The connection on my negative battery cable snapped off. It's a '99 1500. Any insights on how I should tackle this problem?
(https://imgur.com/a/bujaWwG)
I'd remove all the metalwork that's left on the cable and, using the old one as a guide, make a new flat piece out of copper or brass that I would then crimp around the clean bare cable and solder on with lead.
There are several on Ebay for $10
Quote from: Pilgrim on June 05, 2018, 08:12:41 AM
There are several on Ebay for $10
I see that. Since it's the negative, looks like I would just unplug the current wire and plug in the new one?
I'd love to fix it myself but I don't have a soldering iron or the skills/knowhow to get it done right? I assumed it would just be a cable that connects to the frame, but there is a white clip/harness included... Any idea what that is for?
Soldering is not that hard, especially with the internet these days. I had a '94 BMW R1100RS with all the wiring earthing to the engine block thru a triangular section of sub-frame - God knows why the assembly people put it thru , when they had room to pass it behind. The earthing bolt wouldn't undo so I couldn't get the engine out. Cut it , like where your's is broken and got a new clip and practiced my soldering before doing the real job. Check the net , practice your technique, and undo the positive lead before you solder.
:)
I'd just go to my local hardware store and get a crimp-on lug (properly size for the gauge of wire you have there). Use some Vice-grips to crimp the lug on or find a shop that will probably crimp it for free with a hydraulic crimper.
Easy home-made wire lug: find a piece of copper tubing (i.e. plumbing copper) the right size to fit the stripped wire. Cut a piece about 1.5" long, in this case. Mash one end flat in the vice and drill a hole for the bolt to go through. Leave the other end open, and slip it over the wire -- vice-grip it to crimp it, then solder it fast. Soldering is not hard - use some flux, heat the fitting hot enough to melt the solder, and the solder does the work.