How to Tighten a Car Battery Terminal

The car battery is the most important part of the operating system of a vehicle. Sometimes the car battery is not dead but the cables are actually just loose. Once the terminals become loose on a car battery the charge will not go where it is needed. Tightening the leads on the car battery is an easy job and the article that follows will show you how.

Step 1 – Check Placement and Coverage

If the connectors have been moved or placed on the wrong terminals then the car battery will not work the way that it should. This can also cause damage to components in the future. When you open the hood of the car to look at the battery always look at the cables. Make sure they are on the correct terminals. If they are not then you may switch them. The cables attached to the leads on the car battery must also be insulated. If they are not insulated then you will be left with a possibility of being shocked. The wires can also rust and cause the energy created from the battery to disperse, making a weaker connection. If they are not insulated cover the wires with electrical tape or replace the wires completely.

Step 2 – Clean

Even if the car battery is properly connected the terminals can still be too dirty for a charge to be produced or disbursed. Apply terminal cleaner to the terminals on the car battery as well as the clamps. Use as much of the terminal cleaner as you think you need as it will not hurt the terminals or anything around it. Use a wire brush to work it in to the parts and then wipe it off with a clean towel. Do this as often as you need to until the battery terminals are cleaned.

Step 3 – Tighten the Car Battery Terminals

If you had to replace a car battery or were cleaning other parts of the engine you would have disconnected the car battery for safety reasons. The terminals can also become loose during normal use of the car. Car battery terminals are easy to tighten regardless of the situation. Use the ratchet to turn the bolts on the clamps counterclockwise. This will open the clamps. Place each clamp over each of the terminals on the car battery. Make sure the negative clamp is on the negative car battery terminal and that the positive clamp is over the positive battery terminal. Once they are in place you can tighten them. Use the ratchet and place it over the clamp and twist it clockwise. The clamp will close around the terminal. Tighten it until it no longer moves.