Never saw a battery cable this bad

David G · Apr 21, 2017

My buddy called me tonight about his 4620 not cranking.

He just got it, and battery cable crimp was so bad, it would completely lose voltage when the key was turned on, just from the draw of the injector pump solenoid.

It looked good to me, and it started fine yesterday.

504 · Apr 21, 2017

Whenever I build a cable I just go ahead and solder it after the crimp. Just saves aggravation later.

jeffcat · Apr 21, 2017

Ya mean one that looks like this. Before and after. Didn't fail but did look like crap.

MarkB_MI · Apr 22, 2017

It's a common mistake to judge the quality of an electrical connection by its appearance. If somebody sprayed a protector on a battery terminal, it can look clean and be totally rotten inside.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 22, 2017

jeffcat,
Both my Buick and GMC truck came with delco AGM side post batteries. The terminals on side post don't oxidize like top posts with cells like in your pic.

After my delco's died in car and truck, I replaced them with cheaper excide batteries with top vent caps. Later I discovered the battery holder showing rust. I'm thinking some electrolyte splashed out of battery causing this problem, which never occurred with the AGM batteries without top caps.

Is it possible some fumes from batteries with top posts that have vented tops, cause lots of our oxidation problems?

Another thought along with battery fumes and bad connections. I've seen some battery connections spark when I hit the starter. If battery were inside a case, wouldn't that cause a big bang when battery explodes?
geo

MARK ROBKE · Apr 22, 2017

I've encountered that more times than I can count.I always solder(rosin core) the terminals-use the kind that you fill(or comes with) solder,heat the solder,melting it inside the terminal,and stick the cable in,hold still until the solder solidifys.Have a piece of shrink tube slid up the cable,slid it down and heat shrink over the connection. It is the best repair you can make.Mark

Tx Jim · Apr 22, 2017

(quoted from post at 07:13:58 04/22/17) jeffcat,
Both my Buick and GMC truck came with delco AGM side post batteries. The terminals on side post don't oxidize like top posts with cells like in your pic.

That wasn't true about my 2000 model Chevy I did own with side post batteries. I was forever cleaning the oxidation on the battery posts & cable ends. I hate side post batteries.

Never saw a battery cable this bad

David G

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504

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jeffcat

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MarkB_MI

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Geo-TH,In

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MARK ROBKE

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Tx Jim

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