Is there a trick to getting these battery terminals off.

[2004mountaineers]

Is there a trick to getting these battery terminals off. I annotated the hex that I see in the picture. But,
none of my sockets will turn it off. 10/32 just tries to round off the edges; and 9/32 won't go on. 8mm will
go on but also just spins and won't turn the bolt; 7mm won't go on. (It's cold as heck outside and I can't
get the vehicle into the garage due to another vehicles currently immobile inside the garage; that may be
contributing to my problem, but not enough to explain everything...)

https://imgdump5.novarata.net/6re7f1.jpg

https://imgdump5.novarata.net/vchfzy.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/7ygn0c.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/q2sdlk.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/vylubo.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/1gee28.jpg

2004 Mercury Mountaineer, "awd", v6, 4liter.

edit: I guess I am going to try this: Hoping the 5/16 will turn it off.....
Amazon product ASIN B09YTH4RBX

 

[HarryN]

Is there a trick to getting these battery terminals off. I annotated the hex that I see in the picture. But,
none of my sockets will turn it off. 10/32 just tries to round off the edges; and 9/32 won't go on. 8mm will
go on but also just spins and won't turn the bolt; 7mm won't go on. (It's cold as heck outside and I can't
get the vehicle into the garage due to another vehicles currently immobile inside the garage; that may be
contributing to my problem, but not enough to explain everything...)

https://imgdump5.novarata.net/6re7f1.jpg

https://imgdump5.novarata.net/vchfzy.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/7ygn0c.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/q2sdlk.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/vylubo.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/1gee28.jpg

2004 Mercury Mountaineer, "awd", v6, 4liter.

edit: I guess I am going to try this: Hoping the 5/16 will turn it off.....
Amazon product ASIN B09YTH4RBX

Funny enough I was just playing with battery terminals on my 95 (so a generation back from yours).

On that one it was a 5/16. On mine, the head was retained so could not be turned and the nut side could be turned.

It was not all that easy for some reasons - perhaps a combination of age or something but almost felt more like a nylock - but didn't see any nylon in it.

 

[2004mountaineers]

Funny enough I was just playing with battery terminals on my 95 (so a generation back from yours).

On that one it was a 5/16. On mine, the head was retained so could not be turned and the nut side could be turned.

It was not all that easy for some reasons - perhaps a combination of age or something but almost felt more like a nylock - but didn't see any nylon in it.

On mine, it does not look/feel like there is enough gap on the bottom to get a socket on the nut. What size socket did you use for the nut ?

 

[HarryN]

I used an open end wrench size 5/16.

Craftsman 44691

Your setup looks a little bit different than mine. On post #93 of this thread there is a photo of the negative battery terminal of mine.

1995 Explorer XL personal thread

Might be able to meet you part way if that helps. I hate to see it go to waste. Still have not decided if I am going to remove the 40 portion or not. I like having the seat but also like the potential of having the space. I will be in Sacramento later this month if that helps any with...

www.explorerforum.com

I am definitely not an expert, but on your terminal it looks like the nut side is retained from moving by the terminal clamp and on the head side there might be a tab on the top that needs to be bent up to turn the bolt. The yellow top tab on the very top.

Not sure but it might be bent over the head to keep it from rotating? First photo that you posted.

Just guessing - don't know.

________________

The more that I look at your photos, the more that I think that the hex that you marked is retained by that yellow tab and won't easily turn.

The open end wrench will sort of miserably fit on the nut side but I think that is what will loosen up for you.

The good news is that the terminal is a copper alloy so might be able to bend it a bit with a pliers.

 

[2004mountaineers]

I used an open end wrench size 5/16.

Craftsman 44691

Your setup looks a little bit different than mine. On post #93 of this thread there is a photo of the negative battery terminal of mine.

1995 Explorer XL personal thread

Might be able to meet you part way if that helps. I hate to see it go to waste. Still have not decided if I am going to remove the 40 portion or not. I like having the seat but also like the potential of having the space. I will be in Sacramento later this month if that helps any with...

www.explorerforum.com

I am definitely not an expert, but on your terminal it looks like the nut side is retained from moving by the terminal clamp and on the head side there might be a tab on the top that needs to be bent up to turn the bolt. The yellow top tab on the very top.

Not sure but it might be bent over the head to keep it from rotating? First photo that you posted.

Just guessing - don't know.

________________

The more that I look at your photos, the more that I think that the hex that you marked is retained by that yellow tab and won't easily turn.

The open end wrench will sort of miserably fit on the nut side but I think that is what will loosen up for you.

The good news is that the terminal is a copper alloy so might be able to bend it a bit with a pliers.

The nuts on mine are roughly 14mm.

 

[allmyEXes]

@2004mountaineers The bolt head is 8mm which is the same as 5/16". The nut side is fixed or welded/brazed to the terminal. The fold over tab is to prevent the bolt from coming out and getting lost. A 6-point socket or 6-point closed end of a combination wrench should be used to break it a loose. A 12-point would round off the hex of the bolt. It may be possible to clamp a good pair of Visegrip brand straight jaw pliers and break the bolt a loose. I recently encounter a rotten terminal and used a cut-off tool, carefully, with a thin disc and cut through the terminal between the bolt and battery post. I then cut the terminal off of the cable, then I replaced the battery terminal with a conventional lead terminal.

 

[allmyEXes]

@2004mountaineers Sometimes after cutting off a terminal the wire may be a little short for the cable to reach the post. Below is a link to a repair part that most auto parts chain stores have in stock.
Battery cable repair splice

 

[2004mountaineers]

Oreilly's helped me get the new battery in there. Took an hour, but got it done. One of the
two screws never did budge loose -- they had to pound the terminal back on....

 

[Mbrooks420]

You replace the terminal in that case. You absolutely do not just pound it on. Total hack.

 

[Alfredo Alaniz]

Is there a trick to getting these battery terminals off. I annotated the hex that I see in the picture. But,
none of my sockets will turn it off. 10/32 just tries to round off the edges; and 9/32 won't go on. 8mm will
go on but also just spins and won't turn the bolt; 7mm won't go on. (It's cold as heck outside and I can't
get the vehicle into the garage due to another vehicles currently immobile inside the garage; that may be
contributing to my problem, but not enough to explain everything...)

https://imgdump5.novarata.net/6re7f1.jpg

https://imgdump5.novarata.net/vchfzy.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/7ygn0c.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/q2sdlk.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/vylubo.jpg
https://imgdump5.novarata.net/1gee28.jpg

2004 Mercury Mountaineer, "awd", v6, 4liter.

edit: I guess I am going to try this: Hoping the 5/16 will turn it off.....

.... You got too much corrosion on those terminals, you'll have to clean them up first. Use some water with some baking soda in it, to clean them up first. you'll only need a teaspoon of Baking soda or so, in about a 16oz solution of water. Then you can tackle the screws.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I really doubt the corrosion is the issue. Most likely someone used the wrong size on it and the brass screw is just too rounded. They need cut out and replaced.

 

[Number4]

Leave the “nut” alone and just use an 8mm on the bolt. Already mentioned above.

None of your photos show the bolt head, so we are left to presume that you are wrenching on the nut.

Yes?

 

[allmyEXes]

@Number4 His first pic does...