Mini-van battery cables

On my 2002 Caravan and a friend's 1996 T&C, the lead battery cable
clamps need replacing. The cables are too short to use an aftermarket
clamp-on-wire type replacement battery clamp. It's ridiculous that on
both of these vehicles, they didn't use cables that are an inch or two
longer.

The service manual and the dealer states that in such cases the whole
battery wiring harness needs to be replaced. I find it hard to believe
that no service kits or work arounds are available.

As a worse case repair, I'll cut and splice the cable but wonder if
there is a better procedure.

Anyone else run into this?

Doug

 

That comes from lack of service. You have to service the battery now and
then. You can cut off the old formed terminal and still be able to install
those after market lead terminals. You may have to separate the cables from
the bundle and pull them up. It will work

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Doug

Had the same problem with my 2001 RAM pickup. Just bought a substitute
cable from Checker and went around the cable bundle. Someday when I
get some time I will splice it in on the battery end and hook up the
original. However I do have a nice crimper that will make great
splices that should be no problem.

The dealer service person caught this and was not able to figure out
why it worked. Without a doubt he was not a Glen Beasley.

Bob AZ

 

Glenn, thanks for your input but it wasn't really from a lack of
service. The lead clamps simply cracked after being removed, bolted on
and tightened quite a few times over the life of the vehicles. It was
not a matter of corrosion.

Separate the bundle? I'll try - that's looks to be quite an ordeal in
terms of accessability on the '96.

Doug