replacing cut battery wires?

[Tiny]

I got some bad news this morning that my car battery was stolen over night. The thief cut the cables. I haven't had coffee yet so I'm crowd sourceing this question to you all (the google didn't really help).

Is this a repair I can do myself (a woman who's changed oil/tires/batteries on other cars in her youth) or is this gonna require a mechanic? Would a tow truck/service be able to do this (provided I had new cables?)

They also took the change out of the change cup (usually less than $10.00) and it doesn't look like they did any other damage to the car or my garage. (Thankfully they didn't steal or destroy any of the 'valuable' to me stuff stored out in the gargage.)

[daisylu]

How far back did they cut them? If it was close to the terminals, you may get away with just putting on new terminals - which is pretty easy.

I found this on replacing the entire cables:

www.ehow.com/how_6941341_replace-auto-battery-cables.html

[Tiny]

Thanks Daisylu! That's very helpful. They cut the cables pretty far from the battery so it looks like I will have to replace the entire cable. This also looks like something I can do myself - if the cable ends are accessible. Don't know why I had trouble finding info I'm usually pretty good with the google.

[needanewjob]

I had my taillights stolen from my truck and they cut the wires. Luckily my FIL is retired and he hooked me up with parts from the local salvage yard. You might find your parts cheaper there is you have the time/inclination.

[justme]

I woulda thought it'd be easier to unbolt the battery then cut through the thick insulation and then the wire.

[rileyoday]

My positive and negative cables both go to the starter and the neg splits off to ground on the firewall. I could do the replacement as they are accessible.

I believe the auto parts store sells generic copper cable and ends that you could perform a splice yourself. Go see what they have if you can get there. Maybe they took your gas also ? Hope you can get something.

[Bob Ross]

Who the hell steals a used car battery? Can it be used to smoke crack?

[Tiny]

Well, it's a brand new car - so the factory installed battery they took has only about 6 months (2500 miles) of 'usage'.

It's also partly my fault - I don't have a lock on the garage door (the garage stands seperate from my house). Also there isn't anything much of 'value' out in the garage. ::sigh:: my brother is actually already scheduled to replace the service door with a lock the 3rd weekend in September. We set this up back in June and I just talked with my brother a week ago about the replacement door. Dang.

The theives went down the block and entered garages stealing batteries and tools. I will have to check if they took the gas out of the car... I really wish they hadn't cut the wires. Actually, it probably was easier to clip the cables - than to mess around with disconnecting the battery cables.

I may have free towing to the dealer for the car - so I may do that and have the dealer replace the cables and the battery versus me doing (and voiding whatever warrentees are on the car ) .

Atleast the theives left all the 'valuable to me' stuff behind. Proof once again that one man's junk is another man's treasure.

[simser]

Car Talk once said "why does someone steal a used battery? Because they know that in a week or two there will be a new battery. Park in a different spot for a month."
Take precautions.

[Bluerobin]

While you are being handy, put a lock on the garage.

[yankee]

Around here the junk/metal places have huge signs out front advertising $11 for car batteries.

If they hit the entire street they might get over a hundred bucks, The battery cables are probably copper which can also be sold at the same place

No one believes that thieves run ROI ratios before a nite of stealing

[Tiny]

UPDATE: apparently Battery Cables don't work like they use to - the Dealer is telling me they have to replace some $1200 worth of 'cables' and that it will take a technician 7 hours to do. I was like WHAT! it's battery cables.... I need to find someone else to fix my car - cause this cannot be possible.

[lurkyloo]

DH agrees that it can be complex because the lead wire can split off and be connected to several different areas...but also that your dealer is robbing you blind. What kind of car?

[Deleted]

did they do any other damage to your car to get inside it to pop the hood? If it's really going to cost that much, it should be covered under the comprehensive part of your car insurance.

[Tiny]

No, they didn't seem to have damaged the rest of the car to get into it or to the engine. I did put in a call to my insurance (comprehensive) and got a claim going. Waiting to hear back from the Claims Adjuster. I just hope he/she is NOT in 'collusion' with the Dealership.

I'm gonna assume that the insurance company has all sorts of lovely data on cut battery cables for Scion xBs - cause I cannot be the first person to have this problem.
If this is a normal result of someone hastily pulling a battery out of one of their cars - I'm thinking this is a HUGE design flaw and I think I'll atleast be complaining to Toyota about it. And if this kind of repair is standard for a cut out battery -- I certainly wouldn't recommend this vehicle to anyone - cause right now as it's brand new - it's worth it to fix the problem -- but as the car ages a 2K or 3K repair for something like battery cables will cost more than the vehicle is worth - ie "total" the car - and it's NOT driveable -- like say if it was a dent or something that didn't effect the drivability of the car.

I'm sure with the Holiday Weekend I'm not gonna get anything done with the car until Tuesday...
On the plus side - I don't really need the car. I can carpool with relatives to the two outings I had this weekend - and I walk to work (public transportation).


ADDED: I feel like its just having to buy new lace up shoes because one of the laces broke (or was damaged) and needed to be replaced.

[Deleted]

When we first moved here we discovered that packrats love the newer wiring in cars. Our Intrepid was hit with a nearly $2K bill for a new wire harness due to their chewing through it! Our insurance did pay for the repair.

I would think that if you have a police report, either your HO or car insurance should pay the bill. However, repairs at the dealership are the most expensive out there...

[TD2K]

Phone a couple of other places and get a price quote. I agree, $1200 sure seems high.

www.jcwhitney.com/battery-cable-assemblies-2-gauge/p2006074.jcwx?filterid=c921d17236u0j1

You could check with these folks also.