If your car is not able to start or struggles to, the problem may be easier than you think – that the battery terminals are loose!
Sometimes the problem is not as straightforward and so this post, shares signs that may make it easier for you to identify if the car battery terminals are loose and what you can do to fix them.
So Read on to find out what signs to look out for and how you tighten those loose battery terminals!
Signs of Loose Car Battery Terminals
Note, the signs below are not confirmation that the car battery terminals – positive or negative are loose but can indicate that. Always inspect and confirm that the battery terminals are firm.
1. A loose car battery terminal can cause a car battery not to start or struggle to start even when the battery is charged.
2. Car dashboard lights (including the battery warning light) do not light when the ignition key is turned to the ON position.
3. On turning the ignition to the ON position, all you may hear may be a single click, followed by the dimming of the dashboard lights.
Or,
4. The car starter may only click with no cranking or starting of the car engine.
5. In some cases, the car engine may attempt to start, with cranking followed by the machine gun sound no engine start.
You may also want to read 6 Reasons Why your Car’s battery may be Drained and How to Fix Them
The Dangers of Loose Car Battery Terminals | What Can Happen
If any of the car battery terminals are loose, you may not be able to start the car leaving you unable to use it when you need to. In extreme cases, you may also experience any of the following:
The car may stall as you drive, leaving you stranded and in need of a tow once the battery charge runs out if the alternator is not able to supply the power needed to power the car’s electrical system.
Is it Safe to Drive?
It is not safe to drive if any of the car battery terminals are loose.
You risk damage to the alternator too if the car battery terminals are loose. Alternator manufacturers recommend keeping the battery connected as the car engine runs.
A loose car battery terminal slows down the charging of the battery resulting in the alternator working longer than it would ordinarily and increasing the likelihood of premature failure
How to Check for Loose Battery Terminals
To confirm, open the hood gently. Try to lift the battery terminals off the battery posts. They should stay firm.
Loose battery terminals can easily be lifted off the battery posts or rotated from side to side with gentle pressure.
Tips to Tighten Loose Car Battery Terminals
While you may engage a qualified mechanic to fix loose battery terminals, you may want to and in most cases can fit them yourself.
What you need:
- A battery cable lug crimping tool – if the cables are not held firmly,
- A battery terminal ratchet
- lead shims, and a set of pliers.
Check if the battery terminals grip the battery posts firmly. If not and depending on the type of battery terminals used, you may be able to use a battery terminal ratchet to tighten them.
Should the battery terminals be oversized and not grip the terminals however much you tighten them, you can slip lead shims onto the battery posts.
These are lead caps that slip onto the battery posts increasing the overall diameter of the post so that the clamp can hold firmly.
In some cases, it might be easier and more convenient longer term to replace the existing battery terminal with the quick-release type- no need for a ratchet to tighten!
Can Loose Terminal Lead an Alternator to Fail?
Loose battery terminals can lead to alternator damage. Weak and intermittent connections limit how much charging current is available inevitably extending how long the alternator has to run to charge the battery.
Longer charging times can increase the stress on the alternator which can negatively impact its life.
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Loose Positive and Negative Battery Cable Symptoms
If either the positive or negative battery terminal is loose then can cause a car battery not to start or struggle to start even when the battery is charged.
You may hear a single click followed by dashboard lights going off or dimming.
In some cases, you may hear the machine gun sound as you start the car.
What Happens When Car Battery Terminals Come Loose While Driving?
If the battery cables become loose as you drive, you may experience a range of performance problems including the headlights or other electronics losing power as you drive if the car’s alternator is not able to provide enough power as you drive.
Can Loose Battery terminals Drain the battery?
Loose battery terminals can stop or slow down the charging process making the battery more susceptible to deep discharge from the onboard electronics as the car is parked.
Can Loose Battery terminals Lead to Corrosion?
Not likely that loose battery terminals lead to corrosion. You’re likely to see corrosion when lead acid batteries are overcharged, or overfilled in case of flooded lead acid batteries.
The gases given off during the charging process react with the battery posts and lead to corrosion, the white powdery substance on battery terminals and posts.
Closing Thoughts
If the car dashboard lights do not come on or dim when the ignition is turned to the ON position or there’s a solitary click or a machine gun sound then it might be that the battery terminals are loose.
To confirm, open the hood. Gently try to lift the battery terminals off the battery posts. They should stay firm.
Loose battery terminals can easily be lifted off the battery posts or rotated from side to side with gentle pressure.
Use a ratchet or fix shims onto the battery posts if the terminals are oversized to tighten the battery terminals.
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