I am trying to replace the battery in a vehicle but one of the nuts connecting the cables to the battery is stripped. It is normally 7/16 but a ratchet or combo wrench of that size is slightly too big and the next smaller size is slightly to small. Any tips on how to get something like this off?
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Certainly PB Blaster could be applied in this situation. Kindly note the web address: http://autorepair.about.com/od/tools/fr/PB-REVIEW.htm
If the battery is chargeable, I'd charge it, and then drive the car to a battery place and have them replace it. Last time I replaced the battery, there was no charge for installation -- but even if there was -- couldn't be more then a few bucks. If you insist on jigging about near a battery -- make sure you're wearing eye protection, gloves and old clothes. Battery acid ain't no fun. That's my advice -- best way to do a job -- is to find a way to not have to do it .
Id recommend to do it with sockets, especially the 6 pt ones but try it out with a wrench, could work.
I'm not sure this is the best way... but ... Spoiler <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KsERNGjaafU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KsERNGjaafU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Is it a foreign car. You should be using metric wrenches which is why you probably stripped it. It should be 10mm
OK, here is a question because I have little experience with batteries in cars and the only other times I have boosted batteries they start right up after not being attached to another car battery that long. I tried boosting the battery and starting the vehicle. I tried after just attaching the cables, I tried after leaving the cables connected for a minute, and I tried after leaving the cables connected for 10 minutes. Each time it sounded closer and closer to starting than the other times but it never did. Should I leave it attached longer than 10 minutes? I mean, 10 minutes seems like ample enough time if it were going to start at all.
Most likely, if it hasn't started back up by then, the battery is dead and needs to be replaced. How old is it? Also, this weather is pretty much going to kill any battery that was already on the edge. It did to me just a week ago.
There's always the risk of breaking the terminal seals and getting acid seapage doing that. I hate acid seapage!
If the nut holding the terminal clamp is stripped, then it may be loose. If it is loose, then you may not be getting a good connection to charge the battery. Fix the clamp, tighten the new nut (don't re-use the old one), then try to jump it again.
A "jusp start" is not meant to charge your battery and it will take forever to get even a little charged. You need a real battery charger for that and plus you can just take it to autozone or any auto parts store and they will charge the battery overnight and test the battery also as the battery just may be dead and charging it will only be a temporary fix. They just are not meant to last forever. As for the bolt you can get bolt out and use some PB blaster if needed and it should come right out and the auto parts store will let you borrow that tool and you can do that in their parking lot. Good luck.
