C7 Tech/Performance Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ground wire on battery

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2024 | 10:11 PM
  #1  
Corvette-Dan's Avatar
Corvette-Dan
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default Ground wire on battery

Am I the only dummy that broke the little wire on the negative lead to the battery? I know it looks ugly, but I got it recrimped without adding a wire. I noticed that the original was not soldered so I didn't do that. The tape was just in case. It is actually crimped pretty good after the third attempt. Can a new wire be sourced? Is it a pain to change? Any reasonable alternatives? Asking just in case. I should have removed from the terminal prior like last time. It was out of the way but I slipped installing the new battery.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2024 | 10:16 PM
  #2  
RonC7's Avatar
RonC7
Safety Car
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,875
Likes: 1,875
From: St. Louis Metro East IL
Default

Lots of us have managed to break the too short sensing wire. It is important for proper battery charging.

There's nothing special about the wire. Just splice in a section of black wire about 14 or 16 gauge. Solder for the best electrical connection, then use heat shrink insulation or tape over the joints.

Ron
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 08:44 AM
  #3  
Corvette-Dan's Avatar
Corvette-Dan
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Thanks for the reply. I didn't want to alter anything out of fear that I could mess something up. This is good to know for the future. I may go back at some point and solder in a wire so there's more slack.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 09:12 AM
  #4  
Tinkertech's Avatar
Tinkertech
Melting Slicks
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 1,057
From: North Texas
Default

the real question is:

has anyone found a correct connector crimp lug of the correct decisions, ie: wire size, bolt hole opening etc.

Not some germeric part that kinda fits.

if so, where?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 01:54 PM
  #5  
laserdude2215's Avatar
laserdude2215
Burning Brakes
Photogenic
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 438
From: San Dimas CA
Default

As you command, so shall it be!


Reply
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 02:14 PM
  #6  
Maxpowers's Avatar
Maxpowers
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,887
From: Toronto
Default

Originally Posted by RonC7
Lots of us have managed to break the too short sensing wire. It is important for proper battery charging.

There's nothing special about the wire. Just splice in a section of black wire about 14 or 16 gauge. Solder for the best electrical connection, then use heat shrink insulation or tape over the joints.

Ron
This is what I would do. Shrink wrap is great and will last the life of your vehicle
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 03:55 PM
  #7  
Dcasole's Avatar
Dcasole
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,680
Likes: 2,729
From: Atlanta GA
Default

Originally Posted by Tinkertech
the real question is:

has anyone found a correct connector crimp lug of the correct decisions, ie: wire size, bolt hole opening etc.

Not some germeric part that kinda fits.

if so, where?
Amazon is your friend lol lol

OP, there is a reason that it's not soldered, in this situation a well-done crimp connector is better than a soldered connection because vibration can "fatigue" soldered connection

Dave
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 06:18 PM
  #8  
Corvette-Dan's Avatar
Corvette-Dan
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Originally Posted by Dcasole
Amazon is your friend lol lol

OP, there is a reason that it's not soldered, in this situation a well-done crimp connector is better than a soldered connection because vibration can "fatigue" soldered connection

Dave
Thanks to all but how about soldering the extra wire to the existing then crimping the terminal?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 07:35 PM
  #9  
Dcasole's Avatar
Dcasole
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,680
Likes: 2,729
From: Atlanta GA
Default

Originally Posted by Corvette-Dan
Thanks to all but how about soldering the extra wire to the existing then crimping the terminal?
You could because it's so small but a proper and I stress proper crimp connector is a better solution
Dave
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2024 | 09:50 PM
  #10  
Corvette-Dan's Avatar
Corvette-Dan
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Originally Posted by Dcasole
You could because it's so small but a proper and I stress proper crimp connector is a better solution
Dave
That is what I did but didn't add an extra wire. Pain as it is so short. But seems fine after two days of testing.
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2024 | 01:52 AM
  #11  
Bill Dearborn's Avatar
Bill Dearborn
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,066
Likes: 9,833
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Default

Originally Posted by Corvette-Dan
Am I the only dummy that broke the little wire on the negative lead to the battery? I know it looks ugly, but I got it recrimped without adding a wire. I noticed that the original was not soldered so I didn't do that. The tape was just in case. It is actually crimped pretty good after the third attempt. Can a new wire be sourced? Is it a pain to change? Any reasonable alternatives? Asking just in case. I should have removed from the terminal prior like last time. It was out of the way but I slipped installing the new battery.
Mine was broken when I took delivery of the car. On the 170 mile drive home I kept getting charging errors so I took it into my local dealer the next morning and they repaired the wire by adding about 4 inches of wire so there is plenty of slack and it hasn't broken again in the following 8.5 years.

Bill
Reply
Old Jul 27, 2024 | 11:32 PM
  #12  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,641
Likes: 24,870
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by RonC7
Lots of us have managed to break the too short sensing wire. It is important for proper battery charging.

There's nothing special about the wire. Just splice in a section of black wire about 14 or 16 gauge. Solder for the best electrical connection, then use heat shrink insulation or tape over the joints.

Ron
While I have not broken the black wire, there have been a number of posts on the forum of owners that have done so. What Ron says is correct.
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2024 | 08:34 AM
  #13  
Tinkertech's Avatar
Tinkertech
Melting Slicks
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 1,057
From: North Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Corvette-Dan
Thanks to all but how about soldering the extra wire to the existing then crimping the terminal?
Correct way.

ie:
To properly repair broken sense wire:
Solder a black 16 gauge ~ 3 to 4" long extension wire, use heat shrink with sealant inside to cover the connection, then crimp on a new ring terminal at the exposed end using the correct controlled crimping tool.

Last edited by Tinkertech; Jul 28, 2024 at 08:46 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2024 | 09:56 AM
  #14  
Dcasole's Avatar
Dcasole
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,680
Likes: 2,729
From: Atlanta GA
Default

Originally Posted by Tinkertech
Correct way.

ie:
To properly repair broken sense wire:
Solder a black 16 gauge ~ 3 to 4" long extension wire, use heat shrink with sealant inside to cover the connection, then crimp on a new ring terminal at the exposed end using the correct controlled crimping tool.
Soldering is never recommended for any application that is subject to vibration as it will fatigue. That's why a butt crimp connector is the recommended fix. Have you ever seen any connection "soldered " in a motor vehicle?

Dave
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2024 | 05:46 PM
  #15  
Corvette-Dan's Avatar
Corvette-Dan
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 202
From: Lyons Il
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Originally Posted by Dcasole
Soldering is never recommended for any application that is subject to vibration as it will fatigue. That's why a butt crimp connector is the recommended fix. Have you ever seen any connection "soldered " in a motor vehicle?

Dave
Never thought about it like that. Good point.
Reply
Old Jul 29, 2024 | 09:14 AM
  #16  
Tinkertech's Avatar
Tinkertech
Melting Slicks
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 1,057
From: North Texas
Default

Originally Posted by laserdude2215
As you command, so shall it be!

Thanks!
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Ground wire on battery





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:56 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE