$600 battery cables for 96 T&C??!!!

[Bearcat]

My wife's '96 T&C LXi 3.8l needs new battery cables as the insulation
on the original ones has cracked and corrosion has gotten down into
the cable. There's multiple cables attached to each cable clamp, and
as suspected, the local parts house told me it's a dealer only item. I
spoke to two different dealers parts guys, they both claim that it's
only available as part of the engine wiring harness @ $600! Replacing
the clamps isn't as easy as one would like with the multiple wires
going to each clamp, and there isn't much in the way of extra wire to
allow for trimming off the corroded section. Does anyone know if the
cables are physically part of the engine wiring harness, or if it's
just that they're only available to be ordered together? Any
suggestions - at this point I'm wondering if it's worth trying a junk
yard, or if I should just cut theends off and try making what I have
work with new clamp on cable ends.

Thanks!

 

[Daniel J. Stern]

My wife's '96 T&C LXi 3.8l needs new battery cables as the insulation
on the original ones has cracked and corrosion has gotten down into
the cable. There's multiple cables attached to each cable clamp, and
as suspected, the local parts house told me it's a dealer only item.

Probably true as far as it goes, but the supplies are available from all
the major wire and cable manufacturers (e.g. Belden/PowerPath, Whitaker,
Standard...) to make, right on the benchtop, whatever battery cable
configuration is desired. The difficulty nowtimes is in finding someone to
do this, because the tendency is to want to just "remove and replace".

You may want to check your local Yellow Pages for auto and industrial
battery specialists/supply houses in your area and call around to see if
you can find someone who can make custom battery cables for you. The cable
companies are selling those supplies to *someone*, otherwise they'd be
dropped from the catalogues. Once you find someone willing to do the work,
if they work dilligently, the finished product will be superior to the
original and *vastly* less expensive.

yard, or if I should just cut theends off and try making what I have
work with new clamp on cable ends.

The consumer-grade "repair terminals", typically with a strap held on with
two bolts, are a temporary deal *at best*.

DS

 

[mic canic]

thats the way they come
now it seems there is more to maintence of a battery than you thought!
the parts stores offer brass ring connectors for 0 gauge cables and the
can be placed on the ends of the cables then can be clamped to the new
battery connections