Symptoms of Failing Battery Cable in Your Car

Battery cables are an important piece of any electrical system, as they are what directly connects the battery to the vehicle's electronic system.

They are usually made of heavy gauge wire covered in heavy duty insulation due to the high amount of current and power that flows through them.

While their build and mode of operation is simple in nature when they do fail, battery cables can cause all sorts of problems for a vehicle.

Generally, when there is a problem with the battery cables, the car will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver that the problem has occurred & should be serviced.

Here are the symptoms of a malfunctioning battery cable.

Issues in starting the vehicle

One of the first symptoms of a problem with battery cables is an issue when starting the vehicle.

The battery cables are what transfer the power from the battery to the vehicle's entire electrical system.

If the cables have any issues, then it will interfere with their ability to conduct power, which can lead to problems in starting the car.

The car may experience intermittent or slow cranking, as well as clicking sounds during cranking, this occurs due to lack of enough current to start the vehicle.

Corrosion on battery terminals

Another symptom of malfunctioning battery cables is the appearance of corrosion on the terminals.

Corrosion forms as a result of the acidic vapor produced by the battery when it becomes hot from exposure to the heat of engine operation.

In due course of time, the vapor can begin to corrode the terminal and cause corrosion to build up.

Corrosion will cause increased resistance along the contact surface of the terminal, and in severe cases block the flow of electricity.

Corrosion can also seep into the inside of the cable and can corrode it. In this case, the cable must be immediately replaced.

No power to the car

Another common symptom usually associated with bad or falling battery cables is no power to the vehicle at all.

If the cables become split or corroded to the point where they fail to make a clean connection with the battery, then the car will not receive any power.

You may experience that turning the key doesn't activate the accessory power, crank the engine, or switch on the interior lights.

Finally

While battery cables serve a very simple purpose, they are very important component of a car's electrical system.

If you suspect that your car is having an issue with the cables, then have the vehicle diagnosed by a professional technician.