stock and available, doesn't come more professional looking than that 

Brendan 

[Derek Uzzell]

In stock where? 

[rayc]

16 minutes ago, Derek Uzzell said:

In stock where? 

A  private sale on ebay   https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256258047928

Edited December 22, 2023 by rayc

[Derek Uzzell]

Thanks.

[onecal]

Hi All,

Also direct from a store in Italy , ebay, etc' not difficult to source 

Regards