Battery Cable/Terminal Replacement
 

Hello everyone,
I recently bought a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 L 4x4. I noticed that the battery cables looked to be faded leading back from the terminals. Wondering if anyone has ever replaced them or has any tips on how to go about it.

Please and thank you for any help!!

If the color is faded no need to worry. If you are set on replacing them NAPA can make them for you (upgrade the wire size it's barely big enough from the factory) or for about $50-80 you can make your own.

I replaced mine with a factory OEM part and it wasn't a bad job. I seem to recall having to that the most time was spent working at the starter and main fusebox connections. My main positive cable that I was replacing was 20+ years old around the time I did the job on my '96 Ram 2500.

What gauge did you use? Any recommendations on terminal connectors?

He used OEM so it came pre assembled

I purchased an OEM Dodge positive battery cable 56006543 that fit gas motored 94-96 Dodge Rams. If you want to go the OEM route, '97 may be a different part number, so you might want to look up the part number in the Dodge Ram parts manual for your year truck. That parts manual should be available on the forum under this topic - https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...s-manuals.html

I usually make my own cables. I generally use 2 gauge or thicker cable. This keeps the amperage drop from resistance to a minimum. I also torch solder the connectors in addition to crimping. I've run some massive amperage through these and no failures.

Did you change all the cables, even the ones going to the fuse box?

If you look up some battery terminals used for car stereo you can get any thing you would need.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...e7478513a7.jpg

I generally am bringing old equipment back to life. Often it is the older cloth covered wires. Fuse blocks are small and sort of an after thought on those. I wouldn't even try to use 2 gauge on a late model fuse box. 6 volt cables are thicker as they use half the voltage but have a lot more amperage. Look at some late model 12 volt cables and they are really thin compared to the 6 volt cables. I'm looking at a '47 Dodge right now and thinking of putting an 8 volt tractor battery in it and adjust the generator to 9 volts. That won't blow the lights but will really crank the starter.

If I were to make a wire to a late model fuse station, I'd probably go up one or two gauges.