resistance of battery cables?

[tominos]

i'm having the slow crank problem on my car now, and a couple times it would not crank for a few tries, then if i held the key on long enough, it would sometimes seem like it breaks through the resistance and then it starts as usual.

so i've been reading through alot of threads saying that the resistance is too high between the battery and the starter or the starter brush/windings are going out, anyway, i have the battery cables out(pos and neg.). i had to cut the plastic sheath around it out, and it was kind of a pain, i don't know how i'm going to insert the cables back in.

anyway, what should the resistance be for the cables? i tested them and they both seem to be around .2 - .4 ohms. which seems perfectly fine. only thing i saw was that the positive battery terminal was all corroded, so i'm thinking right now that it might be the culprit for my slow cranks. negative terminal has been replaced. anywho. any advice? should i just buy new cables? how much are they? i have a warranty on the starter, so shouldn't be a problem if i have to replace it.

 

[Off Road SHO]

Just clean up the corrosion with baking soda and water. Submerse the corroded terminals and cable ends into the solution till it stops bubbling, then rinse off the solution with plain water and then blow it dry. Use a pocket knife to scrape off the dull copper coating on the cable strands before you re-attach the ends. Also clean off any dull lead from the contact part of the cable clamp and the battery's terminal posts. Re-connect everything and if your battery is charged up, she should spin like Lance Armstrong on steroids.

Tom

 

[tominos]

cool, thanks Tom. i will try that tomorrow.

however, the positive terminal probably needs to be replaced anyway, i think there is a crack in it, but i will try the baking soda and water trick.

 

[Off Road SHO]

Well, if there's a crack in it, you'll never get it tight so don't bother with that one.

And you're welcome.

Tom

 

[itwonder]

Most of the time, the corrosion will be in the bolt that tightens the battery cable. So, after you get it cleaned up, you can replace that bolt. The absolute best replacement is a cadmium plated aircraft bolt, but if you don't know where an airplane shop is, you can use any high quality plated bolt.

 

[tominos]

i think i fixed it. changed the terminal with one i got at walmart, cleaned the cables with water and baking soda. i guess now i just have to sit and wait, to see if it works or not.