Having issues with positive battery cable replacement.

[TwistedFish]

Hi all, I recently got my positive battery cable in the mail.

Yesterday, I tried installing it. I’ve got everything figured out, except 2 things.

1: I cannot for the life of me unplug the female connector to the starter. From the angle I’m working with (looking at it from the driver side wheel) I can’t see exactly where it connects into, and if there’s a clip or anything that needs to be pushed in. I’ve tried tugging on it, both with my hands and with pliers, but it’s a pretty tight spot, and all the pliers did was strip the wire.

2: In the process of removing the old battery cable, on the passenger side wheel well there seems to be a “ground” bolt, that also supports the wire. It almost looks like the positive AND negative wires converge here, and are sort of taped together. The issue, is that the “negative” wire (if that’s what it is) has been cut, and is kind of just dangling loose in the engine bay. I’m not sure if I need it, and not sure exactly where it goes (it’s hard to follow) so I’m at a bit of a loss here.

Anyways, any and all help/advice would be much appreciated. Thank you for reading, have a great day!

Edit: This is on a 1991 Ex, 2dr 5spd

 

[Centaurious]

Your negative cable ran from the battery to the frame rail and then to the engine block, grounding them. There is also a grounding braided strap running from the back of drivers cylinder head to the body near the wiper motor. You must have all these ground points and they must be good and clean.

Positive cable runs from the battery to the starter solenoid on the fender and then from the solenoid to the starter.

 

[TwistedFish]

Your negative cable ran from the battery to the frame rail and then to the engine block, grounding them. There is also a grounding braided strap running from the back of drivers cylinder head to the body near the wiper motor. You must have all these ground points and they must be good and clean.

Positive cable runs from the battery to the starter solenoid on the fender and then from the solenoid to the starter.

Some interesting points actually, so to be clear, i need to take the negative cable out too? Additionally, i was able to take the ground off by the wheel well, but am completely unable to get the other one. That strap is impossible to reach, and it's the last "piece of the puzzle." I ended up having to take the starter off to get to the positive cable on the starter, but i already put a new terminal on and crimped it, and "re-installed" everything, so now the ONLY thing i have to do (that i know of) is get that weird strap thing off. Any thoughts? Thanks so much for your reply!

 

[Centaurious]

The issue, is that the “negative” wire (if that’s what it is) has been cut, and is kind of just dangling loose in the engine bay.

If this is true you need to look around and see if there is a heavy ground from the engine to the frame to replace the missing section. There must be a heavy ground from the battery to the engine. Stock has a tab partway down the length to ground the frame as well as the engine.

 

[TwistedFish]

Hmm,

If this is true you need to look around and see if there is a heavy ground from the engine to the frame to replace the missing section. There must be a heavy ground from the battery to the engine. Stock has a tab partway down the length to ground the frame as well as the engine.

Hmm, I guess I could try to remove it and see where it goes that way.... I’m sure there is a ground SOMEWHERE, and maybe the guy who had it before me replaced the cable, and just cut the old one? He seemed kinda stupid anyways, so maybe that’s what happened. Right now though, I’m more concerned with getting the pos cable out, and the only thing it’s stuck on seems to be some kind of metal piece that’s between the passenger side wheel well, and the lower radiator hose. I can’t get my hands in there to remove it... would you recommend just taking long needle nose pliers and trying to tear it out? I have no other way to get to it, or even really to see it... I’m not sure how other have dealt with it, or if it’s something specific to my truck. I could try (keyword is try lol) to take pictures of it when I get home today and post them here? Thanks again for your replies, I really need help on this, since (obviously) I cant start the truck without the battery hooked up, and I’m afraid it’s getting to be too long of a time without starting it, and that the battery might start to drain.

 

[LG57]

Remove the passenger side tire and with it jacked up you should be able to get to the ground cable bolt that goes into the engine block.
It's still a pain to get to with a looong extension.

 

[TwistedFish]

Remove the passenger side tire and with it jacked up you should be able to get to the ground cable bolt that goes into the engine block.
It's still a pain to get to with a looong extension.

Awe man is this really the only way? haha