How to replace all negative wires from battery?

[a_scobel]

The negative wires off of my battery are getting pretty bad. Sometimes my car will not start until I go under the hood & mess with them. So I'm going to replace them..I searched but couldn't find any other threads on it; only others saying "just replace them".

So anybody ever do this? Should I just buy a stock wiring bundle from the dealer or should I put together my own wiring? I'm guessing they're around 8 awg? Also for the terminals to crimp on the end..I'm sure I can get them at Home Depot, but any suggestions?

 

[housegsx]

There should be 2 negatives coming from the battery. One is short, directly to the firewall and the other goes to a bolt through the bellhousing.

You can make new ones cheap. Get some wire, at least 4 gauge for these two. The higher the strand count the better. More flexible, more resistant to corrosion, and less resistance. The stuff Advanced and other auto parts stores sell as battery cable is junky low strand count stuff. Don't use it.

At Home Dept or Lowe's you can get the matching size copper lugs for each end.
To make the wires, put the lug in a vice and fill it up with clippings of flux core solder. Heat the lug with a torch for a few seconds until the solder melts and push in the stripped end of you wire. That should be good enough, but you may also want to put a crimp in the lug for an even more solid mechanical connection. I just use a chisel and give it one good hit with a hammer.

While you're at you might as well replace any other grounds you see and even add a couple more if you wish.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

I am too having this problem, but with my positive. My car sometimes shows no battery at all, very little, and full charge. Is it possible to change the positive without having to go to the dealer, because it has the fuses of the wire?

Off topic, a_scobel, where are you located, or where do you live? I used to live not far from Andrews off route 4 i believe in lusby, and beofore that, in Great Mills. Those where the days.


James

 

[turbosax2]

If you have a local car audio shop they should be able to help you out. When we replaced the ground wires on my brother's car, we measured the length of each wire we needed, went to the car audio shop, purchased the 4ga wire and terminals, and had them put them the terminals on the wire for free. This solution is probably more expensive than Home Depot parts, but I know we got quality parts and the terminals were crimped probably.

 

[spooln4fun]

Thats exactly what I did as well, Of course I work in one so mine was cheaper then homedepot...anyways I would also suggest using some car audio wire. as well as replacing most other grounds on the vehicle as well will only help things

 

[99gst_racer]

Yeah, just grab a nice, new battery terminal, some 4 gauge wire, and a couple ring terminals and you're all set. It's as easy as it looks. You're basically just replicating what's already there.

 

[Defiant]

Check "ground kit".

 

[mitch26753]

skip going to your audio shop or home depot or lowes. Just go to advanced or autozone they sell factory replacment ground wires! they come with the battery terminal the wire already attached with the right length and everything! Alot easier and in the end cheaper, when i did this it cost me like 4.90 for the part made for our cars!

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

I'll have to head down there when i get money.

James

 

[diggerzmound]

I was contemplating using a kit like this:

HKS Circle Earth Grounding Kit EVO

 

[99gst_racer]

I was contemplating using a kit like this:

HKS Circle Earth Grounding Kit EVO

Why spend $130 on a 'kit' when you can DYI?

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...5889-homemade-4-gauge-grounding-wire-kit.html

 

[diggerzmound]

Why spend $130 on a 'kit' when you can DYI?

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...5889-homemade-4-gauge-grounding-wire-kit.html

COol, especially if you would have posted this initially.

Doing it yourself is always more rewarding. Off to the audio store..

 

[kergilman]

I was contemplating using a kit like this:

HKS Circle Earth Grounding Kit EVO

I am also preparing to replace my all my ground wires. I just reciently bought a kit off of Ebay for about $20, including shipping. There are multiple kits to choose from. I have yet to install this though, but lengths seem long enough. Has anyone else had experience installing one of these ebay grounding kits...?