How to buy good quality battery cables
When your car won't start, it's easy to jump straight to a battery problem. However, if the voltage test shows that the battery is OK, the problem could very well be with the battery cables. These often overlooked components...
When your car won't start, it's easy to jump straight to a battery problem. However, if the voltage test shows that the battery is OK, the problem could very well be with the battery cables. These often overlooked components connect the car's battery to other electrical components under the hood, such as the alternator and starter motor. When these cables get damaged, usually due to corrosion, it doesn't matter how much charge your battery has - the car won't start because the energy isn't getting through the cables to where it's supposed to go.
You can detect corrosion at the ends of cables and battery connectors by the presence of a whitish powdery substance. You can try a commercial connector cleaner to see if that solves the problem. If it doesn't, the cable may have corroded under the surface of the coating - this happens when battery acid runs down the connector and into the cable coating. This type of damage is difficult to detect and cannot be repaired, so you may need to replace the whole thing.
A few things to keep in mind to make sure you get good quality battery cables:
Check user manualA: Check your user manual or manufacturer's website to make sure you're getting the correct size cable. Most vehicles with four- and six-cylinder engines use a 2 gauge cable for the battery.
Flexibility at low temperatures: look for elasticity at low temperatures. This is especially important if you live in a cold climate as it provides better resistance to cracking and other stress-related damage.
Durability: Select cable with good resistance to heat, ozone, oil, abrasion and cut.
AvtoTachki supplies the highest quality battery cables to our certified mobile technicians. We can also install the battery cable you purchased. Click here for pricing and more information on battery cable replacement.
