How to Fix Loose Battery Cables
A car that is not starting properly or starts with difficulty often leads a car owner to jump to the conclusion that the battery needs to be replaced. Many times the battery is not the root cause of the problem, but it is instead a loose connection between the battery and battery cables. Learn to fix loose battery cables and you might avoid unnecessarily spending money for a battery.
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Things You'll Need
- Wrench set
- Plastic baggie
- Rubber band
- Wire brush
- Battery terminal cleaner (available at auto parts stores)
- Clean rags
Instructions
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1
Use a wrench to loosen the bolt on the positive battery cable connector. Remove the connector from the positive battery terminal.
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2
Place a plastic baggie over the positive battery cable connecting clamp and secure it temporarily with a rubber band.
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3
Remove the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal, just as you did for the positive cable in Step 1.
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4
Clean both battery terminals and the connectors on the battery cables using a terminal cleaner and a wire brush. Dry them off with a clean rag.
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5
Place the negative battery cable connector clamp onto the negative terminal on the battery, and tighten the bolt. Tighten it firmly, but be careful not to strip out the threads.
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6
Remove the plastic baggie from the positive connector. Place it onto the positive battery terminal, tighten it with the wrench, and you are finished.
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