I'm buying new battery cables and I don't know the right length. Does anyone know what size I needs to get?


[Edit: NVM I'm just going to replace the battery terminals and see if that works.]

 

I'd kind of like to know for his original question. I need to replace my positive cable on my 89.

 

I bought like 20" today to see if they would fit... I think I might have t wrong though. Going to go buy longer ones when I get my battery.

 

why not buy new cables from the dealer? they are great quality and last a LONG time.

 

My son just did this on his 90 Tii vert. He used 55" cables and they were too long. But better long than short.

One thing to keep in mind is that the OEM ground has a terminal in the middle where it grounds at the strut tower and then continues to the tranny. My son ran a 55" ground to the tranny and then had an 18" cable with ring terminals on each end go from there to a bolt on the firewall. The battery end had a small supplemental lead and he added an extension wire and connected that to the strut tower ground point. Probably overkill but certainly won't hurt anything.

be sure to clean the grounds. Aaron Cake has a good writeup on it.

If I was in your shoes, I'd remove the battery and pull the harness out in the morning. It'll take 30 minutes tops as it is only on the driver's side. Then I'd make a map of harness tagging the leads that emerge and measuring where they come out.

Once you have everything measured (digital pictures are good too) you can disassemble the harness and find out how long the battery cables are. All the parts stores have lots of them in stock. Then you should pick up some self-adhering silicone tape like X-treme Tape at Harbor Freight or the equivalent at HD. The parts store may have a harness wrap tape as well.

Then go home, spend half an hour reassembling it and put it back in.

My son did his last weekend and it started right up. In fact, he notes that it starts a lot faster than it used to.

I would not use the standalone battery terminals. That's what I did and i think they corroded over the last 18 months and that's what was causing his problems. You might be able to seal them up with dielectric grease and big shrink tubing. But the ones from the store are all nicely clamped and should last forever.

 

when I have gone to the store there is a book that says what cables are needed, including if it needs a 90 degree end or whatever the case may be

 

That's good to know, Rob. I searched on "battery cable" for a 90 RX-7 at Napaautoparts and got...

Note that it says you need both cables for the negative side to match the OE configuration. Good stuff!



Battery Cable - Positive
Product Line: NAPA Battery Cables
Per Car Qty.: 1
Compare CBL 714534
Price 21.49

Battery Cable - Positive
Product Line: NAPA Battery Cables
Per Car Qty.: 1
Compare CBL 715514
Price 25.99

Battery Cable - Negative
Product Line: NAPA Battery Cables
Comments: Must Use Both Cables to Replace OE Design
Per Car Qty.: 1
Compare CBL 713134
Price 16.49

Battery Cable - Negative
Product Line: NAPA Battery Cables
Comments: Must Use Both Cables to Replace OE Design
Per Car Qty.: 1
Compare CBL 712994
Price 16.69