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Replace battery cables?

Tiny
STEVE J. BENSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD TAURUS
  • 3.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 162,000 MILES
Occasionally when I turn the ignition the car will completely die, no lights, chimes, clock, no starter click. It's as if I disconnected the battery. Shaking the ground cable to the battery brings everything back however, I've replaced both the ground and positive battery cables and polished the connection points and although this helped initially the problem is recurring more often with the cold weather. This began about 2 years ago but it is happening more frequently now. I've also cleaned the connections to the fuse box in front of the battery. Any ideas before I pass it on?
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 AT 6:16 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
JOHNNYT73
  • MECHANIC
  • 924 POSTS
When you shake the cable does it spin back and forth on the post? Here is instructions on how to change both positive and negative battery cables. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 AT 7:36 AM
Tiny
STEVE J. BENSON
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
No, everything is tight. That's why it doesn't make sense. Originally I thought it was the positive cable so I replaced that. When the problem showed up again, that's when I realized, (actually my wife discovered) that shaking on the ground cable brought it back so I replaced that. This was about 2 years ago and it's happening with more frequency now. Yesterday she came out of an appointment and it went dead then after getting it going, drove for 50 minutes, pulled in to get gas, stopped the engine and it happened again though this time I was there and saw what was happening.
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 AT 7:56 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try resetting security system if no manual look online
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 AT 12:02 PM
Tiny
BOBBCATT2000
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD TAURUS
  • 3.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 137,000 MILES
I purchased a 97 Taurus knowing that it had problems. First I noticed that the wrong style battery was installed. Upon removal, when I disconnected the negative cable there were two wires. A smaller one attached to the body and a larger one attached to NOTHING. There is a small metal piece at the end of this cable with a hole to attach to something, and I'm guessing the cable is attached to this with a screw somewhere. But where? I have looked all over and cannot find a picture where it goes. Can you help?
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Is this an aftermarket battery cable? Does it appear that the connector was ever used? To me, it sounds like a spare body ground. Since you already have one connected and one going to the engine block, that should be all that is needed.
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BOBBCATT2000
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Not aftermarket. Cable was not connected to engine block. It was just connected to the fender. I figured it out finally. The transmission was replaced by the previous owner and whoever installed it did not replace the bolts in the correct locations. One of the bolts attached the tranny to the engine had threads to attach the negative cable to it. I found the special bolt on the back side of the engine. It's a miracle that the car ever ran. After switching the bolts around and attaching the negative cable to it, it cleared up two trouble codes (O2 sensors), fixed my blinker problem, and made the radio sound better! LOL Thanks for your response. Ron
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
You mean the primary ground wasn't attached? I assumed that it was a different wire. Like you, I can't believe it started and ran. Since it did, however, make sure the wire that attaches to the body isn't burnt or damaged. It was getting way too much power through it.
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BOBBCATT2000
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No, it wasn't attached. There are two wires on the negative cable. One is smaller, this was attached to the fender, the other is larger, and was just hanging down in front of the engine. I did go an look for any signs of damage, and they looked fine (whew!) Thanks for that advice! I cleaned the engine really good and decided to inspect. Good thing too. There was a transmission bolt missing underneath along with a few other things that needed to be tied up. Whoever installed that transmission should be shot! What a shoddy job. Overall, I am pleased, considering that I paid very little for the car and it is a one owner (original title) and low miles. Thanks again for your help! This site is great! Ron
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Ron:

Glad to help. Let me know if you have questions in the future.

Joe
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Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 AT 2:33 PM (Merged)

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