r/Cartalk • u/PublicDisk4717 • Dec 23 '24
I need help fixing something Can't widen positive battery clamp to fit around new battery.
Hii all,
I’m replacing my car battery and running into an issue with the positive terminal clamp. I have removed the bolt that you could use to tighten it but it doesn’t open wide enough to fit over the battery post. I’ve tried gently prying it open with a flathead screwdriver, but it feels more like im bending the metal and I’m worried about damaging it or weakening the clamp.
Additionally I cant seem to unscrew the top bolt. Would loosening this help and if so how can I got about loosening it if it's stuck?
Is there a way to open the clamp wider without damaging it or are there any tools or tricks that could help in this situation?
Any advice or suggestions would be super helpful. As I know 0 about car mechanics.
Thanks so much!
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u/IllustriousCarrot537 Dec 23 '24
There are 2 different common terminal sizes... Are you sure you have the correct battery? Otherwise you will have to either swap the battery or the female terminals...
Also, silly question I know and no offence, but you did remove the plastic terminal guards before trying, right...? 🙄
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u/AKADriver Dec 24 '24 edited Dec 24 '24
Three sizes, actually, a DIN/ECE (19mm positive, 17mm negative), SAE (11/16" positive, 5/8" negative) and a JIS (14.5mm positive, 12.8mm negative).
I don't know what the most common for Australian-market cars is, but OP's car seems to use the small JIS "pencil post" just comparing the size of the holes in the clamps to the 10mm nuts.
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u/Cephrael37 Dec 23 '24
You removed the plastic caps first, right?
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u/classless_classic Dec 23 '24
I don’t believe they did…
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u/standarduck Dec 23 '24
They said they did, before you wrote this
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u/classless_classic Dec 23 '24
Yeah, I’m not reading through a few dozen comments when the picture is obvious.
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 23 '24
And yes to everyone worried. I removed the plastic caps before trying. I thought you had to keep them on when not trying for safety or something. But I can definitely see that it looks like I've been trying to out it on the caps... fml
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u/Qweasdy Dec 23 '24
The caps will protect the terminals from the elements and importantly will avoid any possibility of a short during shipping/storage. If the battery is in the car and you don't sit anything metal on top bridging the terminals there's not really anything dangerous about them.
Accidentally shorting the battery is pretty dangerous (can cause a fire or severe burns) and the lead/acid inside the battery is hazardous but there's no risk of electrocution from a 12V battery. It's not a terrible idea to leave the caps on while the battery isn't hooked up to anything but it's really not that big a deal.
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u/Crested10 Dec 23 '24
Japanese Import car? That's the wrong battery for that model. You can either keep the battery and swap out the clamps or return the battery for one with Japanese type thin terminal poles.
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u/plausocks Dec 23 '24
Did…did you take the plastic caps off the battery first?
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u/plausocks Dec 23 '24
For clarification… the red and blue on your battery are caps that come off and are to be disposed of
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u/hearnia_2k Dec 23 '24
What car is it? If it's Japanese then you may need a battery with Japanese style terminals, which are much smaller. Is it definitely the correct battery type?
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u/that-kid-that-does Dec 24 '24 edited Dec 24 '24
Yup need JIS terminals aka SP type, in century the equivalent is NS60LMF iirc. Edit: Century & Repco are the same as Repco just rebrands Century batteries
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u/moyenbatte Dec 27 '24
There are adapters though. I had to do this and it was the only way anyway because the best battery that matches my car has the posts too far from the edge so the cables were too short.
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u/hearnia_2k Dec 27 '24
My Japanese car has a battery with Japanese style terminals. It came with adaptors on it ready for non-JIS termianals too. But I don't see a good way to do the opposite.
Your car had a battery before, so surely a replacement one was available too?
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u/moyenbatte Dec 27 '24
Mine is a JDM import with an absolutely tiny battery. The adapters are the same direction: JIS cables to SAE battery. The place I bought it from though did bring the reverse adapter to the counter and I had to ask them to go in the back again, so it exists.
As for my specific case, it was much cheaper to get an SAE battery and adapters than a JIS one. Plus, if I'm ever stuck in the boonies and need to replace the battery in a pinch, there's more chance I'll find something in stock locally.
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u/CrimsonRamson Dec 24 '24
you know you can take those blue and red plastic covers OFF the therminals?
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u/JRS___ Dec 24 '24 edited Dec 24 '24
is this a JDM subaru? it looks like the japanese size of battery terminal. most american posters on here will have never seen one in their life.
if so you should buy the correct type of battery. but depending on where you live they might be hard to get. in which case you should change the terminals to the larger size. the negative with require a crimp lug and crimping tool. please don't use one of those emergency saddle type terminals
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 25 '24
Yup Subaru impreza rs 2010.
Your right, I got a new battery with smaller posts and all sorted now!
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u/staub_sauger Dec 23 '24
Bro are you trying to attach those lugs with the plastic caps on the terminals?
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u/OldWolf2 Dec 23 '24
It looks like you've bought a battery with fat poles but your car has terminal fittings for thin poles.
Easiest solution is to return it and get a battery with thin poles. Another option is to modify your car to have fat terminal fittings (either via adapters, or replacement). Have an auto electrician do the latter if you go that route .
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u/Jackamus94 Dec 24 '24
You have the wrong battery.
You need a battery with pencil post terminals not thick ones
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u/Caramel-Foreign Dec 24 '24
Your clamps look visibly smaller than your battery terminals. You need a different (correct?) battery or if difficult to source would be future safe to replace the clamps with standard ones
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u/shootdack2000 Dec 24 '24
Get s screwdriver and pry em apart a Lil bit and the should slip on
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u/SokkaHaikuBot Dec 24 '24
Sokka-Haiku by shootdack2000:
Get s screwdriver
And pry em apart a Lil
Bit and the should slip on
Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.
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Dec 23 '24
No way this is real
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u/Esquirej67 Dec 23 '24
I feel the same way.
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u/dankmemelawrd Dec 23 '24
And remember, you drive on the same road with them lol
→ More replies (1)
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u/Brigand253 Dec 23 '24
Those posts are the incorrect size. Of course, take the plastic caps off first to confirm, but the posts look pretty big. Can you *make* it work? Probably. It it worth deforming your terminal ends to do it and potentially not be able to get the bolt through the end when done? I wouldn't do that if it were my car.
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u/Jackamus94 Dec 24 '24
If you have a battery with the wrong size terminals, you can buy terminal adaptors or you can switch out the cable clamps.
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u/Brigand253 Dec 24 '24
These are definitely options but since that battery is presumably new, the last thing I would do is take the terminals off (if even possible) to swap them out. Looking at the power cables, terminals, and the car itself from what I can see, it's newer and it would be a big mistake to cut those terminals off especially due to purchasing a battery of the incorrect Group Size.
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u/Boomdarts Dec 23 '24
You bought the wrong battery if it doesn't fit after you take off the plastic tops
You'll have to get the right battery or new terminal ends.
Cars are finicky you'd be better off exchanging it for the right battery
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u/9BALL22 Dec 23 '24
Make sure you are connecting the cables to the correct terminals. The positive (+) and negative (-) terminals may be different sizes. I point this out because of your stated lack of knowledge. Edited to add red cable is positive , black cable is negative .
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Dec 23 '24 edited Feb 07 '25
[deleted]
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 23 '24
Yeah I have + and - lined up. But you make a interesting point about the negative terminal bolt. I'll have to look at it again and see why they bolt is still on
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u/somerandomdude419 Dec 23 '24
In the picture it doesn’t even look like the clamp is loose, you sure you’re loosening it? It should go wide enough to even go over the caps. The picture looks like the terminal is all the way tightened down. Terminals do go bad, but try loosening it a lot more, and then try to attach with the plastic caps off. If still not loosening enough, you can replace terminals pretty cheap under $10 around there
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u/ssbtech Dec 23 '24
Why don't I see the head of the bolt or the nut that would loosen/tighten that terminal? Something is weird here. And that's definitely not the OE Subaru battery tie-down. Has someone else been fiddling with this?
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 23 '24
That someone else would be me.
I removed the bolts and i had to get a new tray and rods/hold down clamp which didnt raise alarm because my previous battery was too small.
But yeah I may have made some interesting decision
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u/24nm Redline 2012 Charger SRT, 2004 Jeep Liberty Renegade Dec 23 '24
I removed the bolts and i had to get a new tray and rods/hold down clamp which didnt raise alarm because my previous battery was too small.
Wait, so you bought a different size battery? That is pretty important information. Battery posts are not "one size fits all". Different battery sizes have different size posts. No wonder your terminals don't fit. You bought the wrong size battery.
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 23 '24
Yeah that seems to be the overall sentiment. I bought this battery because the person who put the old on put one that was too small. So the battery being bigger was somewhat expected.
Plus the auto store said this would "fit in my car". Its what I get for thinking this would be straight forward.
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u/AdultishRaktajino Dec 23 '24 edited Dec 23 '24
You sure that’s the positive terminal/cable you’re attempting to put on the lug? Positive is always larger than negative for top mounted clamp style batteries.
Batteries can come in the same form factors where the positive and negative posts are switched.
Here’s a diagram covering the standard types.
https://uploads.bmw2002faq.com/monthly_04_2015/post-32582-0-83578500-1429546480.png
Edit: looked again at your first picture, you might need a “pencil post”.
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u/lloyd299 Dec 23 '24
You want the exact battery group size when replacing unless you buy a whole new hold down for a new battery. Most batteries will have a bci group on it. Like 35 or 24. You should stick to what the manufacturer put in. Unless you wanna fi the work to make a different size inside.
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u/ACloneUnknown Dec 23 '24
Just looking at it with the covers on the terminals it looks like it might be the wrong battery if so bring it back and they should swap it out for one with the correct terminals but I’d call before heading over to get all the needed info, when people are saying to pry it open more they mean a few millimeters not as wide as you can to fit it over forcefully
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u/Master_of_Disguises Dec 23 '24
If they don't fit it means: 1) you have the wrong battery for your vehicle 2) the previous owner (or you) modified the wires to fit on smaller posts to reuse a battery they already had 3) you didn't know to take the plastic off (but this has been addressed already)
Either way, if you're in the US, why not let the store change the battery for you if you have no idea what you're doing? The amount of times I've seen loose battery connections causing no-starts; better yet, the amount of times it's been caused by a clueless owner cranking down on them too tight and making them permanently loose...
Also, it would help if you put a year/make/model down as I would be able to look up the OEM battery and compare post sizes
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u/Ok-Pen5460 Dec 23 '24
It IS possible that you ha e a specific battery size to respect. Be wary when ording parts
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u/StreetShamannn Dec 23 '24
It’s very simply the wrong battery. Size and shape of the battery may be good but the terminals not fitting means it’s not the right size.
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u/stuffeh Dec 23 '24
I suspect you might have received the wrong group sized battery. Check the group size, physical dimensions, and battery terminal locations of your original battery.
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Dec 24 '24
Wrong battery, you need one with the smaller terminals (i have no idea who came up with the idea of making batteries non standard but here we are..)
Edit*oh I seem to be late to the party, oh well. 🙈🤣
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u/two40silvia Dec 24 '24
So like others have said, you have the wrong battery. You can either change the terminals to the common us size, or buy a battery for a 2nd-3rd gen Prius. They have the smaller terminals.
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Dec 24 '24
Different batteries have different size terminals. I'd suggest you double-check the terminal sizes before prying that clamp apart too much. It's likely to snap the clamp in half.
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Dec 24 '24
From your photos, it definitely looks like the new battery terminals are way bigger than your "clamps" will ever be. I believe the "MFR" part of the battery size indicates the terminal size.
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u/twopptouch Dec 24 '24
Looks like you got the wrong battery. Needed the unit with the small posts.
You can either replace battery (if you have receipt) or install larger terminals.
I’d swap the battery if it was me. Easier than terminals.
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u/JadenJay02 Dec 24 '24
You bought a 55d23l but you need an NS60L, I would imagine you’ve got a Honda or Suzuki. Just take it back to Supercheap and tell them the terminal size is too small and you need to exchange it
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u/Phaze357 Dec 24 '24
it doesn’t open wide enough to fit over the battery post.
Could get a different clamp or pry it open enough to make it fit... maybe use something like a pair of large pliers that are closed and gently tap the clamp down on them with a small hammer. Kind of like a ring stretcher, but caveman shop style. If you do pry it wider just do it a little at a time and watch for the metal weakening. I'm pretty sure I had the same issue with my last car and just gave it a tappy tap tap until it fit.
Also I'm kind of amazed at how may people think OP is trying to put the clamps on with the caps still on.
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u/antward Dec 24 '24
None said maybe it needs small terminal battery i suppose the car is jap or Korean??
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u/Appropriate-Metal167 Dec 24 '24
There are different battery post diameters. Some cars have cables with clamps set up for the skinny posts common in Japan. You maybe bought the wrong battery?
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u/DrScottyB Dec 24 '24
Probably got the wrong battery. Should work though. Just need a big, heavy hammer to get them on.
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u/RansomStark78 Dec 24 '24
You get different sized battery posts
Esp asian vehicles use the smaller posts.
I changed my clamps to quik clamps to use the std terminals on my jap car
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u/lDWchanJRl Dec 24 '24
I can most certainly tell you that isn’t the right size battery for that Honda, and I think it’s a crv.
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 25 '24
Subaru impreza rs
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u/lDWchanJRl Dec 25 '24
Fuck i was way off lmao. The corner it’s in reminded of my mother in laws crv
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u/dale1320 Dec 24 '24
Those cable ends look pretty corroded. Replacement ends are available at aby half-way decent auto parts store fir under $10.
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u/Mx5-gleneagles Dec 25 '24
Just slip a bit of wood or something under the terminal and knock a screwdriver in the slot where the clamp bolt goes open it until it fits over the terminal Good luck and happy Christmas
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u/Substantial_Can7549 Dec 25 '24
If it's not a good fit, it's likely the wrong battery? You can get new terminal clips if needed
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u/PhilMeUpBaby Dec 25 '24
You've got the wrong battery - take it back and ask for one with a small negative terminal.
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u/Embarrassed_Spite546 Dec 25 '24
You just bought the wrong size battery, you should be able to return it and get the correct size as a replacement without having to pay a crap ton
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u/skunkmasta9000 Dec 25 '24
When she's a virgin but you're little guy has survived multiple swelling sessions
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u/IllMasterpiece5610 Dec 25 '24
Does the negative fit? If yes, just wedge a screwdriver in the gap and widen it. If the negative doesn’t fit, you have the wrong battery. If you can’t exchange it, buy some terminals for your battery and install them on your cables (or you may be able to find adapter that screw onto the battery post).
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Dec 25 '24
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u/Flames_kid Dec 27 '24
Ok so, I work at an auto parts store. There are 2 standard terminal sizes. The battery you have is supplied but Yousa. The model number you have is a 55D23L. IIRC the one with the smaller terminals is a 55B23L. Otherwise if yoy can't find one of those, yoy can get a slightly narrower battery that should still work that would be a NS60 (or NS60L, cant rememberwhich has the terminals around the right way).
Also, do not force the terminals on, as Repco won't accept returns on battery's if the battery terminals are damaged at all.
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u/wrenchbender4010 Dec 27 '24
Good advice below, but somerhing not touched on. You mentioned concern for sparking, you usually get a little on final connection. But the big deal is: connect positive first, negative last. When removing a battery, negative first, always. Cars are negative grounded, which means all the metal in the car is connected to negative post.. if you try to unhook positive first and fat finger the wrench causing it to connect tween the pos post and anything metal the fireworks start!
By doing neg first/ last you eliminate that posibility. Like so much of auto repair procedure is there to NOT set yourself up to fuckup.
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u/Cute-Practice6454 Dec 27 '24 edited Dec 27 '24
Open up the middle post and slide the battery forward. The clamp goes on the post not the plastic.
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u/InsuranceEasy9878 Dec 23 '24
You have the wrong battery it seems. The connectors usually fit without any prying
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u/605Gunner Dec 23 '24
Next time buy the battery at any auto parts shop and they will install it for free. It’ll save you the hassle of buying the wrong type/size battery.
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u/DaddyPig24 Dec 23 '24
It’s the wrong battery type, some of these size/type batteries have smaller terminals. You need to take it back and swap it for the correct one.
How have we got through 17 comments without anyone knowing this?
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u/Competitive_Car7413 Dec 23 '24
It appears to be the wrong battery. From the limited info and photos it appears to be a JDM Subaru, which will use JIS Pencil post terminals, which are smaller than the standard battery terminals, which is why you can't get the clamps on. At a guess, I think you'd want an NS60LMF.
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Dec 23 '24
If you don't understand these things why would you attempt when most stores offer free install?
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 24 '24
Everyone at one stage didn't know these things. You only learn by doing
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Dec 25 '24
You completely missed the point. A few others commented the same thing.
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 25 '24
Well I ended up successfully installing a new battery. At 1 3rd of the cost of install. Learnt about car batteries and how they work and how to install one. I'll make my decisions you make yours.
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u/tomhalejr Dec 23 '24
Wrong battey. The original battery was pencil terminals, this is an auto post.
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u/Federal-Baseball9525 Dec 23 '24
1.Plastic caps 2. You already fucked up by removing that screw completely
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u/InternetExploder87 Dec 23 '24
Well, those plastic caps need to come off first or it won't work even if you did fit the terminal over it..
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u/eric_gm Dec 23 '24
As I know 0 about car mechanics.
You shouldn't be doing this all by yourself, pal. Much less if your first thought was asking Reddit for help.
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u/Ordinary-Violinist-9 Dec 23 '24
You know there are different battery models right? Size but also placements of the + -
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u/rkrenicki Dec 23 '24
This looks to be a Subaru of some sort.. Was this imported from Japan? The connectors you have look to be for JIS type batteries which are smaller than normal.
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u/PublicDisk4717 Dec 23 '24
That's crazy you got that from those photos.
Yeah it's a 2010 impreza hatchback. I'm in Australia so I believe it was imported.
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u/hourlyslugger Dec 24 '24
Group size 35 or 24F battery or the JIS equivalent-the small pencil posts give it away
Not whatever you have there.
Also it’s been said repeatedly REMOVE THE PLASTIC CAPS!
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u/ssbtech Dec 23 '24
"That's crazy you got that from those photos."
The oil filler cap is a dead giveaway.
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u/Temporary-District96 Dec 23 '24
are you using the right purse for the job? might need to ask for the specific one for this specific model.
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u/SeaSector3084 Dec 23 '24
You have the wrong battery? Is it a Japan car? They have batteries with tiny terminals
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u/planespotterhvn Dec 23 '24
Get the proper battery for your vehicle. There are at least two terminal post diameters and sometimes the pos and negative are different sizes too.
Looks like your vehicle needs a new battery to match the small size terminal posts.
Does the battery Pos Neg orientation match the vehicle Pos Neg cable orientation.
Remember:
Neg off first.
Neg on last.
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u/series_hybrid Dec 23 '24
Auto zone has lead sleeves for those times when the clamp is too big.
As far as opening-up a small clamp. Lead clamps can open 20% without cracking because lead is soft.
Get a long bolt that is small enough diameter to slide through. Set two washers and two nuts in the opening. Thread the screw through the washers and nuts (arranged as washer-nut-nut-washer)
Now using skinny wrenches, spin the nuts so they jack the clamp outwards.
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u/Fabulous_Lab9659 Dec 23 '24
They teach you in high school physics class about electrical circuits. One of the topics covered is about insulating materials, such as plastic, and conductors, such as metal. Remove the plastic insulating cover piece from the battery terminal.
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u/Whole-Yak-1644 Dec 23 '24
Take the plastic caps off and put the connectors on. If you’re struggling to push them down gently tap them with a hammer you need them in as far down as possible and as tight as possible. You got this.
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u/Analune69 Dec 23 '24
so, remove the plastic cap first and use a very big hammer to put it in place and some duck tape
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u/Luvs2Spooge69666 Dec 23 '24
Chop the wire,run a self tapper through the wire and the top of the post. You’re welcome……….
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u/Brilliant_Win713 Dec 25 '24
Haha omg..u need to take those red and blue caps off..that’s y it doesn’t fit.
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u/GothMech Dec 23 '24
Hit it with your purse! Seriously though. More force is needed. It's pretty flexible metal, new clamps are cheap. Inability to do this just means you probably shouldn't be messing with the battery.
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u/DaddyPig24 Dec 23 '24
Or buy the correct battery which has smaller terminals.
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u/GothMech Dec 23 '24
Sir. 🧐 This is Reddit. "Do the right thing" indeed. 🤨 🤣 I guess we can try that, if we REALLY must. 😭
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u/JRNels0n Dec 23 '24 edited Dec 23 '24
First remove the plastic caps on the battery terminals. You may have to do a little prying on the cable ends. They are soft metal and will not require much effort.