Simple solution to broken battery cable?

[Kamin]

My car wouldn't start this morning and a peek under the hood revealed a surprise.



Is there any other way to fix this other than getting a new positive battery cable for $210?

[Myst420]

Do you have enough slack to just put a new terminal on?

[chitownsports]

Just go to your local parts store (i.e. advance autoparts, autozone, etc.) The should be able to hook you up with a replacement for like 20 bucks or so. That's what I would do at least.

[Kamin]

I do and that was my first thought but I couldn't find a terminal at any of the local stores' websites (autozone, pepboys). Where would I find one. And I don't think they would sell them apart from the entire cable at the dealer since it's all one part number.

[Kamin]

I'll go and see what I can find at PB.

[Myst420]

Any local parts store would have them. The terminal itself shouldn't be more than like $5

[agart]

They sell female to female adapters. That cable is a little larger than 8 gauge. Another option if you cant find those adapters is to get a fuse holder to use as a female to female adapter. Instead of using a fuse though just put a piece of wire of equal size in its place.

[urban96]

or you could replace the terminal with something like this

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...PN3-BTPN3.html

you would just need to strip off 1/2" or so of shielding from each of your cables and stuff it in the little holes. Much cleaner setup than stock.

[Myst420]

or you could replace the terminal with something like this

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...PN3-BTPN3.html

you would just need to strip off 1/2" or so of shielding from each of your cables and stuff it in the little holes. Much cleaner setup than stock.

That looks pretty cool...any experience with them?

[agart]

or you could replace the terminal with something like this

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...PN3-BTPN3.html

you would just need to strip off 1/2" or so of shielding from each of your cables and stuff it in the little holes. Much cleaner setup than stock.

Just a heads up that the two factory wires are a little larger than 8 gauge. They won't fit into 8 gauge holes and are a pain to trim down because it is made of thick stranded wiring. If you go that route I'd suggest getting something that has a 4 gauge terminal that you could squeeze both factory wires into. From the looks of it you'd get one with 2 to accomodate what looks like an amp wire there. Another idea is to just get a ring terminal to crimp onto the factory wire and then swing the little extension that the amp wire is connected to right now and attach it there.

[Kittrell]

Of course it couldn't have been the negative cable, that is only like $35. That is a nasty bend on what I am guessing is your blue amp wire.

[airjordan223]

just replaced the terminal on my other car.

got it at napa for like 3 bucks

[heywier427]

simple solution...

bring it to the dealer. drink all the free coffee and eat all the cookies, beat the piss out of the loaner, and make sure they detail it for you.

thats simple!

[walky_talky20]

You just need to strip that wire, and crimp one of these on the end:



Or one of these, and you just tighten it down:



Then take the nut off at the battery post (where your little 2-way duplexer deal is connecting) and bolt it down.

[Kamin]

All is fixed. Thanks for all the help!

The amp wire had that nasty bend because of the stock terminal style and my own inept installation skills. The new terminal alleviated that problem.

Interestingly, the universal terminal wouldn't open wide enough to slide easily over the battery post and it required some forceful coaxing. And those stock wires really are a pain in the ass size.

And now my keyfob wont work. I'm hoping its just a matter of time with the car to become reacquainted with it.

[Kittrell]

Stick your key in the door, lock it, then unlock it, then start the car. Then shut it down, step out and give it a whirl.

[diagnosticator]

All is fixed. Thanks for all the help!

The amp wire had that nasty bend because of the stock terminal style and my own inept installation skills. The new terminal alleviated that problem.

Interestingly, the universal terminal wouldn't open wide enough to slide easily over the battery post and it required some forceful coaxing. And those stock wires really are a pain in the ass size.

And now my keyfob wont work. I'm hoping its just a matter of time with the car to become reacquainted with it.

To reinitialize your remote, put the key in the ignition, then turn the key ON, next press one of the buttons, unlock or lock, then turn the key OFF and remove the key from the ignition and test the remote function. Should be working again now.

[Kamin]

Thanks for the suggestions! In the process of manually unlocking and locking the car it started working again.

[VMRWheels]

Looks like all the questions were answered here! Hopefully this thread will stick around so someone who searches will stumble across it in the future

[walky_talky20]

Any pics of the repair?

[David813]

Bump from the dead..

Didn't want to start a new thread. I am having the same problem. Not entirely sure how OP fixed this and was needing some advice. I also PM'd him earlier today. Thanks in advance!

-Dave

[Northern_B6]

Bump from the dead..

Didn't want to start a new thread. I am having the same problem. Not entirely sure how OP fixed this and was needing some advice. I also PM'd him earlier today. Thanks in advance!

-Dave

I used something similar to this:

http://www.mysolarshop.co.uk/battery...set-p-230.html

to fix this problem when it happened to me.

[David813]

I used something similar to this:

http://www.mysolarshop.co.uk/battery...set-p-230.html

to fix this problem when it happened to me.

But how would I connect the master fuse box to it?

BTW, thanks for the quick reply bro.

[Northern_B6]

But how would I connect the master fuse box to it?

BTW, thanks for the quick reply bro.

Let me go take a picture of my setup...

Edit: I removed the black "jumper box" and connected it directly to the new female battery terminal.



Part cost me $2.99

Temporary fix, I will do a permanent fix when I get the time.

[David813]

Let me go take a picture of my setup...

Edit: I removed the black "jumper box" and connected it directly to the new female battery terminal.

Part cost me $2.99

Temporary fix, I will do a permanent fix when I get the time.

Awesome! Thanks again bro! I really appreciate it.

[DansB6]

The simple solution is to buy a new car :)

[Northern_B6]

Awesome! Thanks again bro! I really appreciate it.

No problem.

Any auto parts store should carry these

[David813]

The simple solution is to buy a new car :)

Haha, but I love my b6! :) ...even though it's been a pain in the ass these last two months!

[DansB6]

Haha, but I love my b6! :) ...even though it's been a pain in the ass these last two months!

I'll help you feel a little bit better :)

Past 2 months i had to replace.

Cylinder head w/ head gasket
Catalytic converter
o2 sensor
both headlight bulbs (xeon :( )
all 4 tires
all front control arms, upper and lower
motor mounts
transmission mounts (today)
main window switch
battery

And on Sunday on the freeway i was driving behind a pick up truck going about 80 mph and a piece of plywood flew out of his truck bed, smashing into my front right corner of the car. Destroyed my fog light, tow hook cap, head light washer cap, fog lamp, and fog lamp grill, and scratched my bumper pretty badly.

[David813]

I'll help you feel a little bit better :)

Past 2 months i had to replace.

Cylinder head w/ head gasket
Catalytic converter
o2 sensor
both headlight bulbs (xeon :( )
all 4 tires
all front control arms, upper and lower
motor mounts
transmission mounts (today)
main window switch
battery

And on Sunday on the freeway i was driving behind a pick up truck going about 80 mph and a piece of plywood flew out of his truck bed, smashing into my front right corner of the car. Destroyed my fog light, tow hook cap, head light washer cap, fog lamp, and fog lamp grill, and scratched my bumper pretty badly.

Damn!

I just had to replace

That connector (which I just finished now and works!)
Passenger side front window regulator
Few misc lights
Oil change

So ya, I feel a lil better haha. Still have a few odds and ends, but they will come soon enough! :)

[texasboy21]

I'll help you feel a little bit better :)

Past 2 months i had to replace.

Cylinder head w/ head gasket
Catalytic converter
o2 sensor
both headlight bulbs (xeon :( )
all 4 tires
all front control arms, upper and lower
motor mounts
transmission mounts (today)
main window switch
battery

There is sooo much more that will be replaced, just wait.

[Northern_B6]

I'll help you feel a little bit better :)

Past 2 months i had to replace.

Cylinder head w/ head gasket
Catalytic converter
o2 sensor
both headlight bulbs (xeon :( )
all 4 tires
all front control arms, upper and lower
motor mounts
transmission mounts (today)
main window switch
battery

How many miles are you at ??

[DansB6]

There is sooo much more that will be replaced, just wait.

Oh i know, its only expected, waiting for the fuel pump to go or the turbo to explode.

How many miles are you at ??

167k miles. Also forgot to add i did a transmission service at 165k because it started to shift hard/down shift hard (auto tranny). Transmission fluid came out black. Drives perfect now.