Hi All,

Just joined so this will be my first post. I've read alot of great info on here before joining so hopefully someone will be able to help.

I included a few pics below to show what I'm trying to describe. One shows the bigger gauge terminal ring crimped onto the smaller gauge cable. The other shows the positive terminal in general in case it could be corrosion or something else (I just noticed the broken terminal as I posted this picture - could that be it?).

A few days ago I took out the battery to replace the front passenger side turn signal bulb. While putting the battery back in, I accidentally snapped off the terminal ring on the battery cable that connects to the positive terminal. This is a 16 gauge wire. The local auto parts store only had terminal rings in 2 and 4 gauge, so I cut the wire and crimped on a 4 gauge terminal ring. Not ideal, but I feel like the connection inside the terminal ring is solid - I cut the wire insulation to expose copper wires the length of the inside of the terminal ring, and crimped the terminal ring using a hammer and flathead screwdriver (I know, not the safest or ideal). But it is on snug.

However, my truck will not start now. Nor will the headlights, radio or any other electronics. I replaced the battery and it is acting the same with the new as it did the old.

Any suggestions? Am I overestimating the connection on the terminal ring and do I just need to replace that?

Thanks everyone.




4 gauge terminal ring crimped on to 16 gauge cable.



Terminal showing corrosion and break

 

Defective cable or connection.