Thread: Replacement D3 battery terminals

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

I see no reason, ..... why you couldn’t ........ Winner. Well maybe

I concur, that's a definite maybe

Originally Posted by ytt105

How about something like this
BATTERY TERMINAL HEAVY DUTY - 2PC RED & BLACK MARINE TYPE LEAD BATTERY CLAMPS | eBay
Modify the square shaft to fit.

That would be a neat solution. The only down side would be if pushing the shaft inside far enough to make it secure significantly reduces the overall length. If its too short it won't reach the terminal. I'll have a dig through my spares box to see if I have one to measure.

Trev how does this compare with your original idea?

What I need now is for a grown up to tell me whether or not reducing or adding to the material in the bar will effect the BMS

I have the same issue with my 2008 D3. No matter how tight the terminal clamps are you can still twist them on the terminals.

There is enough length in the negative lead to cut and crimp on a new clamp but not the positive lead.

Tapping the terminal with a hammer helps a little but is not a permanent fix.

I didn't realise the leads had other functions than current flow. You learn something new every day.

My opinion is the battery monitoring will be unaffected by the alteration. Tim from Traxide will be by to confirm or berate me lol. If you can maintain a good enough connection between the new terminal and the old section to start the car, it will be good enough for the BMS.

You may well be correct that the factory design is not the best available but hasn’t it lasted 9 or 10 years on yours? Surely that’s infrequent enough to just replace and go again for another 9-10 years without any of the difficulty of whatever modification could be undertaken?

Scott

Originally Posted by LRD414

You may well be correct that the factory design is not the best available but hasn’t it lasted 9 or 10 years on yours? Surely that’s infrequent enough to just replace and go again for another 9-10 years without any of the difficulty of whatever modification could be undertaken?

Scott

They’re probably stupidly expensive though compared to a DIY repair. I’ll look tonight for a price.

Originally Posted by LRD414

You may well be correct that the factory design is not the best available but hasn’t it lasted 9 or 10 years on yours? Surely that’s infrequent enough to just replace and go again for another 9-10 years without any of the difficulty of whatever modification could be undertaken?

Scott

Scott you're quite right, they've lasted a while. However my experience of them hasn't been good.
A variant were fitted to the D2 and were just as much of pain there. Without doubt most of its down to hamfistedness on my part and that of the PO but what ever the cause they've never been great.

That said I've done a lot of work on the car since I've had it and I've had the traxide fitted pretty much from the start. The terminals have been on and off more times than a naughty girls drawers. The LR clamps are suffering and the standard traxide clamps are as good as new, which speaks volumes. Its less of a cost issue and far more to do with not replacing a failed part with another part of the same design. The idea just goes against the grain, if that makes sense.