[Spyro]

I don't think I posted this before. Well, I am trying to find a direct fit positive battery cable for my 1986 Dodge Aries (2.2). Well, I have not started the car in months. When I did, it was so slow like a dying battery. All terminals are clean. I jumped it with another running vehicle (my Dakota), that didn't work.
The jumper cables were quite warmer. The voltage guage drops to 8. I though it might be a bad starter. So, I swapped it. No normal cranking still. What??? I examing the 12V negative ground cable.
It's okay. Disconnect the alternator harness. Still no normal crank. The one other thing left has to be the Positive battery cable. I'm afraid to go to the Dodge dealership parts. They would say it is obsolete.

So, is there anything I could do to troubleshoot further? Or is it the actual cable that might have internal corrosion?

 

[Spyro]

If you haven't started it in months, your battery is extremely low, and even jumping will be difficult. You probably need a new battery.

I had the battery since April 2010. Rather odd that jumping won't work. Before I replaced my battery at the time, I jumped it without a problem.

Do you have a voltmeter? Yet?

I always do for years.

 

[Spyro]

There are chemical changes that occur within the battery when it is at a low state of charg (it becomes less resistant to freeze damage, for one). That's why some batteries are "deep cycle"; they're designed internally to be held at deep discharge without damage, but can't provide the surge current that a car battery needs to be able to to turn a vehicle over. The battery is probably toast. As for the cable, I don't know that you would have been able to get it as an individual piece even back in 1986. The replacement (if that is actually what is necessary, which I doubt) would be to cut the bad section out and replace with a section of at least the same gauge, with a universal battery terminal post clamp.

I will first start with changing the battery. And clean all connectors.