On the highway, and my electronic dash begins to cut in and out. The car dies. Then, sparks and smoke fly from the hood scoop. I pull over and pop the hood and rush outside. I pull the hood up, and the positive battery cable connection, and part of the positive post on the battery, are melted like a pancake on top of the battery. I couldnt figure it out. Then, I notice the hood of the car. There is a dime size hole burnt out of it.....and it just happens to line up with the melted positive battery post. Then I remember that when I bought the car, it was missing the platform and the metal pieces that hold the battery in place. The battery must have slid and touched the hood. I repositioned it, and the car started up and ran just fine, but the volt meter in the car is in the red, around 16-17. So, my question is, do I need a whole new posotive battery cable or can I just cut the connection off a good cable from a junk yard z, and then wire it onto my cable?

Post pics mate.

It makes it easier to understand problems.

Besides, .... it should be interesting.

I'd suggest new battery, new cables, clamp the battery down before further use and a thorough check of the entire electrical system by an auto sparky ..... for starters.

As I said, pics, mate, pics.

Rick.

:devious::devious:

I second what Rick mentioned, a new set of cables and a tie down are definitely in order!

Pics would help quite a bit, and if you haven't found a Factory Service Manual yet, take a look at carfiche.com

I believe they've got one for your year ZX, and you will need it! There aren't many users here with S130s, and even fewer with the digital dash.

Loose batteries are definately asking for trouble! I agree with Rick and David,, a secure battery should be one of the first things (like before driving the car) that is taken care of with a new aquisition.

It would also be worth it to check the group your battery is and reference that to the group specified for the car. It may be a larger battery got put in by mistake? Going with a side post only battery would certainly forestall this happening again..... Just a couple of ideas.

The tie down would most certainly be a winner....

you can also get rubber boots that go on top of your terminals/cables so they don't make contact w/ anything and stay insulated.

Can someone confirm what battery I should get for side pole conversion ?

I think the Battery is a Size 24 battery with the negitive pole close to the

fender.

Thanks, Jay

zdisease

Hey thanks for the info, you guys are great. I will take a picture tonight.

or can I just cut the connection off a good cable from a junk yard z, and then wire it onto my cable?

..? you can get a BRAND NEW CABLE with protective insulation boot for like 10 bux

..? you can get a BRAND NEW CABLE with protective insulation boot for like 10 bux

A 1983 Nissan 280ZX positive battery cable? I don't think so.

Just looked it up. 24110-P9100 $64.40 list. The factory cable has connections on it necessary for an 83ZX that wouldn't be on a generic auto parts store cable.

What kind of connections do you mean? Would a positive cable off an 82zx in the junk yard work just as well?