NHTSA Complaint #757074 — 1998 CHEVROLET PICKUP

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING OR SYMPTOMS, AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD, THE MULTI-STACKED POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES (2 TERMINALS STACKED WITH 2 WIRES EACH TOTAL OF FOUR WIRES) FAILED TO MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, INCLUDING ACCESSORIES, ENGINE, AND LIGHTS. MANUAL STEERING AND MANUAL BRAKES WERE USED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER TO ROAD SIDE. INSPECTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO CORROSION. THE SIDE-POST POSITIVE BATTERY BOLT WAS EXAMINED AND WAS NOT FOUND TO BE LOOSE. HOWEVER, PRYING THE POSITIVE WIRES (ROTATING APPOXIMATELY 30 DEGREES OR MORE) RESTORED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER EACH OF THE 7 OCCURANCES, I HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING: REPLACED THE POSITIVE SIDE-POST BOLT, CLEANED THE COPPER FLAT TERMINALS WITH PROPER CLEANING MATERIALS, VISUALY INSPECTED FOR DEBRIS INTERFERENCE, TIGHTENED THE TERMINAL BOLT, CHECKED FOR WIRING CRACKS OR BREAKS, AND/OR CHECKED FOR FIRE/HEAT DAMAGE TO THE CABLES. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PROBLEM AT THE POSITVE BATTERY POST SHOULD NOT RESULT IN A STALLED ENGINE.*AK