ksu-chewie

iTrader: (14)

Did some work on my car so I felt the need to drive it around for a bit and enjoy it. Tried cranking it over and it was really slow & weak, acting like a low battery. Checked my battery cables (tight & no corrosion). Threw on the battery charger and put it on jumper mode and cranking still the same.

Got underneath the car to check the starter and the black wire w/ red stripe (I'm guessing ground) was connected, but not fully tight on the spade terminal. It looks like the plug is not keeping a tight connection and wiggled itself loose to cause the weak signal. I pushed it on all the way, and car was cranking normally.

I couldn't really see a way to tighten the connector, so I'm guessing the best way to fix it long-term is cut the old connector off and put a new one on?

t-von

iTrader: (8)

That little black/red cable isn't a ground, it's a switched 12v source from the ignition key to the starter solenoid. Connection their needs to be tight and clean otherwise the solenoid doesn't activate the starter motor correctly.

ksu-chewie

iTrader: (14)

So it would be best just to cut off the old connector and put a new one on?

t-von

iTrader: (8)

If it slides off very easily then yes. You may also be able to compress the black cover with some pliers a little bit to compress the inner tongs closer together.

ksu-chewie

iTrader: (14)

I thought about that but figured the plastic would crack like all the other plastic on our cars. I looked at it again this morning and doesn't look like enough slack to cut & crimp a new connector. I might have to crimp a new connector onto some spare wire and solder it onto the old.