[criticaljim]

Was changing thermostat housing in my 03 Focus Zetec - had to take battery and case out to get at the hoses etc - when disconnecting negative terminal, it just fell apart where it attaches to the battery - put a new connection on the end of the negative terminal but not sure how to reconnect the two smaller wires - one is obviously a ground coming off the frame - the wires were connected one on each side of the terminal - got hooked up and got battery power but the car will not start - just keeps turning over like it would if a coil wire was disconnected - have no idea if this has to do with the negative terminal stuff - any ideas??? Tx

 

[sailor]

There's one TINY ground wire from harness to that terminal that often falls down & gets missed - without that it won't start.

IF you see dashes in the odo with the key on that confirms the guess.

 

[pasta]

Try using butt connectors.

 

[criticaljim]

Negative Battery terminal

Tx Sailor - that small wire that comes off the harness has been reconnected - it is one of the two wires that look like grounds - would it matter if those two wires were grounded on the same screw that came off the harness? The old terminal had 2 screws and I think that one of these wires was grounded to each screw on different sides of the battery post - what is left of the terminal has only one screw - I tried connecting that to a new connector at the battery but still won't turn over

Any chance I blew a fuse while messing around - I don't have an owners manual and am not sure if there is a main fuse that could have blown that would prevent starting???

Mechanics obviously not my specialty but I really don't want to pay for a 15 mile tow to the nearest shop

tx again
Jim

 

[ArcticMynx]

on the body or on the battery they are all grounds =D choose your poison but make sure there is enough slack to go to the battery if there isn't just tie it to one of the body grounds as there's 2 spots right next to the battery for ground

 

[criticaljim]

Negative Battery terminal

Tx to you all who responded - I backtracked and removed the battery and casing again to see if I pinched a wire etc - this time the positive terminal disintegrated as the neg did the time before - had an unseen crack - I put on new terminals and worked around the wonderful Focus wiring and everything worked out fine - even no leaks from the new thermo housing

Obviously not a mechanic so thanks again for the input - it was very helpful

criticaljim

 

[sailor]

Made it, step by step does it again.

 

[pasta]

Great to hear.