I have to wiggle my terminals every day to get it to start

[bryanjeep]

Every day, sometimes twice a day, I have to wiggle my battery terminals to get it to start. So I went and got some new ones and I still have to do that. What is causing this to happen? I figure some kind of build up is starting to happen in between the post and terminals.

Does this mean my battery is going bad?

 

[L33TJ33P]

First things first

Go buy a regular Coca-Cola and pour it on the terminals. This will clean them.

 

[jps4jeep]

Clean the terminals, and if you can wiggle them, tighten them, if they can not get any tighter, cut them off and get new ones!

 

[derff96963]

You could also get some battery terminal grease. They sell it most places and it helps to make better contact and to stop the oxidation from forming which is why yours stops working.

 

[Snitty]

if you can wiggle them at all... that is your problem

 

[bryanjeep]

I have to loosen them to wiggle them. There is a little build up that I can barely see. It did it today leaving school. Could it be that I have a bad battery causing the build up. I think it is mostly the negative side. The positive side gets really hot after trying to start it and the Jeep won't start.

 

[XJNick]

Hi,

Realize that what you describe is a fire hazard. It is very important that the battery lugs make a good connection with the terminals. If they don't, you get heat, the result of arcing which with higher loads can melt your lead battery posts and/or start a fire.

Clean your battery posts and lugs well, and be sure they are tight and remain tight. If you constantly are having the corrosion build-up, it could possibly be a bad battery which is leaking gas/chemicals from around the posts (note this only applies to Flooded batteries.)

-Nick :!:

 

[White]

Nick ! your good !

 

[Snitty]

i'm with xjnick... i'd start by cleaning the terminals...

make sure your battery is fully charged and take it to autozone for testing...

how old is the battery?

 

[bryanjeep]

Yeah, but I just bought the terminals Tuesday. I don't see why they are having problems already. It isn't just this set either. I have to do this every few months. The battery is at least 3 years old. I have never changed it. I am going to test it, but I might just get a new one anyway.

 

[LBR]

lose those bolt-on battery terminals if that is what you've got - buy new cables with the factory installed terminals - the bolt-ons are for a temporary fix only - they ALWAYS build up high resistance at the terminal/cable connection LBR

 

[XJNick]

Hi,

I agree with LBR. Also, you can buy crimpable lugs for use on wire sizes up to #2/0 AWG which make very good connections. They require a special crimper tool though.

-Nick :!:

 

[bryanjeep]

I have replaced all my cables before and made custom ones. I use the marine style terminals. I know that isnt the problem there. I still havent brought the battery to be tested, but I will soon.

 

[brian4.2]

When they say clean the battery terminals, they mean CLEAN, use a wire brush or rough it up till it shines new metal with sandpaper.

 

[LBR]

Possibly could be a bad (battery) post that is intermitantly causing the problem - when you wiggle the terminal, it is actually wiggling the post inside the battery that is failing LBR