Progress Thread Finally got my first Fox Body - 1988 GT

[DudeStang]

Checked the battery again this morning before I had to go run a quick errand....was showing 12.xx again not running. Just now, saw same result with the car off. Then I turned the car on. MM dropped to 9.xx when the car started and then jumped up to 14.xx. So it seems that the issue was at least partially the vanity mirror lights, since that's the only difference between pre-battery charging and post-battery charging.

Just got this in the mail today, though no instructions were included so hopefully I can manage to install without electrocuting myself.

 

[Rdub6]

I’m sure that broken terminal is not a secure connection, and could be causing you some issues.
Make sure your battery is disconnected, and it’s just nuts and bolts to change the wires.
I put the PA terminals on my car.... real nice quality!

 

[General karthief]

You turned the key on (not cranking) and the battery dropped to 9v?

 

[DudeStang]

You turned the key on (not cranking) and the battery dropped to 9v?

No, I turned the car on...my wife was watching the MM and she said that it dropped to 9 then jumped to 14. She was recording when we did that, I just haven’t had a chance to look at the video yet.

 

[General karthief]

If it dropped to 9 while cranking ok.

 

[90sickfox]

Looks like a good battery to me. Now....on to that cracked terminal.

 

[Rdub6]

Did that wire kit come with the terminals?

 

[DudeStang]

Did that wire kit come with the terminals?

Yessir, just didn’t take them out of the bag when I took that other pic.

 

[Steel1]

Oh those are nice !
I'll have to put those on the "when I get back to work" list.

 

[Potomus Pete]

Negative looks like it does not have the extra ground wires.

 

[DudeStang]

If it dropped to 9 while cranking ok.

Just uploaded an update video on the battery....the multi-meter reading is at the 2 min mark:


View: https://youtu.be/T0v8veTQIBQ

 

[DudeStang]

Negative looks like it does not have the extra ground wires.

Wondering if maybe I can just use the existing ground wire and it would attach in one of these extra holes on the new terminal?

 

[General karthief]

That should work as long as the wire is good.

 

[Rdub6]

Wondering if maybe I can just use the existing ground wire and it would attach in one of these extra holes on the new terminal?

Yep. Cut the wire, strip it back a little, and clamp it down!

 

[Steel1]

Like the "Be a wagon shirt"
My daily is a 2017 VW Alltrack wagon.

 

[DudeStang]

Like the "Be a wagon shirt"
My daily is a 2017 VW Alltrack wagon.

When the day comes that my wife and I need a family vehicle, I will be using all my powers to make sure we get a wagon rather than an SUV, lol.

Ok so I’m looking at these battery cables and I’m a little bit confused.


I understand the black cable is the negative and the short red cable is the positive but does anyone know what the longer red cable is for? Here’s what is described on AM (don’t judge me, I had some gift card money leftover). What is SW to ST? The google isn’t producing a lot of helpful results..is it something that connects to the alternator perhaps?

 

[Steel1]

Yeah, the shorter red one goes from battery + to the post on the solenoid and the longer red one goes from the solenoid to the alternator.
Just copy how your cables are routed now.
Wagon ftw !

 

[Steel1]

I'm guessing you still have the stock alternator ?

 

[Olivethefet]

On my car the ground goes to the timing chain cover. Then there is a short red wire that goes from the positive battery post to the starter solenoid and another heavy gauge wire with a bit of red on it that goes from the other solenoid post to the starter.

There isn't anything going directly from the alternator to the starter solenoid. That I see.

 

[Potomus Pete]

I think mine goes in front of the radiator. Check there across the top , just below