Broken battery clamp - what are my options??

[Daniel B]

Hello gents,

long time no speak!

went to start the BX today, and saw the alarm light was out, popped the bonnet, to remove the battery clamps (that go onto the positive and negative terminals) and one of them (I forget which but the one nearer the front) has snapped, as in the actual ring that goes around the clamp, and so now there is no way to tighten it up

It will be up for an MOT next month, which could be a bit of a pain, as the Tax is also up at the end of April, so if I have no MOT, I will need to SORN it.

Presumably this is something a proper garage with the right tools could remedy, but I'm just not sure how I am going to get it there.

I'm not seeing an easy way to start it, and even if I do start it, I remember trying to drive it before once the alternator belt had broken and the battery was completely discharged - it was quite the juggling act to keep the car from stalling whilst waiting at traffic lights etc etc

Any advice chaps??

Cheers

Dan

[thanuttiscotsman]

hey man, replacement clamps are less than a fiver from halfrauds and as easy to fit as wiring a plug. thats what i would do. you need nothing more than a pair of grips and a screwdriver.

rossco

[akarso]

Any advice chaps??

battery clapms can be bought in supermarket

[Daniel B]

Thankyou gents,

just got back from a successful trip to the local motorfactors

Dan

[NZ16v]

make sure you solder the hell out of the new one-ie no dry joints- when you attach them back onto the leads! As any loss of current from either the + or - terminals will have you crawling all over the car trying to figure out what the hells wrong with her! Also, spray the blue electrical protectant on the terminals too, just to be sure. TOO MANY supposedly complicated electrical issues with frogs can be traced back to monkeyed about battery terminals!!!!

[Simran]

Second that, i bought a brand new battery for when i first built my car up, turned the key and the starter turned over as if the battery was dead! checked everything to then find out it was just a dodgy earth. Fingers crossed it starts now Dan!

[Toddman]

Hi Dan
Oddly enough I have just come in from a second day of working on my silver valver and just fitted a new O.E. earth lead and clamp - I was lucky enough to pick up one in a local main dealer clear out

However on my white one I fitted a lovely pair of clamps from Demon Tweeks with nice triple fittings for the auxilary wires and as said a good solering is essential.

Cheers
Luke

[Daniel B]

Thankyou chaps,

whilst I was on holiday my good friend and co-owner, Darren, went about fitting the battery clamps - he changed both, and she now starts perfectly - off for her MOT on Tuesday

Cheers

Dan

[ollie]

And just for coincidences sake, mines been internitently cutting out going round RH bends for a year now and I've just ignored it, But it got really annoying at the weekend so pulled over and started waggling things to find which it was, - that very same dodgy battery cable, allways been a bit crummy but never stopped it starting, just manages to loose contact when swinging right, weird, cured it witha self tapper untill I can be Ar***d to fit a spare

Those terminals are crap, and I'd never leave one in that state on a customers car!

[Mike P]

How did she get on Dan, do you have ticket for another 12 months

Mike P.

[Daniel B]

Hi Mike,

yes we have a new 12 months ticket as of today

Just bought 12 months tax for £205 too

Cheers

Dan

[mechuccio]

Congrats on the MOT!
And don't worry too much about the tax, I pay £960,- per year.
Thankfully my insurance is rather cheap wwith £380,- per year all-risk.

[Daniel B]

Thanks Meccuchio!

That is a seriosu road tax bill - I will count myself lucky

Cheers

Dan