Has anyone ever had to replace their battery cables? My 88 is having more and more trouble starting. I've even had to jump it off a couple of times. I've had the battery checked and it is fine.

I don't think it's the alternater because it runs great after starting and the voltage stays at around 14.

If it was the starter, then the motor wouldn't try to turn over.

It acts like a dying battery but it checked out OK. I thought that maybe the corrosion was down inside the cable since there is no corrosion build up on the terminals on the battery, solenoid, or ground bracket.

 

Could be a back grounding cable that could cause that. I had a problem that when I turn the ignition to on, everything was fine, but the minute I started the motor, everything went dead. I would check your connections, clean them really well. I replaced my ground cable, I need to replace my positive terminal however.

S

 

I replaced the positive battery cable because the terminal clamp was broken.

 

Working better for ya?

S

 

Yep! Thanks to everyone for the good advice. I replaced my starter in no time. Piece of cake! Starts fine now.

I also replaced my pcv valve and that seems to make a big improvement in my idle and a bit of an improvement in my gas mileage.

A new timing belt and I'll be ready for another 60K miles...

 

Yeah, I myself got a Optima red top, and the busted positive clamp (its cracked in 2 places) on my car went right on and tightened down. BTW, red tops rock! I'm gonna do a PCV valve here pretty soon along with a few other things.

S