Loose negative battery cable

[Tonyr]

I had a few problems going on with my 2000 SE. The blinkers would blink really fast and then slow, my headlights would dim when I applied the brakes and the gas gauge is screwy, it fluctuates a quarter tank here or there. The radio clock was constanrtly resetting. I thought there was a bad ground or another electrical problrm maybe with the alternator. The battery was only a year old so took it to my shop and found that the neg cable was extremely loose. My stupidity cost me $20. It looked OK when I checked it out. Everything seems to be fine now, but would the loose cable really affect my gas gauge? Is that even possible? Thanks!!

[xeroinfinity]

Hey Tonyr. Didnt you ask about the gas gauge before?
Maybe it was someone else, but no hte gas gauge is most likly the level device in the tank. They hav the wrong metal used for this and it corrodes and makes poor conections at times. But a bad ground can mess with gauges.
My 99' does the same thing, when its full it works, when it empty it works when I start it, but almost imediatly the gauge will go screwy.

A fast blinkr usually means a bulbs burnt out on the turn signals.
As for the diming lights when breaking, most GAs do this somewhat. Could been because the cable was loose making it worse, but the altenators are under powerd for all shit that needs power to run the car.

Now the radios are screwy too, the displays that is. A lot of Delco radios hav a display prob, looks like hyrogliphics, and the volume knob on the reciever, sometimes when you turn it down it goes up.
But the reset was also most likly a problem caused by your loose ground.

[Tonyr]

Yes it was me. I was hoping the loose cable would affect the gas gauge. Damn!!! Anyway, thanks for your input.

[xeroinfinity]

No prob Tony!