I can't tighten the cable around the terminal anymore. The guy at Autozone said to use paper clips to make a connection. Is this reasonable? If so, where do I put the paper clips?
2007-02-22 00:27:08 · 8 answers · asked by Joe 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The positive cable won't tighten very well around the terminal. I went to Autozone to buy a new cable or terminal, or whatever he recommended I need. He told me not to bother buying anything, to just put paper clips in to make the connection. I thought I knew what he meant, but now I'm not sure. He said it was a very common solution, a "trick of the trade". What exactly did he mean, and is this good advice?
2007-02-22 00:45:29 · update #1
Paper clips do conduct electricity, and that will enable the connection. That is all the cable does is carry electricity from the battery to the starter. If the old connector is bad, get a new one. Different batteries use different size terminals. The paper clips may work, but do you really want to depend on them in the middle of nowhere during a thunderstorm?....fix it right once...not halfass it a 100 times.
2007-02-22 01:06:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just put the cable on and jam the paper clips in the crack between the battery post and the cable end. This will work for a while but you need to replace the cables soon.
2007-02-22 10:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by smoke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing to do is buy new cables. The guy at the auto parts store was just telling you of a way to do a quick fix that wont last very long. Myself I wouldn't fix it his way one of these days you will be out some where in the middle of know where and you car wont start,and you will be saying to yourself I wish I would have listened to the Oldman on the computer.
Good luck
Oldman
2007-02-22 09:04:21 · answer #3 · answered by oldmancripplecrotch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok you see where the clamp fit the battie post, remove the clamp, an while holding the clamp put the clip on the post an the work the clamp down over the clip, but trule you could but new cable are even get a new clamp,
2007-02-22 09:01:18 · answer #4 · answered by ghostwalker077 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
paper clips will work for a temporary fix if your stuck but for the long haul you should really consider putting new ends on your cables.
2007-02-22 08:55:11 · answer #5 · answered by Steve 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no,dont put a nail,screw or anything else in your terminal.for all they cose,just replace both of them,and that way you know your safe.i know its an old trick,but thats just a bandaid to get back home,if your stranded.no just replace the ends.
2007-02-22 09:44:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy new cables simple as that you can get smalller ones
2007-02-22 08:31:35 · answer #7 · answered by wofford1257 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'd have to be more specific.
2007-02-22 08:41:32 · answer #8 · answered by linktriscuit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋