General Battery terminal replacement abarth

[Andymacselespeed]

I had a spot of bother with the battery terminals on my car, so I've come up with a replacement plan, I'm partway there so thought I'd share. I've bought a set of mutant battery terminals used usually for in car entertainment purposes, these replace the positive and negative terminals. That's it on the neg side, just snipped off the stock cable ends and off we go. On positive side I've got 4 cables. The starter cable is unfused straight from the new battery terminal, then I have 3 cables fused in the branch distribution unit. A 150 amp anl fuse in a sealed unit, a 60 amp and a 70 amp agu fused pair of units take care of the rest. I've matched fuses to the originals, and I have managed to rid myself of the horrid original fiat wiring. The starter motor now spins more easily, and kangarooing from stationary is gone! Well chuffed.

Have pit back fiat positive terminal for now as I need to source some seriously thick positive cable for the 150 amp supply! I'm also going to turn the battery around so terminals are at the front if the bay to neaten the whole lot ups little. The mutant battery terminals have an integrated voltmeter in which will look a bit weird upside down!

 

[jip0]

sounds awesome

any pictures?

 

[Davren]

I'm also going to turn the battery around so terminals are at the front if the bay to neaten the whole lot ups little. The mutant battery terminals have an integrated voltmeter in which will look a bit weird upside down!

The battery terminals may be situated at the back to reduce the chance of a crumpled bonnet shorting them in the event of a front end shunt.

Just a thought to bear in mind.

 

[Andymacselespeed]

I'll get some pics up when it's all done. The mutant battery terminals come with clear plastic covers and sit below the highest point if the battery. I'll take a look at the orientation when it's all done. If the terminals look too close to the bonnet skin, I'll leave the battery the normal way around.

 

[Andymacselespeed]

All done now, and looking good. I have mounted the 2 agu fuses and the anl fuse on a piece of clear Perspex screwed to the battery carrier.

I'm feeling really rather smug about my work!

 

[Andymacselespeed]

As requested, here it is now. A pair of Mutant battery terminals with integrated voltmemter on positive terminal, one sheet of 5mm perspex, 1 Power Pax ANL fuse holder, 2 unbranded AGU fuse holders, 2 self tapping screws, 4 gauge cable for the 150amp main board feed, 8 gauge for the 60 and 70 amp feeds and correct fuses mirroring Fiat originals.

I used a hot melt glue gun to fix the fuses to the board, and I kept the battery the original way around which means the display on the battery termianl voltmeter is upside down, but other than that all groovy. All weatherproof sealed and looking lovely. Next, to find a cover for the fuse board at the rear of the engine bay.

Opinions welcome.

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Oops, meant to add, the total cost for all the bits inc. the perspex sheet was about £32, a decent saving over £40+VAT from local FIAT dealer.

 

[jip0]

oo that looks awesome and fancy nice one

 

[Argonought]

All weatherproof sealed and looking lovely. Next, to find a cover for the fuse board at the rear of the engine bay.

Looks good but does the battery cover still fit OK

 

[Andymacselespeed]

That's what caused me to do it in the first place. Fiat wanted £40 for the battery top terminal branch unit, £15 for the branch control cover, and £40 for the battery top cover, so £95 all in!