How to tighten battery clamp?
The ground (black) terminal clamp on the battery in my 2007 Mazda-6 has become loose to the point that sometimes the start motor will drain the whole electrical system before it engages. At that point I have to pop the hood and shimmy the clamp to get a connection sufficient to start the car.
I have hit the limit tightening the clamp nut but I can still turn the clamp without much effort. (Maybe this is a consequence of differential metal shrinkage as temperatures have recently been below freezing?)
What is an expedient or proper fix for this? I don't see any corrosion on that terminal. My first inclination was to shim it with some copper wire between the clamp and the terminal, but for all I know that will cause galvanic corrosion.
battery mazda-6
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
add a comment |
The ground (black) terminal clamp on the battery in my 2007 Mazda-6 has become loose to the point that sometimes the start motor will drain the whole electrical system before it engages. At that point I have to pop the hood and shimmy the clamp to get a connection sufficient to start the car.
I have hit the limit tightening the clamp nut but I can still turn the clamp without much effort. (Maybe this is a consequence of differential metal shrinkage as temperatures have recently been below freezing?)
What is an expedient or proper fix for this? I don't see any corrosion on that terminal. My first inclination was to shim it with some copper wire between the clamp and the terminal, but for all I know that will cause galvanic corrosion.
battery mazda-6
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
1
How old is your battery? If its 4+ years then it may be on the way out and due for replacement too. This may or may not fix the clamp problem.
– Criggie
8 hours ago
add a comment |
The ground (black) terminal clamp on the battery in my 2007 Mazda-6 has become loose to the point that sometimes the start motor will drain the whole electrical system before it engages. At that point I have to pop the hood and shimmy the clamp to get a connection sufficient to start the car.
I have hit the limit tightening the clamp nut but I can still turn the clamp without much effort. (Maybe this is a consequence of differential metal shrinkage as temperatures have recently been below freezing?)
What is an expedient or proper fix for this? I don't see any corrosion on that terminal. My first inclination was to shim it with some copper wire between the clamp and the terminal, but for all I know that will cause galvanic corrosion.
battery mazda-6
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
The ground (black) terminal clamp on the battery in my 2007 Mazda-6 has become loose to the point that sometimes the start motor will drain the whole electrical system before it engages. At that point I have to pop the hood and shimmy the clamp to get a connection sufficient to start the car.
I have hit the limit tightening the clamp nut but I can still turn the clamp without much effort. (Maybe this is a consequence of differential metal shrinkage as temperatures have recently been below freezing?)
What is an expedient or proper fix for this? I don't see any corrosion on that terminal. My first inclination was to shim it with some copper wire between the clamp and the terminal, but for all I know that will cause galvanic corrosion.
battery mazda-6
battery mazda-6
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
asked 9 hours ago
feetwetfeetwet
647730
647730
1
How old is your battery? If its 4+ years then it may be on the way out and due for replacement too. This may or may not fix the clamp problem.
– Criggie
8 hours ago
add a comment |
1
How old is your battery? If its 4+ years then it may be on the way out and due for replacement too. This may or may not fix the clamp problem.
– Criggie
8 hours ago
1
1
How old is your battery? If its 4+ years then it may be on the way out and due for replacement too. This may or may not fix the clamp problem.
– Criggie
8 hours ago
How old is your battery? If its 4+ years then it may be on the way out and due for replacement too. This may or may not fix the clamp problem.
– Criggie
8 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
If the clamp is no longer getting tight enough, that could mean the metal is stretched and possibly weak. A dealership would want to replace the whole ground cable with a new, molded on clamp. If there is any slack in the cable, you can buy a replacement clamp and put that on the wire. One way or another, new clamp is the "proper" fix.
In the mean time, there are also "terminal shims" that are made to be a quick fix for this problem at many auto-parts stores:
Lead post shim, random example
They are made out of lead so you don't have to worry about different metals reacting with each other.
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
Never seen those before.. I used to have the molds and re-cast the battery terminals, pouring the melt...
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Replace it, with something like this:
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
That's an interesting wire attachment style. I like that the wire would come off at a 90 degree angle. I haven't seen this style in the US - maybe I haven't looked hard enough tho.
– JPhi1618
9 hours ago
They were the style easily found in the UK - but there are many different styles now - clamps like that with wing nuts for cable terminals or studs and nuts etc
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
I also like that it has two holding screws on it ... nice add.
– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
If the clamp is no longer getting tight enough, that could mean the metal is stretched and possibly weak. A dealership would want to replace the whole ground cable with a new, molded on clamp. If there is any slack in the cable, you can buy a replacement clamp and put that on the wire. One way or another, new clamp is the "proper" fix.
In the mean time, there are also "terminal shims" that are made to be a quick fix for this problem at many auto-parts stores:
Lead post shim, random example
They are made out of lead so you don't have to worry about different metals reacting with each other.
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
Never seen those before.. I used to have the molds and re-cast the battery terminals, pouring the melt...
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
add a comment |
If the clamp is no longer getting tight enough, that could mean the metal is stretched and possibly weak. A dealership would want to replace the whole ground cable with a new, molded on clamp. If there is any slack in the cable, you can buy a replacement clamp and put that on the wire. One way or another, new clamp is the "proper" fix.
In the mean time, there are also "terminal shims" that are made to be a quick fix for this problem at many auto-parts stores:
Lead post shim, random example
They are made out of lead so you don't have to worry about different metals reacting with each other.
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
Never seen those before.. I used to have the molds and re-cast the battery terminals, pouring the melt...
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
add a comment |
If the clamp is no longer getting tight enough, that could mean the metal is stretched and possibly weak. A dealership would want to replace the whole ground cable with a new, molded on clamp. If there is any slack in the cable, you can buy a replacement clamp and put that on the wire. One way or another, new clamp is the "proper" fix.
In the mean time, there are also "terminal shims" that are made to be a quick fix for this problem at many auto-parts stores:
Lead post shim, random example
They are made out of lead so you don't have to worry about different metals reacting with each other.
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
If the clamp is no longer getting tight enough, that could mean the metal is stretched and possibly weak. A dealership would want to replace the whole ground cable with a new, molded on clamp. If there is any slack in the cable, you can buy a replacement clamp and put that on the wire. One way or another, new clamp is the "proper" fix.
In the mean time, there are also "terminal shims" that are made to be a quick fix for this problem at many auto-parts stores:
Lead post shim, random example
They are made out of lead so you don't have to worry about different metals reacting with each other.
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
answered 9 hours ago
JPhi1618JPhi1618
12.5k33069
12.5k33069
Never seen those before.. I used to have the molds and re-cast the battery terminals, pouring the melt...
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Never seen those before.. I used to have the molds and re-cast the battery terminals, pouring the melt...
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
Never seen those before.. I used to have the molds and re-cast the battery terminals, pouring the melt...
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
Never seen those before.. I used to have the molds and re-cast the battery terminals, pouring the melt...
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Replace it, with something like this:
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
That's an interesting wire attachment style. I like that the wire would come off at a 90 degree angle. I haven't seen this style in the US - maybe I haven't looked hard enough tho.
– JPhi1618
9 hours ago
They were the style easily found in the UK - but there are many different styles now - clamps like that with wing nuts for cable terminals or studs and nuts etc
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
I also like that it has two holding screws on it ... nice add.
– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Replace it, with something like this:
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
That's an interesting wire attachment style. I like that the wire would come off at a 90 degree angle. I haven't seen this style in the US - maybe I haven't looked hard enough tho.
– JPhi1618
9 hours ago
They were the style easily found in the UK - but there are many different styles now - clamps like that with wing nuts for cable terminals or studs and nuts etc
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
I also like that it has two holding screws on it ... nice add.
– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
Replace it, with something like this:
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
Replace it, with something like this:
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
18.9k21133
18.9k21133
That's an interesting wire attachment style. I like that the wire would come off at a 90 degree angle. I haven't seen this style in the US - maybe I haven't looked hard enough tho.
– JPhi1618
9 hours ago
They were the style easily found in the UK - but there are many different styles now - clamps like that with wing nuts for cable terminals or studs and nuts etc
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
I also like that it has two holding screws on it ... nice add.
– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
That's an interesting wire attachment style. I like that the wire would come off at a 90 degree angle. I haven't seen this style in the US - maybe I haven't looked hard enough tho.
– JPhi1618
9 hours ago
They were the style easily found in the UK - but there are many different styles now - clamps like that with wing nuts for cable terminals or studs and nuts etc
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
I also like that it has two holding screws on it ... nice add.
– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦
8 hours ago
That's an interesting wire attachment style. I like that the wire would come off at a 90 degree angle. I haven't seen this style in the US - maybe I haven't looked hard enough tho.
– JPhi1618
9 hours ago
That's an interesting wire attachment style. I like that the wire would come off at a 90 degree angle. I haven't seen this style in the US - maybe I haven't looked hard enough tho.
– JPhi1618
9 hours ago
They were the style easily found in the UK - but there are many different styles now - clamps like that with wing nuts for cable terminals or studs and nuts etc
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
They were the style easily found in the UK - but there are many different styles now - clamps like that with wing nuts for cable terminals or studs and nuts etc
– Solar Mike
8 hours ago
I also like that it has two holding screws on it ... nice add.
– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦
8 hours ago
I also like that it has two holding screws on it ... nice add.
– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦
8 hours ago
add a comment |
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1
How old is your battery? If its 4+ years then it may be on the way out and due for replacement too. This may or may not fix the clamp problem.
– Criggie
8 hours ago