battery cables
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: loxley alabama
battery cables
Wanted to share my experience with battery cables on a well kept- low mileage (25k)- vette I bought earlier this year. After reading the warnings here on the forum I inspected the 2 main cables- cleaned all connections & all ground connections. The neg. & positive cables appeared ok so I didn't change them. Today however the motor turned over maybe 2 seconds & then nothing. Eventually found the neg. cable from the batt. to frame was so corroded I could almost tear it in half with my bare hands! A recent post mentioned Rock Auto & within a few minutes both batt. cables were on the way- about $100. Please do as advised here on this forum & really check your batt. cables. If unsure try to replace them- the pos. cable is a tough job even in an air conditioned shop (AL)- pretty much a no-can-do on a roadside. The neg. is much easier of course & that was by far the worst cable on my car. Just a reminder for those who (like myself ) might think low mileage cables should be ok. They are still 30+ years old.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: Wylie TX
I just replaced mine for the same reason you mentioned. I have red and black 2 gauge cable and heat shrink tubing left over from a solar panel instal so I ordered some good crimp-on terminals and made up my owe. replacing the positive cable under jack stands in the driveway was a PITA.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Unless you have some kind of professional crimper [for a 2 awg wire] or used a bolt/compression type of terminal, I'm not sure a 'crimped' connection will do the job needed for a starter motor. Most times, there will be no problem; but under conditions that would require abnormally high current...I would be a bit concerned. I've always soldered big terminals, when done at home--just to prevent any weak connection possibilities. Just sayin'.... 
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: Wylie TX
I do have a professional crimper (greenlee electrical crimper). made several cables for a solar panel installation. A little solder melted in the terminal, insert the wire. Crimp in both locations on the terminal add heat shrink tubing and a you have a completely weatherproof seal. you cannot pull the terminal off the cable. I tried. if it is good enough for 3-phase electrical panels, it is good enough for a starter.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Good advice and important too
Wanted to share my experience with battery cables on a well kept- low mileage (25k)- vette I bought earlier this year. After reading the warnings here on the forum I inspected the 2 main cables- cleaned all connections & all ground connections. The neg. & positive cables appeared ok so I didn't change them. Today however the motor turned over maybe 2 seconds & then nothing. Eventually found the neg. cable from the batt. to frame was so corroded I could almost tear it in half with my bare hands! A recent post mentioned Rock Auto & within a few minutes both batt. cables were on the way- about $100. Please do as advised here on this forum & really check your batt. cables. If unsure try to replace them- the pos. cable is a tough job even in an air conditioned shop (AL)- pretty much a no-can-do on a roadside. The neg. is much easier of course & that was by far the worst cable on my car. Just a reminder for those who (like myself ) might think low mileage cables should be ok. They are still 30+ years old.
good write up
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
the cables from rockauto, are made by American Autowire. quality cables at a good price. actually cheaper from rockauto, than ordering from Auto wire. American Auto wire also sells alot of other wiring harnesses for vettes.
http://www.americanautowire.com/
http://www.americanautowire.com/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Or you could also go to a place like Tractor Supply, or any welding supply store, and they will cut to your specified length from their roll of arc welding cable which is stranded copper with a very tough outer coating.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: some hole in the ground town- camp verde:) arizona
great info as i'll be needin to replace the neg (atleast) on mine. the wires at the terminal are frayed broken etc n the terminal is always gettin pulled off the cable. i had to wrap it in electrical tape as a temporary fix. sides that my sound system was installed wrong (straight to the battery for 2 wires bypassin the ignition switch) so for the time being i've bin disconnectin the bat every time i turn off the car.
