Help. Only have six hours to fix car before work and I am a girl!?

Question

My 2001 Honda accord ex would not start and when I popped the hood I saw that the positive terminal had all that acid gunk built up so I knocked it all off and I saw that the positive terminal was busted( the circle part) so I grabbed some pliers and clamped it together so my car would start. It started but as I drove home from work I realized my tachometer and speedometer were not registering anything higher than 0. What is causing that and can I just get the terminal connection and replace it myself? Will that fix the speedometer and tachometer reading as well?

Answer 1

You can fix it.

First Clean it all up.  Disconnect the terminals again and alternate sprinkling on "arm and hammer" baking powder followed by rinsing with warm water.  You will see the corrosion bubble and foam away. Wear old clothing.  Battery acid will ruin your clothing.

Now you can then determine if you need new battery terminal connectors. You can get new terminals at the auto store but need to get back to clean copper wires to attach, cutting off the old terminals and perhaps some wire.

The accessories are sometimes connected by a smaller red wire attached to the positive battery terminal.  If corrosion is really bad, it may worked its way loose and now disconnected.  Look for loose wires around battery.  Also check fuse box.

Answer 2

yes replace both connectors.then if gauges dont work, find your instrument fuse is popped-replace fuse & have a nice day.

Answer 3

mix up water and baking soda, apply with old toothbush about terminal and inside the terminal connector clamp (round part) use safety glasses and watch out with you eyes. (sulphuric acid - strong stuff). Take large pliers and tighten circle. You want to use an emory board to clean both the outside of the terminel and the inside of the circle. This will ensure continuity Eventually you will have to replace clamp but this will hold you for a while. Check fuse, fuse block under dash, for the tach and speedometer display - it might have blown. You starter is getting enough juice to crank so this cannot be the problem with the tach and speedo

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

it,s just contacting enough to get the car started and that,s all. go to auto zone and get 2 replacement cable ends.

Answer 5

HI

Any parts store well have a universal replacement clamp. Just cut the old one off. remove the rubber insulation off about 3/4" install the wire into the replacement clamp and attach it back to the battery. You well most likely need to clean the battery post as well. They well have a post cleaner ($1.00) its a small round metal thing with a wire brush for the outside of the post and a pointed wire brush for the cable end. clean it up good until its shiny and you should be go to go.

Low battery voltage is most likely the prob with your tach and speedo.

Good Luck

Tim

Answer 6

sort your battery before you have a fire. The tacho probably doesnt work because you have blown a fuse. Go into a garage and smile, with a low cut top, blink a lot and pretend to be thick. When he gives you a price, half it and tell him that's what you can afford.

Answer 7

Didn't you just ask this question?  See my answer there.