Cant Remove Negative Battery Terminal Nut

I need a new battery on my 96 SL but I ended up stripping the nut on the negative battery terminal. Now matter how much I try, it won't turn. Can I just cut the two black wires, remove the red cable and install a new negative cable before putting in the new battery? Is the negative battery cable expensive? I see that one end goes to the car body and the other to a bolt mounted on the engine.

I need a new battery on my 96 SL but I ended up stripping the nut on the negative battery terminal. Now matter how much I try, it won't turn. Can I just cut the two black wires, remove the red cable and install a new negative cable before putting in the new battery? Is the negative battery cable expensive? I see that one end goes to the car body and the other to a bolt mounted on the engine.

since you rounded the bolt, it would be very hard to use for the new batter if by some chance you got it out. i would replace the cable. you can get them at walmart or your local autoparts store. make sure it is the same design and replace exactly where the old one is now :)

Vice grips will bite right into what's left of the bolt. Replace the bolt and you're good.

Vice grips will bite right into what's left of the bolt. Replace the bolt and you're good.


Ditto

The stock battery cables use an 8mm bolt. This is a special bolt however bc if you just screwed any old nut into the battery youll find its closero to 13mm. So replacing the bolt is not going to be as easy as you think :(

Em, ancient thread.

And, you can get side terminal replacement bolts.