Battery cable intermitent
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: May 2006
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Battery cable intermitent
On my '03 the red battery cable is intermitent - when I tug gently in or out on the two cables that go into the battery terminal assembly the circuit opens / closes, e.g, the underhood light goes on or off. How do I tighten up these connections - what controls it - it doesn't appear to be the pressure of the thru bolt to to the + battery point.
What is inside the red plastic fitting that the cable enters and is screwed to the battery - a crimped connector?
APZ
What is inside the red plastic fitting that the cable enters and is screwed to the battery - a crimped connector?
APZ
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
APZ
Remove the cable and make sure that it is clean. I flush mine out with WD-40 and then torque it on to the battery terminal (as per the service manual) to 11 ft/lbs. If that doesnt take care of the problem, get a new cable ASAP!
BIll
Remove the cable and make sure that it is clean. I flush mine out with WD-40 and then torque it on to the battery terminal (as per the service manual) to 11 ft/lbs. If that doesnt take care of the problem, get a new cable ASAP!
BIll
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If the battery cable bolt is properly torqued to the battery, I would have to say that the removing the palstic cover a little at a time to expose the cable crimp and if that is good the bolt in the center of the cable to see where the problem lies. The plastic does NOT have to be there for the cable to work properly. If you remove the part that covers the cables, it will give you the opportunity to see if the cables are properly swegged in the lead.
BC
BC
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: May 2006
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Bill,
That helps me, thanks. How do you remove the red plastic piece - does it just pull off? You say it is not needed for operation - you then just put the battery bolt through a metal ring connector that was inside the red plastic piece??
Al
That helps me, thanks. How do you remove the red plastic piece - does it just pull off? You say it is not needed for operation - you then just put the battery bolt through a metal ring connector that was inside the red plastic piece??
Al
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Al
Remove the cable. Use a razor blade and slice the BACK of the plastic boot up about 3/4 of the way to the bolt area. That will allow you to pull the cover over the area where the wires attach to the positive cable connection. Please take pictures of what you find!
Bill
Remove the cable. Use a razor blade and slice the BACK of the plastic boot up about 3/4 of the way to the bolt area. That will allow you to pull the cover over the area where the wires attach to the positive cable connection. Please take pictures of what you find!
Bill
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 555
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From: Las Vegas NV
You didn't say what battery you have, but my guess is that it is a AC/Delco. My advice is pull the battery before the terminal comes of and get an Optima Red Top battery. If it starts to leak (which they do), the brilliant engineers at GM put the computer right under it. I found my problem after the dealer put two AC/Delco battery in but while the computer and cables were still salvageable.
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Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: May 2006
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The car in question is "box stock" with 2000 miles - hence factory battery and little or no corrosion - when I get back to where the car is located I let you know what I find but I suspect a bad crimp job - no?
APZ
APZ
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: May 2006
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Fixed it!
Well, I fixed it. I removed the plastic cover over the two crimped wires at the + terminal and inspected the crimp job - it was fine. Then I rebolted the cable to the rotary green **** battery disconnect switch I use w/o the plastic cable cover - added two washers to ensure it bolted up snug and everything seems go. So what was the problem? I'm not sure - maybe before with the plastic cover in place and using the quick dissconnect switch the stack up was such that it was tight ebough. Any guesses??
APZ
APZ