Does anyone know the gauge size and length of the negative battery cable for a 2K? I'd hate to pay over $60 from the dealer. I haven't followed the cable from the battery to ground but is there just a single connector at the other end?

 

about 15" of 4 AWG wire will do fine. You can even buy pre-made battery cable in different lengths, with a battery terminal and an "eyelette" on the other end.

 

Thanks. It looks like the negative cable goes to ground and then to the starter as a one piece unit. Guess I'll need to buy a second cable to go from ground to starter also. I'm guessing that I'll have to remove the entire air intake system to get to the end connectors.

 

Correct, but you don't have to replace the ground wire to the starter unless you want to. You can just cut the wire from the battery as close as possible to the connector bracket, and use a hammer to flatten out the bracket. Once it's flat you can simply remove the mounting bolt and put the battery cable eyelette under the bolt and reinstall.

Remember to skuff up the mounting location of your grounds (fender and bracket) before installing the eyelettes so that you get a good connection.

 

I think that you would be better off to get a full length cable that will go from the battery to the starter. I don't like the idea of a connection in the middle. If you are not getting a cable made to Nissan specs then you would have to make that chassis ground point that is maybe 8 inces from the battery end though.

 

Where are you proposing the main chassis ground goes then? The shorter the better, the stock set up is actually VERY GOOD for OEM, it mounts to a good thick chassis location, and uses 4 gauge wire, which is rare for OEM.

 

Well instead of spending 60 dollars from Nissan spend 53$ for a full grounding kit. Would be a lot better than just that one litre wire

 

Hey all i'm new here and for some reason I can't make a new thread I've been lurking around for awhile reading the diy and other things but now I really need some help my 02 maxima has been sitting for awhile I just registered the car again and it won't start I got the battery charged at AutoZone and when I got home the lights came on but it wouldn't turn over I kept hearing a clicking sound my headlights where dimming then they turned off altogether after trying to start it forawhile everything stop coming on nothing works at all the terminal on the positive looks a little bent wondering if I should just change it what do you guys think?

 

In my last sentence, I was trying to infer that he remove the insulation about 8 inches from the battery connection and add a connector for the chassis ground, which would then duplicate the oem cable. I don't think you could eliminate that chasis ground without disasterous results.

 

^Ah I understand what you're saying now. I respectfully disagree though. As long as the ground is clean it's the same difference pretty much. Doing it the way I mentioned will cost less and involve less connections at the battery, which is the most likely place for them to corrode or become loose.

Just personal opinion of course, both ways would suffice!

 

Can someone tell me y I can start a new thread? Need some help

 

Until you make 15 posts in an existing thread like you did here (now you only need 14 more), you cannot start a thread. You should use the thread at the top of the 5th gen page that says "I AM NEW HERE BUT HAVE A QUESTION" and click on the words "last page".

As to your problem, it sounds as if the battery is not holding a charge. Get a voltmeter and check the battery voltage. I would guess that you will get a reading of 2 or 3 volts instead of 12 volts. The part of the positive terminal not being straight, sould like the battery shorted internally and melted some of the plates.

 

Should I get a new terminal and battery or just a battery?

 

I take the side of the fewer connections the better. Connections could loosen up and/or corrode. As long as everything remains clean and tight, I agree there is no difference.

The op could buy a pre-made cable about 12 inches long and use the chassis ground connection by the battery. That would be fairly inexpensive.

 

Replace the battery. When you say terminal, are you talking about the end of the cable or the metal post on the battery?

 

The metal post that hours on the battery it looks bent and doesn't close all the way

 

I can take a Pic in the morning

 

A bad terminal will cause your problem, try having a friend wiggle it while you try to start the car, if it works, then you know its the terminal. If it doesnt the battery is probably toast as well and carry on as Dennis told you to

 

Changed the battery and terminal and it stats right up that's for you're help