Side post terminal issues

[LordWayback]

So i know it’s a common problem to have but now it’s actually giving me trouble.
My truck kept trying to run purely on the alternator and almost didn’t start when I left work yesterday I have a aftermarket positive side post so I’m gonna need a replacement battery with standard top posts.
I’m trying to pick a good battery I was looking at xs power but I was scared of those threaded top posts repeating my issue the battery is perfectly fine that I have now it’s just that the terminal keeps unscrewing itself is the best i can do a optima or everlast something like that?

Lead acid or lithium doesn’t matter to me it just needs to be a great battery I heard of people tapping side posts and making them have bigger screws but I don’t wanna mess around with batteries I know I will have to change the terminals to clamp terminals which have their own problems but they have easier solutions like being able to crank them as tight as you want or a tin spacer or new clamp

 

[LordWayback]

Battery is ratchet strapped down because I think the previous owner got the wrong battery or lost parts for the battery hold down the ratchet strap was just added today to hopefully delay a new battery for A while atleast

 

[Fless]

Not sure why the long bolt is needed, but you could add a jam nut (and a washer) to the bolt, and after the bolt is tightened to the battery, run the jam nut up to the battery contact.

Also the battery has a larger surface for contact and you're losing that by using just a bolt in the terminal.

 

[LordWayback]

Not sure why the long bolt is needed, but you could add a jam nut (and a washer) to the bolt, and after the bolt is tightened to the battery, run the jam nut up to the battery contact.

Also the battery has a larger surface for contact and you're losing that by using just a bolt in the terminal.

I got that long one so I could add a audio amp without having to get specific hardware like listed and they only had that size in stock and didn’t wanna chop it down due to the gold plating corrosion resistant protection, the factory positive side is stripped out from the previous owner

I was having issues with the stock one even, I saw a video doing that but i tried that previously and it didn’t repair it, it just made the stripping worse the negative side is mint but the positive side is stripped like hell and that brought me to this point of needing a new battery or buying those side post adapters and making it secure somehow

 

[LordWayback]

I’m thinking of marine terminals because I’ve never had a single issue with these besides corrosion but that’s a quick fix

 

[MassHoe04]

I got an Optima Red Top from NAPA three years ago and very happy with it.
It was only 18 months old when I had to sell the Jeep I had originally installed this in, so I got top-post adapter clamps. Maybe not ideal setup, but the battery has been 100% solid for three years so far, even in the coldest weather.

It is a coiled AGM battery.
1000 cranking amps & 800 Cold Cranking Amps

It was stamped 9/20. I got it in 10/20.

Here is with the adapter clamps in my 04 Tahoe...

Lesson learned: DO NOT try to over-tighten the side connection bolts! The threaded holes on the side are designed to strip out rather than strip the threads on the cable bolts. The ones on the posts you can get really tight, just the other ones should not go to town on tightening...

 

[LordWayback]

I got an Optima Red Top from NAPA three years ago and very happy with it.
It was only 18 months old when I had to sell the Jeep I had originally installed this in, so I got top-post adapter clamps. Maybe not ideal setup, but the battery has been 100% solid for three years so far, even in the coldest weather.

It is a coiled AGM battery.
1000 cranking amps & 800 Cold Cranking Amps

It was stamped 9/20. I got it in 10/20.

View attachment 398059
Here is with the adapter clamps in my 04 Tahoe...
View attachment 398061


Lesson learned: DO NOT try to over-tighten the side connection bolts! The threaded holes on the side are designed to strip out rather than strip the threads on the cable bolts. The ones on the posts you can get really tight, just the other ones should not go to town on tightening...

Do you think i can get away with marine adapters straight to the ring? I keep seeing stuff on wire length issues if there is a length issue i can add a extension bar or something I also have a 1/0 car audio amp wire plumbed to the battery still need to do the big 3 upgrade and dual alternator I’m debating the red top just because I like red

 

[MassHoe04]

Do you think i can get away with marine adapters straight to the ring? I keep seeing stuff on wire length issues if there is a length issue i can add a extension bar or something I also have a 1/0 car audio amp wire plumbed to the battery still need to do the big 3 upgrade and dual alternator I’m debating the red top just because I like red

I don't see why not. Put longer bolts in to make room for fat connectors on the accessories.

 

[LordWayback]

I think I’m gonna end up with this one just because it’s square shaped and I have a interstate store within 8 minutes if I have a issue

 

[MassHoe04]

Military-style clamps like these actually provide more solid backing for multiple accessory cable connections... The fat block on the accessory side of the clamp won't cave in on you. Something like these would be much better.

I would do these on top. You can also swap out longer bolts, if you need more room.

https://www.mechanicsurplus.com/products/3261456376

 

[03catburban]

Military-style clamps like these actually provide more solid backing for multiple accessory cable connections... The fat block on the accessory side of the clamp won't cave in on you. Something like these would be much better.

I would do these on top. You can also swap out longer bolts, if you need more room.

https://www.mechanicsurplus.com/products/3261456376

Those are excellent with use those at work when we have something custom with lots of accessories needing solid battery power

 

[Doubeleive]

hate side post's wifes 05 has them, always a problem....

 

[LordWayback]

Military-style clamps like these actually provide more solid backing for multiple accessory cable connections... The fat block on the accessory side of the clamp won't cave in on you. Something like these would be much better.

I would do these on top. You can also swap out longer bolts, if you need more room.

https://www.mechanicsurplus.com/products/3261456376

We’ll see what happens when I get the new battery

 

[LordWayback]

hate side post's wifes 05 has them, always a problem....

Well you know what to get when you have to get a new battery! If you get these military clamps or the marine ones I think you can get away without cutting the factory wires down just remove the factory terminals and plastic covers and use the ring that remains to mount it

 

[Doubeleive]

Well you know what to get when you have to get a new battery! If you get these military clamps or the marine ones I think you can get away without cutting the factory wires down just remove the factory terminals and plastic covers and use the ring that remains to mount it

well her's has the rvc module and I think it is going funky so I have to go hit the junkyard and try and find a used one, when I do that I will probably just have the battery shop here in town change it to top post or have them make me some cables up just has to go thru the rvc module first.

 

[LordWayback]

well her's has the rvg module and I think it is going funky so I have to go hit the junkyard and try and find a used one, when I do that I will probably just have the battery shop here in town change it to top post or have them make me some cables up just has to go thru the rvg module first.

Im assuming you mean the RVC module mechman sells a bypass you will lose gas mileage though edit: you need a mechman alternator but they sell some affordable ones https://www.mechman.com/instructions-and-technical-resources/rvc-delete-instructions/

 

[Doubeleive]

Im assuming you mean the RVC module mechman sells a bypass you will lose gas mileage though edit: you need a mechman alternator but they sell some affordable ones https://www.mechman.com/instructions-and-technical-resources/rvc-delete-instructions/

yep rvc being a little dyslexic, lol

 

[03catburban]

yep rvc being a little dyslexic, lol

Let me look when I get back home I did have a couple of them and I have no use for them

 

[Doubeleive]

the alternator is not the problem, and that adapter/delete plug would most likely not work for the problem i have. What it will do is throw a "service charging system" while idling which is the rvc module going bad according to research I have done, alternator works fine and I even swapped in a working spare with same results.
wish I had known about the module though I could use it on my 12 but I would need to get a another 4 pin alternator, doesn't work with a 2 pin alternators because they are digital and there is no analog excite wire.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

I second @Fless you may have issues drawing enough current with that positive terminal not making contact with side of battery. Either way, it's also going to come loose on you and constantly be a problem. You can buy the terminal bolt at the parts store. I don't know what it's called but they sell them.

Then don't attach accessories / addons at the battery, use the post on the under hood fuse block. Or the red junction box next to the alternator.

I know a lot of people like the top posts... I've never had issue with side ones though.