Corrosion inside battery cables

Posted by Paul Cook in Kempner, TX [71.53.89.64] on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 16:21:39 :

In Reply to: starter won't start posted by chris [207.212.155.198] on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 03:04:49 :

I have a battery cable that looks like new - but it won't carry the current needed to crank a motor. Corrosion inside the battery cable "killed" one small wire strand at a time until there were not enough strands left to carry the load. Up until the final strands burned off, the cable tested well. The small load electrical devices worked fine.

Then, the last strands burned off when I tried to start the truck and the starter simply did not crank the motor, but the exterior of the cable looked like new.

This was on a truck that was used regularly and the corrosion damage was gradual. It is possible that your corrosion damage could have ocurred over the time your truck was sitting and the cable simply quit the instant you tried to start the truck.

Happy hammering, and good luck.

• Kempner Power Wagon Museum

Follow Ups:

• Umm voltage drop test?.. for any componet, like a cable. - Chriscase 18:02:03 12/12/2010

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