battery power/ground cables, problems??

[RumpRanger98]

So my truck is at my cousins shop right now, having him put in a new cam synchro and make sure its set right for timing, and a couple other things. I wanted him to inspect everything since I just bought it and am new to trucks and 4x4's.

Today he was telling me something about the battery cables and they should get replaced. I just put new post clamps on them, and I saw nothing wrong with the cables at all. I'm going to have him show me what he was talking about.

I was wondering if anyone has experienced problems with the battery cables. And what sort of problem would recquire it to be replaced? He said they usually run around $100-$150 for the cables. Personally I don't think my cousin is tryin to rip me off, but this is the first time Ive ever heard of someone, or me, needing the cables replaced. I guess I wont know 100% sure until I go have him show me, but curious as to any info you guys may have.

 

[martin]

The ground cable goes from the battery to the frame and then to the block just below the exhaust manifold. The connection on the motor often goes bad. There are options other than the factory cables but either way you must end up with good connections between the battery, motor, body and frame. The positive cables are not usually a problem.

 

[feellnfroggy]

After he shows you what needs to be done, just do it yourself.

 

[RumpRanger98]

After he shows you what needs to be done, just do it yourself.

well its definately something ill do myself. I planned on going through all ground connections and sensors when weather got warmer. I like to clean all connections and grounds and add dielectrical grease. to cars i own. well only owned 1 really, but its going to be how i do all my cars i buy that are used.

He made it sound like the cable/cables themselves would be that much money. I couldn't imagine a ground wire costing more than $30 and I would think for that it would be a high grade/quality wire. Or do they really cost up to $100-150? seems steep to me.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

$150 for cables???????????if you were having them shipped from mars maybe.
i could sell you both for around $25.........if you were at my store.

 

[AllanD]

If I opened a hood and saw the cheapo type post clamps on the battery I'd say pretty much the same thing

And I'd also say about the same thing on price, the price quoted is about what a complete set of FACTORY battery cable assemblies would cost, complete with
stabilizing brackets, routing clamps and chaffe guards.

AD

 

[RumpRanger98]

If I opened a hood and saw the cheapo type post clamps on the battery I'd say pretty much the same thing

And I'd also say about the same thing on price, the price quoted is about what a complete set of FACTORY battery cable assemblies would cost, complete with
stabilizing brackets, routing clamps and chaffe guards.

AD

I believe thats what he was talking about. I put on cheap clamps, yes. the bolts were bad on the ones when i bought it and wouldn't tighten. So I threw the cheap like $4 ones on there. What clamps do you reccomend for replacing in this situation? I dont see how they are a problem anyways tho, all they need to do is be able to pass the electricity.

the price wasn't a for sure thing, either way im not paying him to do that. Im very confident in myself I can fix whatever problem he has found with my wiring.

 

[shadetree]

AllanD is correct on the cables. The bolt on clamps are for temporary use only. The cables corrode and lose connection and the truck dies, always at the wrong time.. The same thing happens on crimped connectors, but the crimped last a lot longer before they go south.

I just put a new ground cable on my Explorer. It is a one piece cable that goes from the battery to frame to engine. $67 from Ford as it is not available aftermarket. I could have put together another set up, but didn't have the time or want to.

Due to the electrical load on todays vehicles, grounds and solid connections are a must. The more grounds the better. You will find engine to frame grounds, engine to body grounds, fender to body grounds, body to radiator grounds(helps prevent electrolysis which causes damage to aluminum). So do not belittle the importance of solid connections and grounds.shady

 

[RumpRanger98]

trust me I dont belittle the importance of grounds and solid connections at all. I have a ground kit I installed on my maxima, and like I mentioned in a previous post, I would like to go through every electrical connection and ground on any car I own thats used., brand new I would hope i wouldnt have to worry. I just haven't seen for myself how bad the wire is. when i put those post clamps on i didnt investigate the wire too much, as weather here has been pretty crazy this winter. $67 for just the ground wire seems expensive to me, but helps me understand where my cousin is coming from and I know he is an honest man and does only whatever work is neccessary and has never tried to rip me off. I got tomorrow off so Im going to try and drive by there and talk with him and take a look at it. If theres nothing aftermarket for it that I can do myself, depending how bad it is, I might just have him order the necessary stuff from ford and do it properly. If its not too bad, Ill replace the ground myself. and see what my situation is with the power cable.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

the cables i sell have the solid lead clamp or the factory tinned clamp.
not cheap knock offs,made in USA.the wire is all solid strand not pieces and parts woven together.
also have the factory style woven ground straps.

 

[shadetree]

$67 for just the ground wire seems expensive to me, but helps me understand where my cousin is coming from.

As far as I'm concerned, it is a complete rip, but all factory parts are. It does come with all necessary goodies, mounting clamps, loom, etc., but I would have lost much more if I had taken the time to do it myself.:shady

 

[RumpRanger98]

so I went and talked with my cousin and looked over the truck. Right now they are fine the way it is. But I can see how the wire can become corroded and corrode internaly and to replace it is to get it from the stealership and its the complete power wire, i thought it was just one, but this thing branches off and it would the the entire thing. Im going to leave it the way it is for now and just keep it cleaned and dielectrical grease to try to prevent any corrosion.

copperheads, are the cables you sell as I describe? Its both neg and pos terminals and all the wires that branch off it. at least 3 power ones I can see, 1 big main one and 2 smaller ones that lead to a box on the driver side.
curious how much you are able to get these for.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

that i would have to check on.i know i stock the factory style on some models.

 

[warrior24]

Here is what I am thinking of doing to replace my ground wire, this web site has all the parts I need. I plan to Use the solder type terminals. The wire is 4 awg it ends up pretty cheap.

http://shop.genuinedealz.com/

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

looks like good stuff.i can also make any custom cable you can dream up.but i cant sell it on here ..........yet.
looking into becoming a vendor for TRS.