$300.00 Negative Cable for 97 Escort ?????

[sublime4372]

ok, first of all, this is my first time posting here. I googled auto repair and found this place. Excellent posts. So heres the problem. Ive got a 97 escort with a rotted negative cable. I called Ford and they said it isnt sold as a negative cable. Its only sold as a wiring harness and its $279.95.

My jaw dropped, so I started looking for after market, which I hate, but $300? C'mon now... So long story short, nooone carries this cable. It seems the only thing to do is maybe disconnect the coupling and cut the wires and splice it into the [new]cable end?

Anyone else here had the same problem? Cmon guys, dont lemme down!My kids are hungry!!! $300? not installed? HELP !!!!!!!!!

[cogsncogs]

@sublime4372

Is it just the battery post clamp that's bad? If so you could go buy a new clamp and then remove the old one and attach the new one hehe. Yeah those plastic connectors/couplers are VERY expensive aren't they? That's a Dealer for you!

Does the wire have corrosion going up the wire under the insulation?
Maybe a trip to the bone yard!

Wayne

[Jet-Lee]

I've heard of splicing, haven't done it myself, but may need to in a bit. The spot where the ground cable bolts to the unibody right behind the battery, is gettin a little corroded and looks like it can break soon....good luck, let me know what you do.

[johny5]

Originally Posted by sublime4372

ok, first of all, this is my first time posting here. I googled auto repair and found this place. Excellent posts. So heres the problem. Ive got a 97 escort with a rotted negative cable. I called Ford and they said it isnt sold as a negative cable. Its only sold as a wiring harness and its $279.95.

My jaw dropped, so I started looking for after market, which I hate, but $300? C'mon now... So long story short, nooone carries this cable. It seems the only thing to do is maybe disconnect the coupling and cut the wires and splice it into the [new]cable end?

Anyone else here had the same problem? Cmon guys, dont lemme down!My kids are hungry!!! $300? not installed? HELP !!!!!!!!!

You just need to cut the ends off and find a good connector from a place like O-Reilly's or Autozone or Napa auto parts depending on were you live.
Just slide them into the connectors use some channel locks to press them into the connectors or go out to the old junkyard and find the same cable and replace it. Possibly the connectors with the sponge washers to keep from corroding add some grease to the connectors on top of the battery connector.

[denisond3]

I have replaced the negative battery cable on two of my Escorts - both 2nd generation. I ran the new cable to a bolt on the bell housing that holds the transmission to the engine. I soldered the several wires that previously had run to the negative post of the battery together (dispensing with the funny little connector at the negative battery post), and soldered a wire from that group to the bolt on the body behind the battery where the former ground wire was still bolted. I think I spent about $12 for the battery cable. I got a black one. I insist on having a red battery cable going to the positive battery post, and a black cable running to the negative battery post.

[johny5]

Originally Posted by denisond3

I have replaced the negative battery cable on two of my Escorts - both 2nd generation. I ran the new cable to a bolt on the bell housing that holds the transmission to the engine. I soldered the several wires that previously had run to the negative post of the battery together (dispensing with the funny little connector at the negative battery post), and soldered a wire from that group to the bolt on the body behind the battery where the former ground wire was still bolted. I think I spent about $12 for the battery cable. I got a black one. I insist on having a red battery cable going to the positive battery post, and a black cable running to the negative battery post.

I'm not sure what that funny connector is for that is connected but I would sure want to find out. But that sounds better than $300.00 bucks. $300.00-$12.00 for a savings of $288.00 dollars of food on the table.
The advantage is that it would have cost you at least $95.00 to $100.00 dollars just to have a mechanic diagnose the problem and then the part another mark up of $30.00 to $40.00 bucks so about $140.00 bucks for 20 minutes of a do-it yourself job. I'll bet your headache is gone for now. Food around the corner, Food around the corner. Maybe next a time a little automotive class with a small grant and taking a night course in Automotive will help as well cause you can bring your own car in a work on it. What a savings.