So my battery went bad and i bought an optima red top to replace. Also decided to replace the terminals too. Cut the old positive off and connected the new terminals and connect the ground wire off the positive wire. As soon as I hook up the positive the head lights turn on and seat belt light but truck won't start. Nothing else turns on. Didn't end up putting on the negative terminal yet. I bought the regular lead terminals from autozone. Stripped the negative wire and screwed down the clamp on the negative terminal. Did it over and over and still same lights and no start. Any ideas?

 

I'm confused by this.what exactly do you mean?

 

So why are we connecting grounds to the positive battery terminal/cable...?

 

???

What year and model? Lights came on as soon as you connected positive wire? Pics?

 

I have never had any luck with those emergency type battery terminals.

I either use the crimp on style or the ones with studs.

Spend good money on a battery and go cheap on terminals gotta love it.

interesting that anything works with just the positive cable on the battery I might be learning some new physics !!!

 

Wait, what?? I'm confused? Going to bed, read this one tomorrow

 

Scratches head.... . ????

 

Ok. I left the negative wire on. Before I messed with anything there was a small ground wire coming off the positive lead that just bolted to the side of the fender. Confused me too but when I cut it off I just made another one to put back. Then with the neg side on I put the positive wire back on and the lights turn on immediately with no key in the ignition and they won't turn off.

 

The positive terminal cannot ground to the frame, this will short circuit the system. Remove that lead that you bolted to the fender.

 

ok. I didnt understand why it was there to begin with but it was and it was running fine, so i figured i might as well put things back how i found them. regardless i dont belive that is my problem because i didnt think i needed it at first and tried to start it with the crap ground wire cut and it was still the same results.

 

I'm beginning to think your new battery has terminals on the opposite side as the old one...???

 

The terminals are on the other side but I just turned the battery. The cables are in the right spot

 

Pics?

 

pics!

 

 

Yeah. Get rid of that wire coming off your positive. Then go check your fuses.

 

Is there anything specific with the fuses or certain ones? In the cab or under the hood?

 

Look at both fuse panels

 

From the picture you are trying to attach the - cable to the + post on the battery and the + cable to the - post......oops, that will NOT work.


This thread really needs to be moved to Newbie Tech, IMHO.

 

That wire to the fenderwell is correct on the neg wire......he is connecting the cables incorrectly to the battery.