Positive Battery Cable

albinogek · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:22 pm Post subject: Positive Battery Cable

I am new to all this, so i'll apologize for my ignorance. I am planning on replacing both negative & positive battery cables. The negative cable is a no brainer, but the positive is a different story. I am prettysure that the starter is on the passenger side of the car because of where the battery is located, but want to know if it is hard to get to. If any of y'all have any pictures of the location & what size the nut is, I would greatly appreciate it.

Cusser · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:45 pm Post subject:

The starter is relatively straightforward to get to mounted on top of transmission on passenger side (USA). I believe you'll need your 13mm wrench.
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drscope · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:17 am Post subject:

Just a couple tips.
FIRST, make sure you have the battery disconnected BEFORE you go underneath and remove the positive cable from the starter! Otherwise fireworks may ensue.

Next, where the positive cable mounts to the starter, there should be a nut under the cable end and another on top to secure it. You want to also have a thin wrench to hold that lower nut. If you don’t, sometimes when trying to get a cable off that is exceptionally tight, or been there for a long time, you can actually turn that threaded stud that the cable mounts to. That can damage the internals of the solenoid. Same goes for when it’s time to tighten the new cable up you don’t want that stud to turn.

PBblaster is a pretty good penetrating oil that may help on that stud to loosen the nut.

Before you reassemble, use a small wire brush to make sure that stud is clean and then make sure you get the top nut tight or else you may experience some poor connections and arcing there.

Bicycle shops are a great place to find thin wrenches. Or just dig a cheap Taiwan wrench out of the tool box and spend some time in front of the bench grinder.
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grandpa pete · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:00 am Post subject:

" the negative cable is a no brainer "
Grounding is a major problem ; especially with lighting .
I run a long negative directly to the bolt that secures the starter Idea

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

It took less than a minute to search "starter" in the gallery ; several photos will show you what you are getting into without leaving your couch...Once you learn how to use these tools you can fix anything Wink

in the second photo , The two small red wires are not original equipment ; probably to secondary fuse panel...aso note that positive cable is red in the first photo and black in the second photo ;
safety first ; use red for positive...it makes a real difference at the battery when jumping cables late at night

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albinogek · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:44 am Post subject:

Can you see the nut that is underneathe pretty easily? I assume that it is 13 as well? Is there anything that I need to move out of the way in order to reach the starter?

Northof49 · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:15 am Post subject:

Nothing else needs to be removed to get access to the starter, aside from the passenger rear wheel which will make the job easier.
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jjohnson67 · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:30 am Post subject:

JACK STANDS BEFORE getting under any vehicle. Only takes 1 time.

albinogek · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:36 am Post subject:

Planning on using some ramps along with blocking the front wheels with some chokes that I have. Placing emergency brake along with putting car in 1st gear. Hopefully that will work....thanks for the advice. .safety 1st!!

Aussiebug · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:35 pm Post subject:

Just another small tip since you said you are going to use ramps to get the car high enough to get under easily....check the ground strap on the tranny nose cone at the same time. Clean and refasten the bolted connections - this is the main ground connection from engine to the chassis, so it takes the full load of the starter current back to the battery. Replace the strap if it's at all corroded or frayed.

Bad ground/chassis connections makes for some strange electrical faults, so it's worth checking this one whilst you have the car high enough to do it easily.
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Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
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Eric&Barb · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:42 pm Post subject:

Cleaning the mounting edge of the starter and the transaxle area the starter mounts to will help ground it better. Add some dielectric grease to the clean surfaces to keep corrosion away for as long as possible.
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albinogek · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:27 pm Post subject:

Ausiebug are there any pictures of the ground strap you are talking about near the nose of the tranny?

BWD · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:36 pm Post subject:

albinogek · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:36 pm Post subject:

Thanks BWD !! That was super fast !!!

albinogek · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:38 pm Post subject:

Is that mounted from the tranny to the starter in this pic? The first pic looked different.

BWD · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:39 pm Post subject:

albinogek · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:39 pm Post subject:

Is that mounted from the tranny to the starter in this pic? The first pic looked different.

BWD · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:40 pm Post subject:

albinogek · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:44 pm Post subject:

I'm on my smartphone & every time I try to search something it doesn't allow me to go to that particular section. For instance if I click on gallery it doesn't allow me to go to the sub menu, it just pulls it up. Very annoying.

grandpa pete · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 6:41 am Post subject:

sounds like your phone isn't so smart after all Razz

_________________
63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

albinogek · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 7:52 am Post subject:

I had a feeling I was leaving myself wide open for that one! Thanks alot grandpa Pete!! Lol!!


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