loose battery terminals

shifty · April 16, 2013, 08:04:33 PM

Got my FD today and already having issues I went to pull the car out of the garage, the imobiliser disengaged I turned the key dash came on the as I turn to start it dies, ok I thought maybe its a flat battery so I went to remove the batt and get it on charge and the clamps where fully tightened but slipped right of.
so I was hoping someone has some advice or an idea on what to do ive seen the JDM to euro adapters but surely being an imports my terminal would fit the smaller pins.

cyman · April 16, 2013, 08:12:43 PM

You can make the terminals grip easily. I did it on an older car and my old 8 did something similar.

All you need to do is open up the clamp that is a little loose and use something between the clamp and battery terminal to take up the little bit of slack. I think I used and old metal shaft from a rivet so when you tigten up the battery clamp it takes up the slack and grips into the terminal. The rx8 I had used a small screw to do the same thing. It can be used as a temp or permanent fix depending on how perfect you want it all to be

shifty · April 16, 2013, 08:17:15 PM

I want a solid connection but yeah will try that tomorrow ive ordered some conductive sleeves that may do the long run I just hop its that which has caused the lack of power and not any other issues its already sizing up to be a money pit.

Ricco_04 · April 20, 2013, 08:10:02 PM

Pop a couple of washers (M5 I think) on before the nut, should be fine then

shifty · April 20, 2013, 08:12:22 PM

cant see that working the clamps are tight together no more pinching its like there a tiny bit to big.

TRIND-FD · April 20, 2013, 08:33:22 PM

I use a quick release clamp. Will get a pic up. To can then ditch the oem clamp.

Ricco_04 · April 20, 2013, 08:34:17 PM

Quote from: shifty;856104cant see that working the clamps are tight together no more pinching its like there a tiny bit to big.

Ahhhh gotchya boss, sorry I misunderstood :flamed

grinder · April 21, 2013, 09:35:30 AM

My FC is exactly the same

it actually looks like the have melted together

i have been looking at either changing them for these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-PCE-CAR-BATTERY-TERMINAL-CLAMPS-CONNECTORS-POST-TYPE-/170787776222?_trksid=p5197.m1997&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D16%26meid%3D7114445224567102099%26pid%3D100016%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D190638196316%26

or as as Trind says you could try quick release ones

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUICK-RELEASE-SNAP-ON-CAR-VAN-TRUCK-BATTERY-CONNECTORS-CLAMPS-EASY-DISCONNECT-/300717360777?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item460426c689

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ONE-PAIR-QUICK-RELEASE-UNIVERSAL-H-DUTY-CAR-BATTERY-CLAMPS-TERMINALS-EASY-FIT-/390578856780?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5af050634c

shifty · April 21, 2013, 10:33:29 AM

yeah been looking at them as I used something similar on my RX8 after the garage trashed my oem clamps but the negative on the seven isnt on a lug its crimped direct to the clamp so would nee to check slack.