Battery cable

JPTK1951

MEMBER
1989 JEEP WAGONEER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
159,000 MILES

Ground battery cable is cracked and copper is exposed. Car starts but gauge indicates battery not charging. Could cracked cable be cause or is alternator bad?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010 AT 5:14 PM

5 Replies

ROMYSPEC

MEMBER
38 POSTS

The ground cable being cracked would not cause that problem. Before repairing or changeing your alternator, check the chargeing gauge for malfunction. If your alternator is bad, the battery light would come up on the dash board.

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Wednesday, December 29th, 2010 AT 6:13 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Here is a how to for checking the alt. Let me know what you find.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

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Tuesday, January 4th, 2011 AT 1:40 PM

JPTK1951

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Disconnected and taped ground battery cable then let car sit for a day and did nothing. Two days later reconnected ground wire to battery, started car and gauge went to normal indicating battery charging. Have run car several times since with no problem. I'm still waiting for alternator to go. Thanks for responses.

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Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 AT 3:42 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

If you have concerns with the alternator, go to our home page and under the do it yourself section, it describes how to check the alt. Also, keep in mind you have fuseable links between the alt and battery. One may be going bad and not always allowing the alt to do its job.

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Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 AT 4:51 PM

JPTK1951