Battery Cable ??

[rock883]

I went to work today and my stereo says goodbye whenever I turn the ignition off and when I turned my explorer off I noticed that it just went completly off and nver said goodbye to me Dead Link Removed, haha, anyways, I thought it was wired and tried starting it back up and no juice. So I figured it was a battery cable and what would you know, the negative cable had some corrosion on it and it was a little loose, so I twisted it around and then the light under the hood came on and of course the stupid alarm on my explorer came on (I hate that thing, I never even use it) and then I went to work and took a little break and decided to check to see if it was alright, and when I tried starting it it wouldn't so I did the same thing before and then I went home later on and didn's have any problems. Well I took a look at the cable(-) and the bolt that goes through it just keeps on turning and won't tighten because it has stripped the head of it. I then noticed that there are two other smaller wires that run from the head of the cable to some plug. What is this?? Do I have to go get a cable from the dealer?? I really don't want to do that at all, I'm affraid of the price. Thanks for any help. Also, what about those accell extreme 9000 wires?? Are they any good?

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hi Rock,
All you have to do is replace the connector. You can get one from just about any auto parts store, and yes you need that other wire too. Sorry can't hep you on the plug wires. Oh one more thing. When you replace the connector take both connectors of the battery and clean the terminal posts with alittle water and baking soda. That will neutralize the acid on the connectors, then buy one of those packages of felt things that go on the battery posts to keep the acid build up down. hope this helps.

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Happy Wheelin'
Ray L.
97 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC
Dead Link Removed

 

[rock883]

Thanks Ray, one more thing...Are you just talking about the big metal part that goes around the battery terminal?? If so, then I know what you're talking about, I saw them at atuozone. Do I just clip the wire off and slip it into the new one?? Thanks again.

 

[Dignan]

I think I might have some good news for you, ROCK. If you have corrosion on the connector then you don't need to replace it, you just need to clean it. Everytime I change my oil (3,000 miles) I take out the battery clean it, the posts, and the connectors thoroughly. I had the same problem that you did (not including the goodbye) and this solved the problem. I don't think that you need to do it as often as I do, but I figure that it can't hurt and the extra time that I let the old oil drip out is probably not a bad idea either.

P.S. If you don't have a battery terminal wire brush, I suggest you get one, it will make it a lot easier to clean the battery. If you are not sure what that is just ask somebody at autozone, they will be able to help you.

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If everybody is different, how can anyone be normal?

91 Explorer XLT
4.0L OHV V6

 

[rock883]

Hey dignan, my problem is not thats its dirty, although it is, but that I can't tighten thehead part of the cable because the bolt head has stripped the battery cable head.and when I try to tighten it, then it just turns around without tightening. I went to get a new cable with 2 little other wires coming off of it, but it seems as though the battery cable is grounded on the frame, but the insulation on it is stripped and the wire is clamped onto the frame at the stripped part and it keeps on going somewhere but I couldn't figure out where to, so I am just going to get a new head for it tomorrow. I did get some of those felt thingys to put under the terminals. I also read in a magazine (can someone help me out here) it has those tips that readers send in in the back of it, and someone sent in something about putting pennies next to the terminals to fight corrosion, anyone read this?? Its in either fourwheeler of offroad magazines. Thanks for the help.

 

[Dignan]

Just use battery terminal pliers. Mine are stripped so bad that they are almost completely round, but the can still be tightened with the battery terminal pliers. (channel-lock pliers will work almost as well)

------------------
If everybody is different, how can anyone be normal?

91 Explorer XLT
4.0L OHV V6

 

[gerry]

I found Wal-Mart carries a pretty decent selection of battery stuff, including replacement nuts/bolts for the clamps.

They also have a good protectant for the post and cables, I can't recall the name, but its a translucent red "paint" that sprays on. Otherwise, the old trick of coating the terminals with vaseline (after they've been cleaned and tightened!) will work well.

I never heard of the penny trick, but I would guess that the zinc in the pennys would weaken any acid that may be on the battery before it could attack the post and cables. I wouldn't try it though, as I can see the melted pennys making a nice short circuit between the the two battery posts.

Hope that helps!

Gerry

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2000 4x4 XLT SOHC V6

 

[rock883]

I went down to advance and returned my cable I bought yesterday and got some of those felt thingys and a new brass terminal head. It was really easy all I did was cut the cable, then I just put the cable and those other wires in there and tightened the bolts. I like the brass one better cause it doesn't stip like that lead one would. Looks nicer too. I also pulled out the battery and cleaned it up with a wire brush and some baking soda and water. I'd like to put one of those brass terminal heads on the positive cable, but the wires seem pretty small already and if I cut it, it will make it smaller and it will pull on it, so, ya know. Thanks for the help though, I hope it will be a while before I have to clean the things again.

 

[98EBV8]

Mine needs a new terminal, but how to replace it?

Hi,
My positive battery terminal needs replacing. The washer on the bolt slit partially through the side of the terminal, making it hard to tighten the bolt without possibly breaking it, so it won't "wrap" the battery pole anymore when that happens.

Replacing the battery terminal seems simple enough, but with the limited slack on the positive cable, how can I successfully put on a new terminal? Putting on a new cable itself would be a mess because there are black tapes wrapped up at the factory.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[98EBV8]

Any ideas for a battery cable that have little slack? Are there different heads that acommadates the tight cable?

 

[Maniak]

I use Ground Connectors from a Power Distribution box (circuit breaker box) for a house.

I then cover the end with "plasti-dip"... I get no corrosion that way...

On my positive cable I use the square ends which have a set screw that hold the cable into the connector...

Here's a pic.

I also use the round connectors (I use the round one for the start solinoid side).. I haven't put the plasti-dip on these yet...
Here's a pic

The Plasti-Dip stuff works great. It seals the cable to the connector and I get no corrosion that way..

BTW.. the Square connectors that I'm using right on the battery terminal have a hold in it that I can put the bolt through (I use the top and the side one)...

~Mark

 

[98EBV8]

Thanks Mark. I have never seen a head that big before. Mine has a factory battery cover and I doubt that the one like yours would fit on it.

What happens when the right battery (+) cable come itself off while driving?

I am hoping that it would be left on until I find a better head that can fit with a trimmed battery cable.

Looking at the thing, could I pry off the head from the battery cable without cutting it off? That way I can get the factory one and crimp it back on with the original battery cable length.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[98EBV8]

Here are some pictures to show you how small the head of the cable is and how tight the positive cable is:

 

[SteveVB]

I dont have that style connector, but cant you just replace the clamp bolt, nut and washer? Even if the nut is integral to the clamp you could double nut it if the nut is stripped(may need a longer bolt though)

Good Luck.

 

[98EBV8]

The bolt, nut, and the washer are okay, but the connector is the trouble. You see, the integrated washer cut through the side of the connector.

I don't know how it happened, but the connector was not straight like it should and the washer made contact with the side of it. So, if you tighten the bolt with the integrated washer, then you are cutting through the metal of the connector on the side.

The cable was crimped-on with the head.

 

[Maniak]

If just the clamp end of the cable is bad, and you can't cut the cable back you can use a dremil or something close to cut then battery clamp open so you can remove the cable. That way you can just get a regular clamp on battery cable clamp and your battery cable length won't change.

~Mark

 

[98EBV8]

Let me see if I can understand what you're saying:

1. Remove the pink or purple wrap around the clamp of the connector.

2. Use a dremel to separate the connector from the battery cable.

3. Install a new connector with the cable with a battery crimper.

Is that basically all? Do you know where that pink or purple wrap might have been? Could it be that "plasti-dip" you were talking about?

Thanks,
Shane

 

[Maniak]

I can't see the picture so let me just say what I think we are talking about.

The connector at the end of your battery cable (on the side where it connects to the battery) is coming loose. You want to replace just the cable end (the clamp) but the cable is tight (as in you can't just cut off the cable).

If this is correct...

You can use a dremel and cut through the battery cable (paralell of how the cable is going into the clamp) so you can pull the cable out of the clamp.

Now without the clamp on the cable you need to buy a standard battery terminal clamp.

Here is a pic of the kind I am thinking of. It has 2 screws that hold down a plate.

Dead Link Removed

You loosen the 2 bolts to lift the plate up some... Put the cable under the plate and then tighten down the clamp.

Now you have a battery terminal clamp and you just put it back on the battery like normal.

If you are worried about corrorsion you can get some plasti-dip and just kinda paint it on the clamp where the cable goes in. Basically you don't want to allow air to get to teh cable as it goes into the clamp.

Another trick that will help keep the corrosion down is to use some dialectric grease and stick a few pennies on the top of the battery. The pennies will corrode instead of your battery cables.

 

[98EBV8]

Thanks Maniak. I understand much better now.

I have to see about getting a battery connector that would fit with the factory terminal cover without having to crimp it on.

I just found out that a new postive cable cost $170 retail!! There is a distinction between those with the message center and those without. Anyway, thanks again.

Shane

 

[Maniak]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the battery terminal cover...

Heck, you can go to a Stereo install shop and have them put on a nice Gold plated battery terminal... It may even look nicer than that stock plastic cover..

~Mark