battery terminal replacement

Lancer033 · December 4, 2006

long story made short - got my Tahoe (2000 5.3L 4WD, 85K miles) - still had what looked like the original Delco battery in it, planned to replace it with an Optima, got sticker shock when I saw the prices (I'm been overseas for several years, they were only ~$100 when I left) decided to wait. Delco battery crapped out the next day. Borrowed a car, went to the store, sucked it up and got an optima, back on the road.

The Problem - who ever put the last battery in seriously torqued in the positive terminal and it had some significant corrosion on it so I had to do a little cutting on the rubber cover and would have used a set of vise-grips if I could have found any. Needless to say the bolt is pretty much destroyed. It's working for now, but if I ever have to unhook that battery, I'm going to need to replace the positive terminal, so I figure I should just go ahead an do it. Anyone know how?

Ranger · December 4, 2006

Get a replacement wire. I got the type from Autozone where it's all integrated and doesn't have any copper showing. Not sure how it'll be on your setup but on my Bronco all I had to do was wire it to the starter solenoid on the firewall.

az'03Silverado · December 4, 2006

It's a little more pricey, but I'd go to the dealer and get a replacement cable assembly. It's the original cable from the battery to the starter with all of the aux wires coming off. About $100 but well worth it.

ADDZ71 · December 4, 2006

If you are only talking about replacing the "bolt part" i.e. the part that would have been chewed up by incorrect tool usage you can buy that separate from the cable. If the damage is to the cable I would agree that in the long run you are better off buying a replacement cable from parts online or one of the original part vendors.

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RyanZ71 · December 4, 2006

I will be needing to replace my battery cables eventually thanks to the crappy AC/Delco battery comming apart and putting battery acid all over the cables.

TOTALRECALL · December 5, 2006

Hi - In the short term and while you are still interested, I would stick by the previous post. Go to a large local auto parts store, like PEP Boys or Auto Zone and you can by the bolts. Then get the little battery ratchet wrench, I think you mgiht even get the covers, slip all the new stuff on tighten carefully and you are set. Then when you replace the cables, messing with the old worse bolts isn't the issue.

I have done some of this before and once you know the little parts, like the bolts, are available, things sure get easier.

Thanks and good luck

Mike

mshell56118 · December 5, 2006

Hi - In the short term and while you are still interested, I would stick by the previous post. Go to a large local auto parts store, like PEP Boys or Auto Zone and you can by the bolts. Then get the little battery ratchet wrench, I think you mgiht even get the covers, slip all the new stuff on tighten carefully and you are set. Then when you replace the cables, messing with the old worse bolts isn't the issue.

I have done some of this before and once you know the little parts, like the bolts, are available, things sure get easier.

Thanks and good luck

Mike

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