Battery/Cable question - pls help!

Okay, for anyone who's interested...

The Delco 79-6YR has screw-type terminals, not posts. The positive & negative cables on the 2K series Deville have 1/4 inch bolts that are accepted by this type of terminal. They are charged to 14.5 volts at the factory and carry a 6 year/75K mile warranty. My Caddy dealer had one for $139.00. Other options are the Delphi brand available at Autozone for $118.00, or you can fit an Optima in there too.

In my case, I had some fluid that had leaked through the positive terminal, resulting in it's eventual demise this morning. Eventually the threaded area surrounding the terminal became weak enough, until the cable fell off. I suspect the high charge rate in the Deville may have contributed to this, although it could just be the heat here...there wasn't a lot of acid on the floorpan, so it probably happened recently, and this has been a hot summer here.

I'm glad it was only the battery...I was able to switch it out in the parking lot, and it saved me a tow to the dealer and labor charges. Hope this helps someone in the future.

Mark

I was able to clean up the cable. Actually, most of the damage was to the old battery itself, and the only damage to the cable was a little bit of corrosion on the 1/4" bolt on the cable end. I cleaned it up with a wire brush, and used a little dielectric grease when I installed the new battery.

There was a little "white dust" on the floorpan, but not a lot. I was able to vacuum that up, and there was no damage at all to the floorpan...paint even looked undamaged. Yeah, I read some posts about the STS technical bulletin the other day while I was researching...that's scary. The Deville didn't come with a tray under the battery, but you can bet that I'm going to put one in within the next few weeks. That's cheap insurance.

One interesting thing I noticed after putting the new battery in: The clip where the rear seat attaches to the body is almost directly in line with the positive battery terminal...to the point where if you were to have the seat pulled out a little too far while replacing it and you pushed down on it really hard, it would hit the positive terminal, and could damage it. Anyone removing the rear seat cushion to access the fuse block or do stereo upgrades, watch out when you re-install the seat cushion. One good whack on the terminal could cause some serious damage.

Thanks for the TSB info you guys...I'm definitely going to inquire at my local dealer to see if it applies to my car...sure sounds like that's what happened.

my 1995 STS acts up as well and I need help BAD!!! First off she has about 189K on her and I paid $4040.00 exactly for it two years ago, when she had 162K on her, did a tune up and new exhaust when I first got it, was told that I needed new mounts then, never got around to doing, the dogbone style ones up top are showin some wear, My tranny was acting up reving hard into second, and always wanting to slam back down to like 1500rpms right when you let up of the gas, even at interstate speeds, Im pretty sure the tranny needs some work. About a year ago, I had a problem where it wouldnt start at all, I ripped apart the steering column thinkin it was the ignition swith, wasnt that, so I had it towed up to Cadillac where the said the transmission transponder switch was messed up and the car couldnt tell wheather it was in park or drive. That was $450 right there. Now present day im stuck with the same dilema, go to start it and nothing no wanting to start or even a turn over, it just clicks from under the hood, like the something is relieving presure, (have yet to get the recall fixed on the fuel rail) Sometime though about a month ago, it would go in and out, like go on a streak where it would start for like 3 or 4 days and then go on a 2 week streak of not starting, and now its been sitting for atleast 3 weeks on its longest sitting period to date. Im pretty sure but not positive its not the starter, not the alternator, replace the battery today, and Im clueless what it could be. I can pull up trouble codes but most of them arent on the online look-up thing that everyone on here uses. If anyone can share info that will help I would appreciate it. Someone also said something about the ignition coil?? INPUT NEEDED!!