Battery Torque

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Sep 22, 2008 | 02:13 PM

Magred6sp

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Joined: Feb 2008

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From: Larkspur Colorado

Battery Torque

OK guys I have read seems like hundreds of posts on the battery needing to be torqued to 11 ft lbs. How do you get a torque wrench in that tight space? I only have a couple inches. I have tightened the connections as tight as I feel comfortable with the box wrench. Please explain.

Sep 22, 2008 | 02:26 PM

hotwheels57

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From: Not on either liberal coast.

I just snug mine...use some blue LOCTITE if you want...

Sep 22, 2008 | 02:31 PM

John Nowak PE

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From: San Antonio Texas

I just snug mine down so the connectors won't spin when I push down slightly on them. This means that I only use one finger to pull on the little open-end wrench I use to "torque down." I have not had any problems with them loosening up over time either...

I don't think it is possible to get a torque wrench in there to actually measure the torque, so you have to train yourself to go easy on the box wrench. You want things just snug enough that they won't move and not much more.

Sep 22, 2008 | 02:32 PM

DefenderC5

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2006

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From: Los Angeles

11 ft/lbs is nothing, just make it snug with a wrench.

Sep 22, 2008 | 02:36 PM

Magred6sp

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From: Larkspur Colorado

Thanks, everyone. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

Sep 22, 2008 | 03:12 PM

YO-EL

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From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL

After finding loose connections while my car was dead in my garage I tightened them big time..

They're not coming loose..

Sep 22, 2008 | 05:06 PM

John Nowak PE

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Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 298

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From: San Antonio Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by YO-EL

After finding loose connections while my car was dead in my garage I tightened them big time..

They're not coming loose..

Be careful. Too much torque on the posts and the battery case cracks. Acid begins to leak out and then you can have real big problems. When acid leaks out of the battery, it goes right onto a main part of the wiring harness below the battery tray. You can chase all sorts of electrical problems down the road and have to reapir lots of wires in a cramped space as a result. This has happened to a lot of folks whne the've had their batteries replaced under warranty (techs used too much torque).

That's why the torque value is so low in the specs. If things keep coming loose after you just snug them down, then use Loctite like stated above. Do not use more torque.

Last edited by John Nowak PE; Sep 23, 2008 at 12:32 PM.