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PSA: Loose Battery Terminal Nut

BroncoVegas19

Badlands
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B
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Recommend everyone to check the nut on the negative battery terminal clamp.

Had my vehicle straight up die in busy stop and go traffic yesterday.
When I say die, I mean completely dead. There was 0 power running though the vehicle. No lights, chimes etc.

Popping the hood, I was able to see right away the negative battery terminal was essentially completely popped off the battery post.
I was able to push it back on and was good to go right away and get it home.

Once home, I was able to see the nut that tightens the clamp on the post was finger loose and there were metal shavings on the top of the battery around the post.
Simple socket set, some tightening and fingers crossed I hope to not have this issue again.

While the whole ordeal occurred and was over in less than 5 minutes, I know not all of us are the primary drivers of our vehicles and others may not know what to look for. Figured posting here may help if someone else or someone else's significant other has this issue and not be stranded waiting for a tow.

I can't say I ever checked this nut in the 5 months I have had the truck so far. No idea if it was always loose from the factory or, worst case, it loosened overtime and could theoretically happen again.
Last week it had a weird issue where it shut the engine down at a red light when coming off the Auto Stop-Start, but power remained on in the vehicle. Throwing it into park and it started right back up.
Right before it died yesterday in traffic, the climate blower motors seemed to be bouncing a little in revs.
Any idea what size this nut bolt is ?
Where to get it ?
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GroovyGeek

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This happened to me this morning. I'm not vehicle nor tech savvy and I was in the middle of a busy intersection so I had it towed to the dealership I purchased it from. The first thing the mechanic saw when he popped the hood was that my cable was loose. :( $265 tow but I'm not sure what else I would have done at 8a during rush hour!
Add $10/year to your insurance for tow coverage? That Built in Michigan plate means that you will likely come out well ahead of the cost/benefit curve on this one. Just sayin...
 
 





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