Positive Battery Cable Corrosion

[2001Silverado2500HD]

Any one had this problem? Got So Bad when i tried to take the screw out to replace it, it broke off the battery (replaced) and the end terminal on the cable broke off to, i need to get the whole cable replaced, any estimates on what a dealer woul charge?

[99silveradoz71]

Try a search on this topic. I know others have had problems with stock Delco batteries leaking and acid wicking down the positive cable. Some have used welding wire to replace the cable.

[GM-Tech]

Very common problem. We've been dealing with leaking batteries for years and years. They've finally fixed it, it seems, but I still don't understand what took so long. This had to be a major warranty expense for GM.

 

We've had to replace corroded a/c lines, brake lines, ABS units (on some cars it's below the battery... real smart), floor pans in vehicles with batteries under the rear seat (aurora for one) and had a couple FWD oldsmobiles where it ate a hole right through the unibody structure.

 

Your battery cable, by the way, is probably pretty expensive. Some are nearly $200.

[greenbuck50]

I had to get a new positive cable for my 2002 Sierra 1500 5.3 last week due to corrosion. I have not put it in yet, but it was $130 at the Chevy dealer here in town.

[pm26]

Nobody sells aftermarket battery cables for these at a reasonable price? $ 130 and $ 200 is an outrageous ripoff. I would check NAPA or some other decent auto parts outlet.

FYI, marine battery cables for boats are usually custom made and they are nowhere near this price.

[Haulin' 8.1]

I'm glad GM Tech pointed out that this is a common problem with the AC Delco batterys. I've seen it several times over the last few years at my shop but not often enough to realize they were all AC Delco's. Even the auxilliary battery in my truck was leaking when I bought it so I bought a gel type and moved the main battery (AC Delco) to the auxillary position.

 

Well two days ago I was trying to jump start my sons car with my auxillary battery, the remaining AC Delco battery it's had since new. I couldn't get it to do justice until I started the engine. I noticed a bunch of corrosion on the positive terminal and made a note to clean it soon. Then I read this post and today it got a little slow so I pulled my truck in and took the positive cable off the aux. battery and cleaned it really well, I couldn't see any acid residue so I put it back on. Just as I had the cable as tight as I wanted it and let up the whole positive terminal of the battery broke off. So I disconnected the cable and gave the battery the boot. I doubt it even worked anyways by the way it looked behind the broken terminal. So I just lost 45 pounds of dead wieght off the front end and prevented any further damage from acid spills, there already was some from before but nothing serious. Funny now the truck seems to take corners like a half-ton. I'm going to move the remaining one to the back for sure now. My truck is already front heavy due to the massive front bumper.

 

If you have one of these and it's showing these symptoms I suggest you replace it before it bites you. I've seen acid damage on late model wiring and it isn't pretty.

 

Vernon