Negative Battery Cable Length
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Negative Battery Cable Length
Hi all. Can anyone tell me the length of the negative battery cable for a 1996 F150 with straight six? I need a replacement and the dealer said that the part is obsolete and cannot be ordered from Ford.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Ordered from Napa
I called around a few places. The dealers said that it was an obsolete part. One dealer offered to order it through the obsolete parts warehouse. I ended up ordering from Napa. They told me over the phone that the cable was specific to the 4.9 L engine and that it was 65 inches long. (The dealers could not tell me the length.)
Anyone have experience replacing one of these on a 4.9 L 6 cylinder engine?
Anyone have experience replacing one of these on a 4.9 L 6 cylinder engine?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: SoCal
65 inches, go figure that.
When the negative cable went bad on my 87 Ranger I only replaced the bad part at the battery end of the cable.
I now have a 22 year old cable spliced to a 4 year old 6 inch pig tail. The pig tail was 6 bucks at Napa
When the negative cable went bad on my 87 Ranger I only replaced the bad part at the battery end of the cable.
I now have a 22 year old cable spliced to a 4 year old 6 inch pig tail. The pig tail was 6 bucks at Napa
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Spliced Cable
Here is some history on this.
My negative cable looks as though it has already been spliced. A couple of years ago I replaced the battery and starter on the truck only to have it not start. The negative cable had been spliced at some point and a new screw on type connector was used. The cable and connector to the battery had to be cleaned. Then the truck would start.
Then a couple of months ago the truck was hard to start. I replaced the starter again because it was under lifetime warranty. The part store said it tested good. I had called ahead to make sure all I needed was a receipt and the starter to get it swapped out and they swapped it for a new one.
Now the truck is not starting sometimes. I want to replace this cable and see if it helps. I have read that with the 4.9 L engine the cable is routed past the exhaust manifold and this causes it to corrode early.
My negative cable looks as though it has already been spliced. A couple of years ago I replaced the battery and starter on the truck only to have it not start. The negative cable had been spliced at some point and a new screw on type connector was used. The cable and connector to the battery had to be cleaned. Then the truck would start.
Then a couple of months ago the truck was hard to start. I replaced the starter again because it was under lifetime warranty. The part store said it tested good. I had called ahead to make sure all I needed was a receipt and the starter to get it swapped out and they swapped it for a new one.
Now the truck is not starting sometimes. I want to replace this cable and see if it helps. I have read that with the 4.9 L engine the cable is routed past the exhaust manifold and this causes it to corrode early.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
The negative cable on the 300 goes from the battery to the starter, so it's going to be pretty long. No tips on replacing it, just take the old one out and put the new one in. I used lots of zip ties when I did mine.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: SoCal
The way that I found that my negative cable was shot when it would'nt crank was to simply jump from the negative battery post to the engine block.
When it fired right up I knew the cable was shot.
It does sound like you need to replace the entire cable on yours.
Best bet is to drive it up on a set of ramps and take a look and see how the cable is routed.
The PCM/computer ground is probably spliced into the negative cable so you will need to hook that up also. The pig tail that I bought included the smaller PCM ground wire connection.
Good luck with it.
When it fired right up I knew the cable was shot.
It does sound like you need to replace the entire cable on yours.
Best bet is to drive it up on a set of ramps and take a look and see how the cable is routed.
The PCM/computer ground is probably spliced into the negative cable so you will need to hook that up also. The pig tail that I bought included the smaller PCM ground wire connection.
Good luck with it.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: SoCal
Andy, just curious, but is the PCM ground spliced to the negative cable on the 300?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
There is another ground wire spliced in, but I didn't trace it and I don't know where it goes. It could very well be for the PCM.
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Replaced
Well the Napa part was basically identical to the factory cable. It was easy enough to trace the old cable connections. A very long extension came in handy for the bolt where the cable attaches to the frame. The old cable was very green at this attachment point which is really close to an exhaust pipe that is very hot after driving a block to the neighbor's driveway.
Truck has been starting much better since replacement.
Truck has been starting much better since replacement.
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