I'm not too familiar with side-post batteries...so anyway, here's my issue.

I have a Chevy Blazer (1998) and when I went out today to start it, I got
the quick tap-tap-tap noise that told me something was going on with my
battery. I've had problems with the positive terminal lately, my husband
went to replace it with a new terminal bolt that he bought and it didn't
fit...so he replaced it with a regular bolt.

I thought maybe something was going on with that and disconnected it to look
at it. It looked just a little corroded so I cleaned it all up and started
putting it back together. I also checked the neg. terminal and it was fine.
When I started tightening it up the whole piece fell out. I wasn't over
tightening it, the garage tightens them up so tight it's really hard to get
them off...so I imagine that has something to do with it.

I'm not talking about anything on the wire, I mean on the battery itself,
where the bolt would screw into the battery. It's like a round, plastic area
and the whole thing fell out. Is this something that can be fixed or do I
need a new battery?

thanks,
A|ice

A|ice wrote:

I recall there were issues with bolts being too long on a few years around
that time which would break the connector loose inside the battery. I'd
bet the same thing happened here.

....
You need a new battery and to find out why it happened. If the bolt was
wrong, overtightened or ?? Usually if the bolt is too long, it leaks acid
and corrodes the terminal.

Al

My new 1998 Honda Accord came equipped with a Delco
battery. after 3 years, I noticed that the positive post was leaking.
It made a mess corroding some air cond. tubing. It was never touched.
I got a replacement battery, and in the process, of removing the positive
terminal,it came apart. If you Goggle "Delco battery, postive post
leaking',
you will see others having problems with them.
t

"A|ice" <A|ice (AT) wonderland (DOT) com> wrote

alice-you need a new battery-unless you can epoxy that piece back in
the battery but...I wouldn't-winter and all. While you're at it pick
up a 5/16th's battery bolt or two. Most parts stores would carry them
and they'd certainly be worth the 75 cents or $1.00 they would charge
you. Merry Christmas jerry (AT) peru-motors (DOT) com


A|ice wrote:

A|ice wrote:
I have used a regular bolt before. I tend to use a longer one, with a
nut between the the bolt head and the cable. that way the correct amount
of threads are in.

On any battery, once the terminals come lose/break, it is junk/core. Be
Very Careful removing it. The battery acid will cause very nasty acid
burns!

Charles

Thanks everyone for the replies...

My husband went in and bought me a new battery and put it in but he didn't
buy the new terminal bolt (who knows why not)...I guess that will be my goal
this weekend, lol. Are those positive wires hard to change? It looks as if
there's a few wires together there. The copper end that the bolt goes thru
has been corroded and I'm not sure that that wire isn't either up thru the
cover.

Something else I noticed happening since this bolt needed replaced is that
my trip odometer sometimes (not all the time) resets itself once I shut off
the truck. I was thinking this had something to do with the battery...but,
if it did...wouldn't that mean that there was not a connection at one point
and I'd have problems starting it? I'm not having any problems starting now
that the battery was replaced, but I did notice yesterday that every time
I'd restart the truck the trip odometer had reset (this was several times).
Today, it's been fine.




"A|ice" <A|ice (AT) wonderland (DOT) com> wrote