C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

anyone replace negative battery cable?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:52 PM
  #1  
Kale's Avatar
Kale
Thread Starter
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Default anyone replace negative battery cable?

The connector on mine no longer tightens up enough. I don't want to put an aftermarket connector on it.

Are all the access points for the battery cable easily accessible, or is it going to be a job and a half?
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:54 PM
  #2  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,353
Likes: 1,125
From: Dyer, IN
Default

Originally Posted by Kale
The connector on mine no longer tightens up enough. I don't want to put an aftermarket connector on it.

Are all the access points for the battery cable easily accessible, or is it going to be a job and a half?
So is the connector stripped, or is the battery stripped?
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 01:09 PM
  #3  
Kale's Avatar
Kale
Thread Starter
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Default

Originally Posted by lucky131969
So is the connector stripped, or is the battery stripped?
I'm not sure. The connector, at its tightest point, is still loose on the battery.

It could be the terminal is worn down past the point where the connector stops getting tight... or it could be the nut/threads are jammed on the battery cable.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 02:04 PM
  #4  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,353
Likes: 1,125
From: Dyer, IN
Default

Originally Posted by Kale
I'm not sure. The connector, at its tightest point, is still loose on the battery.

It could be the terminal is worn down past the point where the connector stops getting tight... or it could be the nut/threads are jammed on the battery cable.
Ok....what does it look like? Compare it side by side with the positive cable. Is it corroded?
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 02:10 PM
  #5  
Kale's Avatar
Kale
Thread Starter
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Default

it looks ok, but the sides are scraped up more than positive.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 02:24 PM
  #6  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

The terminal bolt is steel and the battery terminal is made of lead. If the battery terminal threads are damaged,you may be able to remove the bolt from the cable end and find a longer bolt to engage the undamaged threads. Just check the depth of the hole in the battery terminal and make sure you don't get one too long.

If you really do need to replace the NEG cable, you have to jack the front of the car, remove the cable from the passengers side of the block down near the starter and the small pig tail frame ground on the frame next to the battery:



Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 02:32 PM
  #7  
Kale's Avatar
Kale
Thread Starter
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Default

Mine is this style, unfortunately:

Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 03:01 PM
  #8  
ajg1915's Avatar
ajg1915
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by Kale
Mine is this style, unfortunately:

Your cable apears to be some sort of aftermarket jobby.

Have you checked any of the local auto parts store for replacement, like advance auto or pep boys ?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 03:04 PM
  #9  
Kale's Avatar
Kale
Thread Starter
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Default

Nah, that's stock for 2004 Vettes. (maybe 2003+ iirc)

I cant just replace the nut because it has some bevel on the bottom of it.

Its supposed to squeeze the terminal, but it no longer does that very well.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 03:41 PM
  #10  
dudleyd's Avatar
dudleyd
Racer
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: Montara Ca
Default

What a coincidence, that’s why I love this forum. I replaced my battery yesterday and when I tightened down the Neg. terminal the bolt was fully tight but the cable was still lose. I have a 99 which uses the side terminal battery like B.C. pictured in his post. I ran out of time yesterday to investigate the problem but was just getting ready to go out and pull the battery to see if I can figure out what’s going on. What I know right now is the bolt on the terminal looks fine so I’m thinking the battery terminal is not taped fully or defective in some other way. I’m going to be PO if its the battery as I got it at Napa and there closed today. This was one of these new heavy duty dry battery’s, no plates and acid but coils. I think Orbit is the manufacture, freaking expensive, $180. I’ll post up my findings in a little while.

DD
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 04:02 PM
  #11  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by Kale
Nah, that's stock for 2004 Vettes. (maybe 2003+ iirc)

I cant just replace the nut because it has some bevel on the bottom of it.

Its supposed to squeeze the terminal, but it no longer does that very well.

Sorry,,I ASSUMED you had the common place older battery terminals. See if the dealer has a replacement terminal end. From the picture it looks like it just bolts on to the wire eyelet as a replaceable unit. Call/contact Gene Cully, www.gmpartshouse.com and see what he has for replacement.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 04:22 PM
  #12  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,353
Likes: 1,125
From: Dyer, IN
Default

I wonder why gm did not stay with the old type top post design (clamp style). I wonder if a replacement like this would work in the connector housing ?:

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...egoryCode=3019




Should stay nice and tight.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 04:37 PM
  #13  
Kale's Avatar
Kale
Thread Starter
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Default

gmpartshouse has the whole cable, so we'll see.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 06:41 PM
  #14  
lucky131969's Avatar
lucky131969
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,353
Likes: 1,125
From: Dyer, IN
Default

Originally Posted by Kale
gmpartshouse has the whole cable, so we'll see.
You don't need the whole cable.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 07:27 PM
  #15  
thetaxman's Avatar
thetaxman
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,513
Likes: 4
From: Official Dirty Dozen Member
Default

use a copper shim
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2014 | 09:39 PM
  #16  
Mike the 98 vetteman's Avatar
Mike the 98 vetteman
Advanced
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Default copper wire

Originally Posted by thetaxman
use a copper shim

I used a single strand 3-4" copper wire wrapped around neg bat terminal bolt (not even very well) then screwed on and presto a tight fit. Been working for months.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2014 | 12:25 AM
  #17  
LoneStarFRC's Avatar
LoneStarFRC
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Default

Originally Posted by Mike the 98 vetteman
I used a single strand 3-4" copper wire wrapped around neg bat terminal bolt (not even very well) then screwed on and presto a tight fit. Been working for months.
Betcha he got his problem solved 6 years ago.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To anyone replace negative battery cable?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:43 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE