How to Replace a Side Battery Terminal Bolt
by Russell Wood
Batteries have different types of mounting points, and in some cases, they have a threaded insert on the side, where you screw in a side-post terminal bolt. If you have one that is stripped or has issues, replace the bolt so your vehicle will charge and function correctly. These batteries are common in GM vehicles, but can be found in other makes as well. This should take about 10 minutes to do correctly, and only takes a few tools.
Step 1
Remove the damaged bolt from the battery using an open-end wrench. Slide it out of the battery, then out of the wire connections, leaving you with a bare battery terminal and the wiring for the car.
Step 2
Scrub the battery terminal with the wire brush. If you are working on the positive terminal on the battery, make sure not to contact any metal around the area as you scrub, and keep your work just to the terminal itself.
Step 3
Place the replacement side-post terminal through the ring terminals at the end of the wiring and thread it into the terminal on the battery, using first your hands, then with an open-end wrench.
Tips
- If the battery terminal bolt is stripped out and you can't grab it with a wrench, use a pair of vice grips to clamp down on the bolt and remove it from the battery.
Things You'll Need
- Open-end wrench set
- Wire brush
- Replacement side-post battery terminal bolt
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
