For those of you who have had the same problem as me with corrosion on the battery cables (BillBoost where are ye?): I have seen it recommended that the rubber boots or cover should be removed completely. If I do this, there is a spacer in there - should it be removed as well? Will I still be able to tighten the cables down securely? Are you suggesting that all that should be left are the 2 cables with the bolt going through them, attached to the battery? I am getting ready to cut the boots off, and just want to be certain before I do this.

Thanks,
JP

My suggestions have been to remove the little slip covers to LOOK underneath only. Not to remove or cut them. (Let me know if you need some)

If your corrosion problem is beyond cleaning, then you should replace the battery cables as I did.

Bill,

Thanks for clearing it up for me. I haven't cut anything or removed anything pernanently, thankfully. I had another "incident" this morning. The cables worked themselves loose somehow. Funny...it seems like the bolt tightened up and there is still some "wiggle" in the cables.

Thanks,
JP

Wiggle while tight? That'* odd John...really odd.

Does this happen with both or just one cable?

Both, but it'* really obvious with the top (as in outer) cable. When I had it apart a couple weeks ago, I noticed a spacer of some sort between the cable ends. I cleaned everything up and put it all back together, then bolted it back to the battery. Now I wonder if I maybe just got the threads screwed up somehow. I screwed it in by hand a few turns though, so I don't think it'* that. I'll tear into it tonight and see. I have a few hundred miles to travel in the Bonneville tomorrow...in the NC and VA mountains.

Thanks,
JP

Threads could be messed up, or there are usually two or three "teeth" on the flat washer that meets up with the flat surface of the side posts on the battery that may be not "grabbing", or the flat surfaces of the battery (that meet up with the flat washer on the cable) may be all chewed up and not allowing the "teeth" to grab.

When I bought my car, the battery was good, charge-wise, but the surfaces that connect to the cable were all gouged out. I could fullly tighten down the bolt, and the cables would still wiggle and spin. I ended up with a new battery.

Take a look and make sure there is good surface-to-surface contact between the cables and the battery mounts.

You can also buy newbolts/washers at any parts store to replace the ones inside the rubber at each end of the cables, if the bolt or washer is too bad.