Battery Positive Clamp

Well my first replacement battery finally died (6 years on the factory battery, second battery 8 years) and I had to replace it. The issue is that the positive battery clamp will not adjust. The nut on the clamp post is corroded/welded and will not break free/turn. The issue with this clamp is that the main lead to the starter is crimped to this clamp.

Do they make a replacement for this clamp that takes the crimped cable into account? Or am I better off buying a new factory clamp that I am assuming included the crimped on cable (maybe)?

Thoughts, knowledge, advice, suggestions?

I had the same problem on my 04 Got a clamp from advanced auto and had to adapt it I will go and take a pic and post it Maybe this will help you or give you some ideas

pics

A little off topic - I bought a new 2015 Expediton Limited 4x4. It is still under the basic warranty. I has always been serviced at the selling dealer - and I always have the "works" package done, with multiple areas inspected (supposedly.....).

After about a year of ownership, I checked the positive battery terminal and connector. It was covered by a large red rubber cover.

It had more corrosion on the connector and terminal than any other vehicle I have owned for more than 45 years of vehicle ownership. I removed the connector, repeatedly cleaned it with battery terminal corrosion cleaner, and a battery terminal cleaner brush. I replaced the connector and cover.

A month or more ago, I checked the connector again. I was COVERED in corrosion again. It looked like a school science project. I cleaned it very well, using lots of corrosion cleaner and water, and dried everything. I bought some battery terminal connector gel that is supposed to stop corrosion and applied it.

Clearly - the dealership did not check the connector (you have to lift a rubber cover......). Had I not checked it several times and cleaned it, I'm sure the connector and wiring would have been more severely damaged.

Anyone have any idea why the connector and terminal has so much corrosion? It has the original battery (now 30 months old) and the battery is very clean and not leaking.

Just buy a new clamp that would accomodate the thickness of the cable. No need for crimping.

docraymund said:

Just buy a new clamp that would accomodate the thickness of the cable. No need for crimping.

Click to expand...

Just as in Bedrck47's pictures above, the positive battery clamp makes an actual "T". The clamp part goes around the battery terminal post but has a large metal piece pointing toward the front of the truck to form the top of the "T". On the driver's side of the "T", the main lead to the Starter is crimped as part of the "T". The "T" is flat and about half inch wide with a threaded post at the junction of the "T" so that the other two large Positive cables (Alternator and Fuse Box) can be bolted down to the top of the "T".

If I were to cut the Starter cable off of the battery clamp, it would need a large eyelet crimped on it so that it could be properly bolted to the cable connection point on a new battery clamp. Only a fool would cut the cable off, then use the actual battery clamp to pressure clamp the cable to the battery because that would be three different metals meeting at a high current draw point and tri-metal corrosion would make the connection so unreliable in a month that the Starter couldn't pull enough current to start the motor so I would be right back where I started.

the clamp and connection shown in my pictures was done about a year ago no problems yet

use some NOALOX Anti-Oxidant Compound available at Lowes

Bedrck47 said:

I had the same problem on my 04 Got a clamp from advanced auto and had to adapt it I will go and take a pic and post it Maybe this will help you or give you some ideas

Click to expand...

Thanks for the pictures. Question: did you remove the old battery clamp leaving enough flat metal to drill a hole the size of the bolt, basically making the old battery clamp into an eyelet terminal?

I'm thinking of using my pneumatic cut-off tool to remove the battery clamp right at the "T" intersection then drill a hole through the clamp part still crimped to the remaining part of the battery clamp creating an eyelet terminal. Then I will have to do something similar to what you did to extend out from any stock battery clamp. To bad those leads are so short and positioned horizontal instead of vertical. It would be impossible to turn them both 90 degrees in orientation plus 90 degrees in direction back toward a standard battery clamp atop the battery post as they are too short.

Yes I cut the flat part and drilled a hole You shold get a good idea from the pic

I had also thought of getting a clamp that would clamp to the post and that also had the GM style of side post connection screw hole and then mount the cables that way Couldn't fing that type of set up at the time

There are various types of battery terminals available. Google "battery terminal" and you will see a few that are available online.

If you have the clearance between the post and hood this type offers a solution to your problem.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Seachoic...75035&wl11=online&wl12=32738661&wl13=&veh=sem