Negative battery Terminal

Rabindranath68 · 03-13-2005, 09:22 PM

OK i just recently got my 98 CHerokee sport and i trying to start it the other day and it wouldnt turn over and no lights were on...

Popped the hood messed with the terminals and the lights came back and started beeping at me like wehn you leave the lights or keys in ignition ect...

But anyways on my 95 the negative terminal is grounded to the frame so my question is are the 97+ cherokees not grounded to the frame from the negative terminal?

Thanks in advance

**MSHarnett** · 03-13-2005, 09:26 PM

I can't remember exactly where the cables are, but their is a braided strap going to the block and firewall if I remember correctly. Are your terminals clean or filled with all that nasty crud?

982doorxj · 03-13-2005, 09:28 PM

The negative should still be grounded to the frame/body, but the cable isn't too substantial....I added a second cable to mine just to make sure....But i have a replacement battery with top and side terminals, which allowed me to use the extra terminal...
Sounds like a good cleaning would solve the problems though...

twisted_ed · 03-13-2005, 09:32 PM

i did the same when i added my 3000+ watts of audio equipment i made a big huge negative jumper to the frame right beside the battery, you will probalby find that the negative cable on the battery goes to the starter then from the starter or engine block you will see that small "dont take much power till it melts" ground to the firewall. add yourself another heavy ground wire from the battery to to a good ground as close and as short as you can fro mteh battery. cause when you add alot of accesories ie. lights and amps you will need it or u risk that little flat braided ground to melt, and beleive me it will.

JeepCrazyKid · 03-13-2005, 09:36 PM

All cherokees ground to the body. The negative cable coming off the battery is a split cable that grounds to the body on the fender wall and down by the ignition coil.
Sounds like your negative (or positive) cable on the battery isn't tight. Take off the cable clamps, and use a metal file to file down the ends of the clamp so when you tighten the bolt, the two ends won't touch. Don't get carried away with the filing, because that metal is very soft.

Rabindranath68 · 03-13-2005, 10:54 PM

The terminals are clean i think that the old terminal is just getting worn down cause its as tight as it can possible be on the cable...

Yeah my 95 has a nice thick cable spliced off from the negative to the side of the fender, my 98 doesnt and if it is just one small cable thats grounded by the started then y eah i am just going to get a larger ground and ground it to the fender...

I will prolly change the terminals to something that doesnt look so cheap lol...

Thanks

03-13-2005, 09:28 PM	#3
982doorxj Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boothbay, Maine Posts: 27 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	From what I can rememeber.... The negative should still be grounded to the frame/body, but the cable isn't too substantial....I added a second cable to mine just to make sure....But i have a replacement battery with top and side terminals, which allowed me to use the extra terminal... Sounds like a good cleaning would solve the problems though... __________________ [COLOR="Red"] ===============SOLD===================[/COLOR] 98 2-door Base model XJ 4.0 \| AW4 \| NP231\| 31x10.5 Cooper Discoverer STT's on 15x8 Cragar Black Soft 8's Daystar Spacer and Shackle Lift \| Quadratec HD Leafs \|Surco Roof Rack w/ spare mount [COLOR="Red"] ===============SOLD===================[/COLOR]

03-13-2005, 09:32 PM	#4
twisted_ed Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 1,357 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	i did the same when i added my 3000+ watts of audio equipment i made a big huge negative jumper to the frame right beside the battery, you will probalby find that the negative cable on the battery goes to the starter then from the starter or engine block you will see that small "dont take much power till it melts" ground to the firewall. add yourself another heavy ground wire from the battery to to a good ground as close and as short as you can fro mteh battery. cause when you add alot of accesories ie. lights and amps you will need it or u risk that little flat braided ground to melt, and beleive me it will. __________________ 1990 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4.0L Automatic Tranny NP242 Transfer case Dana 30 front, 35 custom rear differentials Mods: RE 4.5" Lift 32x11.50 BFGoodRich M/T KM's American Eagle 058 Polished Aluminum Wheels, 3.63" BS. Grand Cherokee Rear Disc Brake setup Custom Downpipe W/ Cat Removed. Dynomax Super Turbo Muffler. Surco Roof Rack My Jeep

03-13-2005, 10:54 PM	#6
Rabindranath68 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Toppenish, Washington Posts: 210 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	The terminals are clean i think that the old terminal is just getting worn down cause its as tight as it can possible be on the cable... Yeah my 95 has a nice thick cable spliced off from the negative to the side of the fender, my 98 doesnt and if it is just one small cable thats grounded by the started then y eah i am just going to get a larger ground and ground it to the fender... I will prolly change the terminals to something that doesnt look so cheap lol... Thanks __________________ 98 Cherokee Sport 163,000 miles Roof Rack w/ 2 walmart lights 30x9.5 Bridgestone Revos Stock

03-13-2005, 09:36 PM	#5
JeepCrazyKid Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 724 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	All cherokees ground to the body. The negative cable coming off the battery is a split cable that grounds to the body on the fender wall and down by the ignition coil. Sounds like your negative (or positive) cable on the battery isn't tight. Take off the cable clamps, and use a metal file to file down the ends of the clamp so when you tighten the bolt, the two ends won't touch. Don't get carried away with the filing, because that metal is very soft.