Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

The car is a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass with the 3.4L DOHC engine. The
negative battery cable terminal will not get very tight when attached
to the battery.

I can snug it up to where it just begins to get tight, but that is as
much as I can get out of it. It feels as though there is not enough
depth to the terminal threads going in to the battery. The other
terminal tightens up normally and has no problems. The threads in the
battery are fine. I have tried other batteries and have the same
problem with the negative battery terminal..

Has anyone else ran across this issue before, and if so how did you
fix the problem?. I am planning on replacing the whole cable, but
would like to know if there is anything else I should try first.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

OK - I found that you can purchase terminal bolts in both standard and
extended lengths (see links below). How do you remove the old terminal
bolt from the cable? What holds it in place?


Standard bolt: http://tinyurl.com/5stfep
Extended bolt: http://tinyurl.com/5rycdq

Supplier's website: http://www.hifisoundconnection.com

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

On Jun 16, 7:46*am, KC > wrote:
> OK - I found that you can purchase terminal bolts in both standard and
> extended lengths (see links below). How do you remove the old terminal
> bolt from the cable? What holds it in place?
>
> Standard bolt:http://tinyurl.com/5stfep
> Extended bolt:http://tinyurl.com/5rycdq
>
> Supplier's website:http://www.hifisoundconnection.com

Just use a bolt and a nut!

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

maybe just get a flat washer and put it in there to fill the space.

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

"KC" > wrote in message
...
> OK - I found that you can purchase terminal bolts in both standard and
> extended lengths (see links below). How do you remove the old terminal
> bolt from the cable? What holds it in place?

I've bought the replacement terminal bolts at auto parts stores, like
Autozone.
The old bolt will pull out of the terminal with a little elbow grease.
Clean the innards of the cable well before putting it back together. GM
side terminals
can be a PITA when they get corroded

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

Would a battery terminal puller (like the one shown in the link below)
be of any use in extracting the terminal bolt from the battery cable?

http://tinyurl.com/4n9zux

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

KC wrote:
> Would a battery terminal puller (like the one shown in the link below)
> be of any use in extracting the terminal bolt from the battery cable?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/4n9zux
>

No, the bolt just muscles out past the rubber boot that is holding it in
place. Not that hard to do. Maybe a pair of vise grips on the head
might give you more leverage to pop it out or you could put a slit in
the rubber with a razor blade to make it easier.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

"HLS" > wrote in news:W8u5k.5666$89.5244
@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com:

> GM side terminals can be a PITA when they get corroded
>
>


What's the point of side-mount terminals?


--
Tegger

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

Was able to replace it. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I'd like to know the answer to Tegger's question, too. I've heard
opinions about side terminals ranging from it was purely a money grab
by GM to side mount connections seal the battery-to-cable connection
better than top post connections.

Unable to Tighten GM Side Mount Battery Terminal
 

Larry W > wrote in
:

> KC wrote:
>> Was able to replace it. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
>>
>> I'd like to know the answer to Tegger's question, too. I've heard
>> opinions about side terminals ranging from it was purely a money grab
>> by GM to side mount connections seal the battery-to-cable connection
>> better than top post connections.
>
> With over 30 years in the car repair business, I've probably had less
> than 5 cars that wouldn't start because of a problem with a side
> terminal.
>
> In contrast, conventional top terminals have made me a good chunk of
> money over the years.
>
> Top Side terminals can be a pain to jump but they are much more
> reliable.
>



Now, why would this be so? What would be the specific technical reason side
terminals would be more reliable than top terminals?

I'm not being snarky here, I'm genuinely curious. I cannot think of a
reason one would be a better electrical connection than the other.

--
Tegger