Need help with Battery

[SniperX13]

Ok, My wife's 2003 PT Cruiser has been sitting for several months due to us going down to one job and not being able to afford to run two cars.

Now, the wife is working again so we needed the second car but the battery was dead. So, I went and bought a new battery and then the nightmare began.

When I removed the air cleaner, I noticed that the entire battery terminals were a mass of corrosion. I hit them with cleaner and soaked the nuts with WD40.

They will not budge. I have tapped them with a hammer, tried striking at a angle with a screw driver, nothing. They appear to be almost welded onto the terminal connector itself. I have tried prying it up with a screw driver, and even hitting the sides of the connector to get it to wiggle on the post, but no luck.

I almost think I am going to have to cut the cables and rerun all new battery cables, although I am not sure how hard that is. I am very mechanically inclined.

Now, here is something I noticed that I am sure might be important.

I tried to jump the car using our mini van with a 3400v6. I connected the jumper cables to the positive terminal on the PT's battery, and the negative to the frame.... nothing, no power... but when I shift the positive the "jump point" on the external prong behind the battery I get power to the PT, the lights come on, the radio works etc... but the car does not turn over, it just clicks repeatedly.

so, am I in over my head and it is more than just a battery issue....

thanks

[Mavrick14]

Not a huge deal, depending on the style of battery terminal end. If its side post then you can replace just the bolts, so go ahead and reef them off (use a 6point wrench of socket, otherwise it may strip the head of the bolt). If its top post with a bolt through it, just break the bolt and replace. If you have enough slack on the cable, you can snip the terminal ends off and replace them as well. Make sure to use some sory of battery dressing (silicone grease works) when your done to prevent another corrosion mess.

Your jump starting issues im sure are due to a completely dead battery. The clicking you hear is your starter solenoid, not getting enough power to get the starter going.

[SniperX13]

Originally Posted by Mavrick14

Not a huge deal, depending on the style of battery terminal end. If its side post then you can replace just the bolts, so go ahead and reef them off (use a 6point wrench of socket, otherwise it may strip the head of the bolt). If its top post with a bolt through it, just break the bolt and replace. If you have enough slack on the cable, you can snip the terminal ends off and replace them as well. Make sure to use some sory of battery dressing (silicone grease works) when your done to prevent another corrosion mess.

Your jump starting issues im sure are due to a completely dead battery. The clicking you hear is your starter solenoid, not getting enough power to get the starter going.

How would you recommend breaking the bolt them. My selection of tools is quite limited.

And it is a top Post battery.

[shorod]

Originally Posted by Mavrick14

If you have enough slack on the cable, you can snip the terminal ends off and replace them as well.

If you snip the ends off you should replace the entire cable(s) with molded cables of the correct length. The terminal ends that bolt down on to the stripped battery cable are only intended for temporary use. These do not protect the copper cable from the environment and the copper will corrode and it won't be long and you'll have starting issues again, probably when your wife is 100 miles from home with no one around and a dead cel-phone battery.

-Rod

[Mavrick14]

Originally Posted by shorod

If you snip the ends off you should replace the entire cable(s) with molded cables of the correct length. The terminal ends that bolt down on to the stripped battery cable are only intended for temporary use. These do not protect the copper cable from the environment and the copper will corrode and it won't be long and you'll have starting issues again, probably when your wife is 100 miles from home with no one around and a dead cel-phone battery.

-Rod

Yes, thats a good idea but not totally necessary.

As far as breaking the bolt, you say they wont budge with a ratchet.. just reef on them harder and they should break. They are usually only 6mm bolts on factory top posts.

[SniperX13]

Well, I ended up buying a set of cold chisels and I just hammered down on the middle of the bolts until they were about half cut, then using a pair of vice grips I was able to put enough force to snap the bolts. I did manage to apply enough force that the negative post came off the battery..... that forced the removal of the entire airbox system so the battery could be removed safely.

Needless to say, the new battery is in now, and the car is running fine. Got the oil and filter changed immediately as well. She runs just like she used to.

Thanks for all the help.