Battery Terminal help

[Razorbackfan]

Hey, I have a 2001 Ford Ranger XLT and the terminals on the battery are a pain. I do not have any wire to really play with so I need to replace the battery terminals because for some reason the nut on each is corroding like crazy. The other problem is that the positive terminal does not go down all the way and I think this is a problem in my truck starting slower. She takes a couple tries to start and I did just change the starter because of this, but this battery terminal situation is part of the problem I think. Anyone have suggestions on a good terminal that actually sits on the battery like it should and that does not corrode like crazy? I have a Duralast 59-DL battery in the truck right now.

 

[Curious Hound]

Could you post some pictures?

 

[sgtsandman]

Post moved to Charging, Misc Electrical, Gauges. It seems to be the best fit.

Eric is one of the best people to help you out if you give him the information he needs. Good luck.

 

[Razorbackfan]

Can't post pictures right now, its too dark to get a good picture. I could try to put some tomorrow. The terminals on are your standard crappy ones you get from Advance or Auto Zone though.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I just dealt with this....

Solution...

 

[Uncle Gump]

You will need a BIG crimper... or find someone that does.

 

[Razorbackfan]

I just dealt with this....

Solution...

View attachment 116089

What brand/type of terminals are those and what exactly did you have to do? I am not great with the electrical and not having any wire to really play with worries me. I have not seen a setup done like this before.

 

[Curious Hound]

Can't post pictures right now, its too dark to get a good picture. I could try to put some tomorrow. The terminals on are your standard crappy ones you get from Advance or Auto Zone though.

Do you mean the repair terminals where the wire is clamped under a flat strap with 2 bolts? Those are bad. But not always a death sentence.

Unfortunately, if there is a lot of corrosion, it is probably deep into the wires. The best thing is to replace the battery cable with brand new ones. The corrosion prevents good electrical.connections.

The corrosion actually comes from the battery. Tiny bits of acid and gases escape around the terminals and attack the copper wires, particularly the negative cable. That is why those felt washers with the dielectric grease are good to use under the battery clamps. Also, covering the terminals and clamps, after making the connections, with battery protectant spray helps keep thing fresh.

 

[Curious Hound]

What brand/type of terminals are those and what exactly did you have to do? I am not great with the electrical and not having any wire to really play with worries me. I have not seen a setup done like this before.

It would be easier to buy replacement cables with clamps already installed. But, if you don't mind investing in some tools, you can do a setup like Gump's or mine, below. However, it will still take some new cable to replace the inches of corroded cable that needs to be removed. I was too cheap/lazy to buy new cables. But I had to remove over 12 inches of my big ground cable and splice in a new piece.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

@Uncle Gump and @ericbphoto got it right. I usually do something basically like that. It’s not really all that hard to run new power and ground wires. There aren’t many to deal with and if you really want to be lazy, you don’t have to even pull the old wires out of the looms, just cut them short and run new wire along the loom. I prefer to use welding cable, it’s a fine strand and good copper, so nice to work with and high conductivity. Clean up where the wires fasten to so you get some shiny metal and use dielectric grease to keep corrosion off the connections. Or you can use No-Alox which is messier but better, that’s in the electrical section of the hardware store.

I’ve also done it with car audio type connectors at the battery terminal, they use an Allen screw to clamp the wires.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Just search military battery cable terminals. I got those on Amazon.

But if your cables are bad... well... they're bad. Mine were pretty good...

 

[Razorbackfan]

Do you mean the repair terminals where the wire is clamped under a flat strap with 2 bolts? Those are bad. But not always a death sentence.

Unfortunately, if there is a lot of corrosion, it is probably deep into the wires. The best thing is to replace the battery cable with brand new ones. The corrosion prevents good electrical.connections.

The corrosion actually comes from the battery. Tiny bits of acid and gases escape around the terminals and attack the copper wires, particularly the negative cable. That is why those felt washers with the dielectric grease are good to use under the battery clamps. Also, covering the terminals and clamps, after making the connections, with battery protectant spray helps keep thing fresh.

Yes, I have those terminals where you put the wires under the flat strap with the 2 bolts. The cables are not corroded, its actually the nut on the positive terminal that corrodes all the time. I do have the felt washers, but the positive terminal is not able to sit all the way down with it on. The wires are just a bit short due to my having to cut them last time to put on these crappy terminals so I don't have much to play with and don't want them pulling out of the terminal.

 

[Razorbackfan]

@Uncle Gump and @ericbphoto got it right. I usually do something basically like that. It’s not really all that hard to run new power and ground wires. There aren’t many to deal with and if you really want to be lazy, you don’t have to even pull the old wires out of the looms, just cut them short and run new wire along the loom. I prefer to use welding cable, it’s a fine strand and good copper, so nice to work with and high conductivity. Clean up where the wires fasten to so you get some shiny metal and use dielectric grease to keep corrosion off the connections. Or you can use No-Alox which is messier but better, that’s in the electrical section of the hardware store.

I’ve also done it with car audio type connectors at the battery terminal, they use an Allen screw to clamp the wires.

I will check out your you tube channel for sure. Yeah, its just my electrical knowledge is limited with vehicles so I am always leary about messing something up when dealing with wiring harnesses and wires, etc. I will check out the welding cable.

 

[Razorbackfan]

Just search military battery cable terminals. I got those on Amazon.

But if your cables are bad... well... they're bad. Mine were pretty good...

Thanks, I will check them out on Amazon. The cables are not bad, just short from cutting them previously for the terminals I put on a few years back. The corrosion is on the nut on the terminal.

 

[Curious Hound]

I do have the felt washers, but the positive terminal is not able to sit all the way down with it on

As long as the terminal is down as far as it will go against the washer and the washer is tight against the top of the battery, it will be fine. If the terminal seems too small to fit all the way down, it can be opened up bigger. Just loosen the clamping screw a lot and use a screwdriver between the 2 sides to pry the clamp open so it fits further down on the tapered battery post.