Wire from battery to starter, what kind of wire?

[JoKu]

I'm recently having trouble starting after a bad battery install. I'm resorting to the wire to starter method to see its a starter or ignition switch issue. My question is what kind of wire can i use? My battery is located in the trunk and its a couple of feet away and battery cables that long get expensive.

What can i use other than a battery cable?

1995240sx SESR20DET REDTOPMANUAL

[Dattebayo]

What do you mean "bad battery install"?

[Razi]

I suggest you just get a new battery, and get a jump start.

(cool quote in your siggy Datte)

[dickie]

quick battery installation reference:

pull connectors from old terminals.

remove old battery and replace it with the new one.

attach the connectors to their prospective terminals, - goes to - and + to +.

what got messed up?

[Dattebayo]

I suggest you just get a new battery, and get a jump start.

(cool quote in your siggy Datte)

Thanks for the props!But advising a new battery and a jump-start is just silly. A new battery won't need a jump-start.

[ILikeMy240sx]

There are three wires that goes to/from the starter. 1 direct connection from the battery to starter1 12v signal to activate the starter solenoid1 ground wire

If you want to see if it's your ignition switch that's not sending the signal, you can just use any wire from the battery to the terminal for the SOLENOID. Since this is just a 12v signal it doesnt carry high amperage. However, I do not recommend doing this for the direct power wire from battery to starter connection.

I actually did the same thing once to make sure it wasnt my starter causing the problem. Sure enough, as soon as I made that 12v connection to the solenoid, it started to crank which narrowed my problem down to the ignition switch.

[JoKu]

Thats basically what i wanted to know. Any kind of wire will do.

I wanted to get away with some sort of wire i have laying around rather than having to go out and buy the battery cable wire.

Its not a bad battery i checked with a multimeter. In the darkness the terminals were placed on the wrong posts.

Fuses have been replaced, relays have been checked. This is one of the last things to narrow it down for me.

Would speaker wire work btw?

[dickie]

lol.

[Razi]

Thanks for the props!But advising a new battery and a jump-start is just silly. A new battery won't need a jump-start.

Meh one of my friends got a new battery, but it was low on power. :\

[White Comet]

Meh one of my friends got a new battery, but it was low on power. :\

what kinda battery is that?

[Razi]

what kinda battery is that?

Lol iono, that battery ended up dieing after a few weeks.

[White Comet]

yeah dont get that kinda then

[Dattebayo]

Would speaker wire work btw?

It would work for about 2 seconds then fizzle and fire.

Go get battery cable, #6 stranded or higher. It expensive, get over it. You can't mickey mouse your way through this.

[White Comet]

Would speaker wire work btw?

only you can prevent electrical fires

[Dattebayo]

only you can prevent electrical fires

Not if you use speaker wire...

Honestly, the question made me guffaw. Not a normal laugh, mind you, but an actual guffaw. Mickey and Goofy cartoon style. Ever get electrocuted from a speaker? AHAHA No. Try that with a car battery one time, use your tongue!

Next thing would be to use common sense and compare speaker wire size and jacket to the battery cable size and jacket. One is soft, easy to cut and small, the other is hard, black and wide. No sex jokes here, just the facts, ma'am.

I see no good coming from your working on cars; it will cost you more money in the end then you are probably capable of putting out. I suggest you surrender your vehicle to a mechanic and have him continue the work.

Now I only say this to help you, so don't get personal about it. OK? Thanks...
Modified by Dattebayo at 1:01 PM 12/22/2007

[White Comet]

lol im saying the way the op is thinking there will be an electrical fire, no doubt about it

[2ndnissan]

In the darkness the terminals were placed on the wrong posts.

You never heard of flashlights?*s*

[White Comet]

In the darkness the terminals were placed on the wrong posts.

You never heard of flashlights?*s*

maybe for some reason he was stranded w/o one.

[JoKu]

Thank you Dattebayo i know you mean well. I'm honestly not a complete dolt, it was embarassing to even post this and own up to my own simple mistake.

Honestly i was impatient and did it in the dark the new battery i bought terminals were opposite of the ones i previously had. I bought it around 9pm, but didn't put it in till 4am in a spur of the moment.

I messed up paid the price, replaced some fuses checked all relays with multi meter so i thought id have a shot at this battery to starter method, i researched quite a bit, but everybody said to use wire from battery to starter and thats about it. My battery is in the back so its going to be a loong battery cable, i thought i could "mickey mouse" it if i could, but i suppose i can't. I also know i can check the starter relay with meter, but i'm set on this way.

I just wanted to be sure, and if anything this thread will show up on search for future sillys like me i suppose.

[driftneil]

Lol iono, that battery ended up dieing after a few weeks.

Prob wasn't the batt, sounds more like the alt.

[Florida240sx]

You run your main power wire form your bettery back up to factory wire harness. That is it. No need for a wire straight to your starter. It is part of the factory harness. You just need to hotwire your signal wire for your starter which you can use speaker wire. for the solenoid signal

[GoTRicEo0]

2gauge speaker wire works... for me anyways