It came time to replace the battery on my 2006 Subaru Outback wagon. 8 years, 150,000 km travelled, and still working with the stock battery. Not bad. A few incidents this winter - leaving an interior light on for a few hours, and having problems starting the car led me to Costco for a very reasonably priced replacement Kirkland battery (very highly rated by Consumer Reports).
Replacing the battery was fairly easy and straightforward, I won't go into that here. But when it was time to tighten up the original battery clamp - there was no way I could get it to bind tight to the new battery post.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS22vExrUr2sa7l3ZMHm1Z9SDJUd7DiiI8Au-4W3gsB9S-YaarNqFdKzWb0Jr75uaIR9U7dOt6CsnX0W5MTpj2zQIgfVgn07_4B9AK-rfX8MdMyF7f_S8GEtXZLmV4yPdgXMFihyQdsMA/s1600/Outback+Battery+Terminal-3956.jpg) |
8 years life on this battery clamp - finished. Time for a replacement. |
So, of course when your doing something on the weekend, there isn't an option to run to the dealer to get a replacement OEM battery clamp, and I wanted to get everything sorted out properly without wasting any more time. There are two cables which attach to this clamp on the vertical post on the clamp - pretty well identical to a standard marine terminal. So, off to Canadian Tire for a marine terminal.
![](https://canadiantire.scene7.com/is/image/CanadianTire/0113508_1?$sri-image$) |
Catalog photo - Canadian Tire Marine Battery Terminal - $5.99 each |
This ended up being about a 10 minute job once I had the part. The metal of this clamp is soft and malleable - allows you to get a perfect fit on the battery terminal, without any gaps. Will result in excellent conductivity and low resistance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3XzGii9UiKTpbut5-OeXsMFaE0lZtUDSsT6Ay21mETOEqv7HUff3PbKzUtzDSYixyhBwo_IcGng7gznkl7ctE5DdbM-WcfTp9ZnPHdxr-TlkPSl3dEwdeN1XrvUsjN3mPhalMkgeOK4/s1600/Outback+Battery+Terminal-3951.jpg) |
Use a set of pliers to shape the terminal to the battery post |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjlcit1DwJoRswOFCIocRzgufBnHltAld-4ufjRNILq_jUY5LdGKjBvkARuOe9_RwKB5cgcOqvtSUXkVyKNjKbDVPBI7J3omZYEg5XPNEDhgV-D29plRD9zaVynlFENvuAkDcSaJGR3M/s1600/Outback+Battery+Terminal-3952.jpg) |
Install the cables using the provided wing nut, make sure everything is snug. Take care tightening the clamp bolt - the metal is quite soft. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ac8eYn00jTzwcnw5hN5Z_KzyvByYJultsXIV1XxEfIhBpLcqwYI3neKSeiajRdgg7zzXre0JHOpB721ukRMBKUS-WcWGbVmGF_geH_nu16gJVMqEyKmV33nyPbPPPhCTwxF3XngmQsU/s1600/Outback+Battery+Terminal-3954.jpg) |
A good coating of vaseline to protect the terminal from corrosion. You can also use a spray on producet for this purpose. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZU2iV6EweLKFYh0dsqrPEUzVHtZaY65KT4na0bTUKNznIVCN-6_yquOGMas5ByM9h5-mcXSj7hyz2fuQ5OiGaJ5C6z26qj_BJolBadFA6CuCaSkMUhWQ8FFKT5OyUFCmxYzV69nb43U/s1600/Outback+Battery+Terminal-3953.jpg) |
And replace the insulating cover - this helps prevent a short in case of the hood contacting the battery in a collision. |
10 minute job, and perfect conductivity. No issues with charging or starting, all good.