Car won't start

[Jioz32]

I have a 1994 nissan 300zx N/A that won't start, it doesn't turn over nor do the dash lights turn on. Just changed the alternator & the battery is practically new. Runs fine but ever so often when I turn it off it just won't turn on again. The terminals are also fairly new but I noticed it may have something to do with the wiring. There are two different wires leading to the red terminal & usually I would just move the terminal a different direction & it would turn on again. But today no matter what way I moved the terminal or no matter how many times I re adjusted the wiring to the terminal it didn't start. ( ps. I noticed one of the wires seems really short & alittle stretched out) please help I don't know what else to do

[everpresentnoob]

if you can move the terminal on the battery it sounds like it isn't connected tight enough. if it isnt good and tight you can get corrosion on the battery terminal which will insulate the terminal from the cars wiring clamp. they make battery terminal cleaners that are a male and female brush used to clean the battery post and the cars terminals so there is a good corrosion free connection. if the clamp is not physically able to be tightened down onto the battery so you cant move it at all it needs to be replaced with a new one. this is as easy as replacing the cable in its entirety, or you can cut off the old clamp, strip the end of the wire and attach a new clamp from an auto parts store. But as you are saying that one of the wires looks damaged (I believe you said stretched) it might not be a bad idea to replace it anyway.

Once you get your connections good and clean and tight, cover them with either dieelectric grease, or battery terminal protectant spray. This will keep them sealed from air and moisture adn help keep corrosion from building up.