Howdy all,

Haven't posted for ages, just shows how reliable my L322 is! Until now...

A few times recently, jumped in, turned the key and nada. All dash lights go out for a few seconds then reset. The battery is less than a year old and is a Bosch 135, so whilst it's possible that the battery is fubar, I don't suspect it. Yet.

A technical tap on the battery earth terminal solved it, so I decided that a clean and grease was in order. However, the battery terminal (the type with the bolt on top which you screw down to tighten) isn't having any of it and won't tighten fully. Cue more technical taps in order to get the beast started

Having decided that I'd treat the old girl to a new earth cable, I set about searching for one. Hmm, that's going to be about a tenner tops, right? Nope. All the LR parts specialists I've checked want c. £45. For a little cable (what is it, 9"?) with a £3.99 terminal at one end and a flat connector at the other!

Now I'm quite OK with the concept of buying a premium car and spending premium money maintaining it, but this seems like a bit of a p...take? In Halfords, I could buy a new cable and (the other type of) terminal for well under a tenner.

What's the view chaps? Should I shell out the £45 (the cable is pure platinum, right??) or is there another way? Complicated by being dependant on the car over Xmas and not wanting to have to keep jumping out with a small hammer in my hand, so I need it quick sharp!

i wouldnt pay that dealer price...have a browse on ebay , theres bound to be something on there.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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It could very well be the battery terminal, if you tap the top of the post with a small hammer all the way around the edge you can squish them down a bit and get them to spread out.... It's a bit of a bodge but should last a while...

The other short term fix is a couple of layers of silver foil to pad it out and get the terminal to grip, it will set up electrolysis and rot the lot out but with some grease it should last a few weeks....

If it is the cable I'd be tempted to bite the bullet and get the proper one, batteries are dodgy enough anyway without a cheap terminal.... Like Stan says, send off a few messages to all the FF's being broken on the bay... Pete
I now have permission from the boss to use Y.O.L.O. Enjoy life
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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

i had simalar problem, earth clamp loose fit on terminal
sorted it very easy and very cheep
the gap in the terminal clamp was not wide enough so when it was tightened it was not clamping onto the battery


removed earth lead from car ,removed bolt,put earth clamp in vice
run an angle grinder disc down the slot in the earth clamp a couple of times(to make the slot wider)
re-fit to car,connect to battery
hey presto
jobs a good un
nige

Search on eBay for battery leads, there are actual makers on there where you just tell them what you want, Ie length etc etc and they make it.
I upgraded my bike ones and specified much heavier cable and the cost was not great.
You can buy a single as you despire. Many thanks
Paul

Thanks all. I'll look at that, and esp the quick fix, thanks ironhorse! Not sure how it could go from working to not, without being touched, but definitely worth a swift check.

Piece of flattened copper tube inserted between the clamp and the battery post usually works.