Replacing battery cables
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 6
From: Red Sox Nation! RI
Good Luck!! 
It's just one of those pain in the butt jobs. If your 85 is the same as my 86, the positive cable goes around the back of the intake and you have to be carfeul not to take out any other wires by accident. Pull the distributor cap, first. There are a couple clamps/guides that keep the + cable in place. There is one off the brake booster, another near the oil dipstick.
For the negative cable, you may have to remove the windshield wiper motor to make more room. The ground attaches behind the head or on a tranny bolt somewhere. I haven't done that one.
It's just one of those pain in the butt jobs. If your 85 is the same as my 86, the positive cable goes around the back of the intake and you have to be carfeul not to take out any other wires by accident. Pull the distributor cap, first. There are a couple clamps/guides that keep the + cable in place. There is one off the brake booster, another near the oil dipstick.
For the negative cable, you may have to remove the windshield wiper motor to make more room. The ground attaches behind the head or on a tranny bolt somewhere. I haven't done that one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by bogus
I have a complete set from my wifes 1987... in very good condition. if you want them, lemme know.
vinnies87
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
I did this last year on my 94. The positive cable was oxidized down through the cable for at least 18" and I was getting poor connection. I bought the GM cables from the local Stealership and did this PITA job myself. It is not hard, but just difficult to see where you need to thread the cable. I wound up cutting the old one in the middle and pulling the end connected to the starter out through the bottom of the car and the battery end out from the top. Threading the new one in was the tricky part. I used a number of Mcguiver looking tools to thread the new cable beind the intake and over the transmission while keeping it away from hot engine stuff and keeping it from snagging and tearing good cables out.Just take your time and it will thread through.
Good Luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
run a search - I had a couple topics about this a couple months ago. Lots of good info in them.
In my experience with the positive, bend the starter end straight, tie good twine to the end, and pull it out carefully from the battery compartment twisting when it resists. Tie the twine that is now routed through your engine compartment to the new cable and pull it back through carefully. This is much easier with two people - one to pull and one to twist.
In my experience with the positive, bend the starter end straight, tie good twine to the end, and pull it out carefully from the battery compartment twisting when it resists. Tie the twine that is now routed through your engine compartment to the new cable and pull it back through carefully. This is much easier with two people - one to pull and one to twist.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
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From: Richmond TX
Originally Posted by Aaron's 87
run a search - I had a couple topics about this a couple months ago. Lots of good info in them.
In my experience with the positive, bend the starter end straight, tie good twine to the end, and pull it out carefully from the battery compartment twisting when it resists. Tie the twine that is now routed through your engine compartment to the new cable and pull it back through carefully. This is much easier with two people - one to pull and one to twist.
In my experience with the positive, bend the starter end straight, tie good twine to the end, and pull it out carefully from the battery compartment twisting when it resists. Tie the twine that is now routed through your engine compartment to the new cable and pull it back through carefully. This is much easier with two people - one to pull and one to twist.
