Positve Battery Cable

[BIGSHOMIKE]

How much of a PITA is it to replace? Mine has one of those POS bolt on clamps and I have keep cleaning it or it won't start. shoot

 

[Slo-Sho]

Clean the entire clamp/post with baking soda and a stiff wire brush. This will hold off on the corrosion for a while. Also when you reinstall the clamp, lightly coat with petroleum jelly.

 

[SHOZ123]

You can get a spring type clamp that is what comes on newer cars as OEM at Wal-Mart for under $3.00 They are light weight and have a hole for a bolt-on-lug. Then buy a new cable that has lugs on the end.

Ammoina works good for getting corrosion as it is a liquid and gets into all the nooks and crannies. Dip or pour the ammonia on and then rinse with water.

<small>[ November 08, 2002, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[BIGSHOMIKE]

Is it hard to replace the cable? My cable bolts, or clamps to the terminal, which bolts to the post on the battery. I have to replace the cable to get a good clamp instead of the $2 POS I have.
Or should I just use an electric coating of some kind mabye? I think OEM cables are expensive.

Thanks

 

[SHOZ123]

Take the cable off and go to an auto store or large store with an automotive section like Farm & Fleet in the upper Midwest. They have generic pre-made cables.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

The ATX battery cable assembly, which includes both the positive and negative cables, plus the alternator B+ cable, all assembled and with the looms lists out at $134.42 from Ford (P/N F4DZ14300B).

It's about an hours labor start to finish. FordPartsOnline.com sells it for $87.37. I think SHO Shop has it for even less, like $69.

I think it's a reasonable investment, when you figure you'll probably never need to replace them again.

 

[SHOZ123]

It's really not hard to make cables. Get some red and black #2 welding cable and some lug ends. Either sweat them on or crimp with a die. Your electrical system will love you for it.

I made a die out of a piece of 1/2" pipe cut almost in half diagonally and long enough to hold the barrel of the lug. Then using the piece that was the "less than half", lay the lug in it and insert the cable. Take a piece of 1/4' x 1/2" steel or even a 3/8" bolt and a 5 LB hammer and whack it.

 

[f$nsho]

A new postive cable can be picked up for $20.00 at RockAuto.
Replacing it is not to bad. Just make sure not to over torch the bolt on the stator/starter. I broke mine while doing it.