mudinuri · Feb 8, 2017

Hi all,
Went to start my 2003 Freelander TD4 Serengeti this morning, Nothing. I put a brand new battery on her approx 5 weeks ago so that was my first port of call. What I found was the Negative Terminal connector dangling in mid air, so out came the spanners and try as I might I could not tighten the connector any tighter, it"s still loose but I did manage to start the car. It"s one of those pressed connectors with a nut on the top. I made a trip to Halfords and bought a brand new connector, cost me £3.99 but I dont seem to have enough cable to allow me to cut off the old connector and screw on the new one.
HELP!!! Is this a common fault or is the terminal on the new battery smaller than norm.

Colonial · Feb 8, 2017

Have you got room to put a jubilee clip on the top of the terminal to hold the connection in place?

Nodge68 · Feb 8, 2017

I expect the band has stretched. Remove the clamp and wrap a few turns of aluminium foil round the terminal. This should allow you to be able to tighten up the clamp. Make sure you loosen the nut properly first. Also make sure the clamp is right down on the terminal, again with the nut fully loosened.

mudinuri · Feb 8, 2017

Two great ideas,
Thanks guys.

pardec · Feb 8, 2017

I used the tin foil approach.

Wrap round 4-6 times
Wedge the clamp open so it clears the tin foil
Tighten
Profit

andyfreelandy · Feb 8, 2017

I had this problem, on mine it was caused by the nut being tight (it has a cone shaped bolt which pulls the clamp together) and the clamp ends meeting in the gap before the battery terminal is held tightly. I removed the clamp nut and bolt and gently filed the gap larger, this time the bolt pulled the clamp up tight.

longdog · Feb 8, 2017

The slit in the terminal connector needs making a bit bigger so it clamps tighter. I use a small cutting disc on a Dremel.

Arctic2 · Feb 9, 2017

The trick with these battery clamps is do not over tighten them, lift the clamp free from the battery post open the clamp with a screw driver, now push the clamp back on it's post holding it down then tighten up the clamp slowly once it bites leave well alone, do not keep tightening as it will make it rise up the tapered post and become loose again.

Try it works every time.

mudinuri · Feb 9, 2017

Job done! Did as Artic 2 suggested after I had failed miserably with the cheap tin foil my Misses buys. I opened it up with a screwdriver Pushed it right down on the terminal and tighten, but not too tight. Puuurfect.
While I"m on, How come my threads are not highlighted like the other ones?

GrumpyGel · Feb 9, 2017

mudinuri said:
Job done! Did as Artic 2 suggested after I had failed miserably with the cheap tin foil my Misses buys. I opened it up with a screwdriver Pushed it right down on the terminal and tighten, but not too tight. Puuurfect.
While I"m on, How come my threads are not highlighted like the other ones?

Because you've read all the posts on your ones.

Arctic2 · Feb 18, 2017

Great to hear you got sorted, it does not hurt either to clean up the battery poles with a bit of wire wool.

mudinuri

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Colonial

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mudinuri

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pardec

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andyfreelandy

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longdog

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