Where can I buy a new positive battery cable for my '78 280Z? Went to start it yesterday and it tried to start and then just clicked. Battery was on a battery tender and showing fully charged. There was some corrosion on the positive post so cleaned that off and tried again. Nothing. Took the 7 year old battery to Walmart. It test fine. Took the battery back and reconnected it. Car starts. Tighten it all down. Won't start. Just click and nothing. My father in law sees some smoke at the positive cable end. Jiggles the wiring and it starts without even tightening the cable down. What should we do? We were thinking replace the positive lead. I looked at MSA and they sell some for other year Z cars but not a 77-78 280Z. What now????

You could just go buy one at NAPA. They have all sizes and terminal ends. It doesn't have to be Z specific. FWIW, I made my own using terminal ends and cable from WestMarine( yes, the boat store). I also put in a battery disconnect switch (also from W/M) at the same time. I lived on a boat for 16 years and always made up my own cables. All you need is some non-acid core solder, some shrink tubing, and a propane torch. Piece of cake...custom cables. Good luck.

Cheers, Mike

Where can I buy a new positive battery cable for my '78 280Z? Went to start it yesterday and it tried to start and then just clicked. Battery was on a battery tender and showing fully charged. There was some corrosion on the positive post so cleaned that off and tried again. Nothing. Took the 7 year old battery to Walmart. It test fine. Took the battery back and reconnected it. Car starts. Tighten it all down. Won't start. Just click and nothing. My father in law sees some smoke at the positive cable end. Jiggles the wiring and it starts without even tightening the cable down. What should we do? We were thinking replace the positive lead. I looked at MSA and they sell some for other year Z cars but not a 77-78 280Z. What now????

Ebay item numbers

120445596776 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-240Z-280Z-Battery-Cable_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem1c0b1df468QQitemZ120445596776QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

270119090888 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DATSUN-240Z-260Z-280Z-Battery-Cable-Set_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQhashZitem3ee45a3ac8QQitemZ270119090888QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Car started and ran fine today. Battery shows full charge on the battery tender....weird.

What has the temp/humidity status been recently? It may not be your battery.

You may have also made enough contact on the terminal that it's completed an intermitent circuit.

But, when you say: "Just click and nothing" do you mean the starter doesn't engage AT ALL, or that all you hear inside the car is one click. And if one click, not of the starter but ONLY the relay on the starter. If so, it may be your Ignition Switch, the actual electrical portion of the Ignition Key LOCK.

Sometimes these will slip in the metal holder just a tad, but enough for the contact inside the switch to make only a PARTIAL contact, and you'll get sparks inside the switch, but not a positive contact.... resulting in no current to the starter relay/motor.

Worth checking.

E

It sounds like a poor connection at the positive terminal. Be sure the inside of the cable clamp is clean and be sure the battery post is clean. Smoke from the terminal and the click are a dead give away to a bad connection. It is unlikely your cable is bad. Possible, but unlikely. Does it have a factory installed cable clamp on it or has it been replaced with one that has a couple of bolts that clamp to the battery wire? This type can get corrosion in that fitting as well and cause the exact same symptoms. A battery post cleaner (wire brush assembly) along with some baking soda and water can clean it up in short order. If truly in doubt, any parts house will have a cable. Measure the old one for length or take the old one with you.

Leonard

I had the same problem twice with two fixes. If you replace your positive battery cable, make sure it is RED. I had two black ones and got them crossed once. Smoked the fuseable link but was able to disconnect before wireing damage. That will NEVER happen again. The second one was a loose spade connector on the starter, made all the clickings of a bad battery connection.

Bonzi Lon

Thanks guys. I know my ignition switch is getting harder to get the key turn/operate. That may be the issue. FWIW I went to check the old Z cars batteries due to my 2 year factory battery failing on my 350Z. Cause: low on water. My mechanic said they are low maintence not no maintenance batteries. . My two classic Z batteries were just fine on water. All three cars are on a battery tender.