Battery Cable: Description and Operation

The battery cables are large gauge, stranded copper wires sheathed within a heavy plastic or synthetic rubber insulating jacket. The wire used in the battery cables combines excellent flexibility and reliability with high electrical current carrying capacity. Refer to Wiring Diagrams for battery cable wire gauge information.

A clamping type female battery terminal made of soft lead is die cast onto one end of the battery cable wire. A square headed pinch-bolt and hex nut are installed at the open end of the female battery terminal clamp. Large eyelet type terminals are crimped onto the opposite end of the battery cable wire and then solder-dipped. The battery positive cable has a larger female battery terminal clamp to allow connection to the larger battery positive terminal post. The battery negative cable has a smaller female battery terminal clamp.

The battery cables cannot be repaired and, if damaged or faulty they must be replaced. Both the battery positive and negative cables are available for service replacement only as a unit with the battery wire harness, which may include portions of the wiring circuits for the generator and other components. Refer to Wiring Diagrams for more information on the various wiring circuits included in the battery wire harness for the vehicle being serviced.

The battery cables connect the battery terminal posts to the vehicle electrical system. These cables also provide a path back to the battery for electrical current generated by the charging system for restoring the voltage potential of the battery. The female battery terminal clamps on the ends of the battery cable wires provide a strong and reliable connection of the battery cable to the battery terminal posts. The terminal pinch bolts allow the female terminal clamps to be tightened around the male terminal posts on the top of the battery. The eyelet terminals secured to the opposite ends of the battery cable wires from the female battery terminal clamps provide secure and reliable connection of the battery cables to the vehicle electrical system.

The battery positive cable terminal clamp is die cast onto the ends of two wires. One wire has an eyelet terminal that connects the battery positive cable to the B(+) terminal stud of the Engine Fuse Block, and the other wire has an eyelet terminal that connects the battery positive cable to the B(+) terminal stud of the engine starter motor solenoid. The battery negative cable terminal clamp is die cast onto the end of one wire. The wire has an eyelet terminal that connects the battery negative cable to the vehicle body through a ground bolt on the right front fender inner shield, near the battery.