The negative battery cable terminal on my '97 XLT is split and needs to be replaced. I'd like to replace it with the same OEM style rather than a solder-on or screw-on type terminal adapter.




However, I've had no luck sourcing the type of crimper necessary to do this job. All I can find are the type that crush a terminal on equally around wires. Any ideas on where to source the correct crimping tool for this kind of connector?

 

Our local napa store has a crimp tool & will do it for free.

 

I wonder if NAPA can supply OEM or close terminals and plastic covers too??

 

My local NAPA didn't seem to think they had the appropriate crimper. I called the local Ford dealer. The service tech's response? "By policy, we're not allowed to work on vehicles older than 2000."

 

I think this is what you are looking for

https://sargenttoolsonline.com/produ...g-tool-6225-ct

 

Yes, that looks like the right tool. Thank you! I'll see if I can find it elsewhere for less than $234.

 

That seems expensive for the amount you might use it, but at least it puts you in the right direction. Good luck!

 

Hopefully this works

https://www.napaonline.com/en/search...=semantic&se=1

 

Might be interesting to see what the voltage drop is on that. It's 20+ years old even with a new crimp on terminal. Disable the ignition and set the scale on your voltmeter to 2V. Place one probe directly on the - NEG battery post itself, the other on a clean unpainted part of the engine block and crank the engine over for a few seconds. The voltage drop in the terminals, cable itself, and connections will be displayed as a positive number. What happens is, any voltage lost in the resistance finds an easier path around it through the voltmeter.

The spec limit is only a tenth of a volt, or 0.10, an important measurement for the entire starting, charging, ignition, and lighting system/accessories. Not very much voltage drop is allowed. Could end up replacing that terminal, and still bust the spec by quite a lot. New manufacture battery, starter, and ground cables all around, with terminals pre-installed, are a hell of lot less than $234

 

Just a heads up. those are for a different type of crimp style where the connector is completely round to start off with and wont work for the OP application

 

The search term "B Style crimper" yields some results in the $50 to $75 range on eBay and Amazon. Still too rich for my blood. If I can't find a B-style crimper locally that I can borrow, I'll just resort to closed barrel terminals and soldering.

 

Appreciate the tips, gents. I purchased these:

E-KYLIN Terminals:
IWISS IWS-8200A B-Style Crimper:
The "B" slot on the crimper worked quite well.


The crimper description says it works with 3 AWG through 5 AWG wire. The total volume of the two wires on the original terminal are closer to 1 AWG but it all fit and crimped just fine.

 

good to hear, but where is the finished product!

 

I was too giddy to take a picture of the resulting crimp before I covered it up with shrink tube. Just imagine the original crimp with the wings bent in just a bit less (since the U-channel is a mite smaller than the original).

As a bonus, the new terminal bolt and nut facilitate adding a couple extra ground lines better than the original.

 

Looks great! Good job!