Car Repair Guys

[Tordon22]

Yesterday, to my chagrin my car wouldn't start after it had been running perfectly 10 mins prior. So I go through the normal troubleshooting and find out my battery had severe corrosion. As I'm attempting to clean it I see that the corrosion is the only thing keeping my positive terminal going, it had completely eaten through the cable behind the terminal.

Is replacing the terminal something I could do myself? Not a car guy by any means but I'm pretty handy.


Edit: 2010 chevy impala

[katanaso]

They probably sell the parts, perhaps a kit, at the local auto parts store.  It should be a DIY fix for you.

[homersipes]

yeah I think I paid like 75 cents for the terminals, I buy them a dozen at a time for top post batteries, and I convert all side posts to top posts because I hate the stupid things.  Its easy just cut the old terminal off strip back about 3/4 of an inch of wire put it in the new terminal and tighten the bolts that clamp the wires.

[skorpx1]

Paging CAP, he'll be here shortly.

[Groth]

 I mech for a small group of gas/propane/deisel machines, they're on 4 year lease...than we/I start over. While I have bought terminal ends, cut off offending terminals, peeled back insulation and clamped old/cleaned cable in new terminal,even spraying w/'terminal protector'(a lacquor), I would not do this on machines I intended to have to mind/fix for any amount of time...or my own..unless the cable in question was real involved POS. I recommend replacing ENTIRE cable. If it's neg it runs to ground somewhere, remove-clean terminal/areas replace. If pos it (usually) runs from pos post to starter...again, clean terminals/end spots and replace. Said cables availible from NAPA etal in appropriate lengths and colors(insist on proper ones), if in doubt get it wee bit longer.Clean w/chemical cleaner, flood w/water,when dry spray w/terminal protector. Also you need make sure not overcharging/battery boiling over, acid corroding terminals...
 FIRSTLY DISCONNECT NEGITIVE CABLE, than positive. When reconnecting, FIRSTLY CONNECT POSITIVE, THAN NEGATIVE.
 I defer to CAP1, my superior in all things mechanical..except on my personal vehicles:)

[CAP1]

Yesterday, to my chagrin my car wouldn't start after it had been running perfectly 10 mins prior. So I go through the normal troubleshooting and find out my battery had severe corrosion. As I'm attempting to clean it I see that the corrosion is the only thing keeping my positive terminal going, it had completely eaten through the cable behind the terminal.

Is replacing the terminal something I could do myself? Not a car guy by any means but I'm pretty handy.


Edit: 2010 chevy impala

 on that car, i believe you have a side terminal battery? if so, it should at the most have 2 cables to the positive side. this is something you can safely do. you need to be sure the negative side is disconnected first. go to pepboys, napa, autozone, and buy the new cable end.
 you'll have to CAREFULLY cut the old end off, strip about 1" of insulation, and be sure it's clean. simply loosen the clamp bolts(7/16" wrench), and insert the cable(s) in the space, then tighten them up. install that cable first, then the negative cable.

 it should be that simple. side terminal batteries are very very common to get corroded, especially on the positive side. check the battery itself, to be sure it's not leaking there, as i've seen quite a few of those too.

[CAP1]

Paging CAP, he'll be here shortly.

 here i is!!

 was putting down carpet in mom's scrapbooking room........

[icepac]

Nobody has actually addressed the problem but rather how to fix the symptoms.

The problem is any dampness on the battery itself that allows ions to flow between the two terminals along the surface of the battery.

Clean battery = no terminal corrosion.

Of course, if you have a leak around the terminals, it will never stop eating terminal ends.

I've never experienced it on any of my cars because I keep the battery clean and none of my customers report further issues.

[CAP1]

Nobody has actually addressed the problem but rather how to fix the symptoms.

The problem is any dampness on the battery itself that allows ions to flow between the two terminals along the surface of the battery.

Clean battery = no terminal corrosion.

Of course, if you have a leak around the terminals, it will never stop eating terminal ends.

I've never experienced it on any of my cars because I keep the battery clean and none of my customers report further issues.

 read again. i did.

[morfiend]

 Once you replace or repair the cable try a sacrafial anode on the battery,I find a penny works great for this and fasten it to the battery with a dolope of vaseline.

   The penny will corrode instead of the terminals,this has been used for years on boats and outboard motors. They usually use a zinc anode but I find copper does the job just as well.


  YMMV.



   

[Flench]

Once you replace or repair the cable try a sacrafial anode on the battery,I find a penny works great for this and fasten it to the battery with a dolope of vaseline.

   The penny will corrode instead of the terminals,this has been used for years on boats and outboard motors. They usually use a zinc anode but I find copper does the job just as well.


  YMMV.



   

That's a good tip . I remember you telling me that a while back and I did it and it work's like a charm . Thanks for that morfiend <S> .