blackened pos terminal

[flyboy1400]

I recently replaced both battery cables with new ones, a few days later i popped the hood and found the pos terminal was black, like something had burnt. my in car voltmeter shows right about 14 volts when cruising and about 14.6 right after start up. I have felt the terminals while the car is running and it does not get hot. Any ideas what could have caused this?

Its in my 75 duster and the only electrical mods under the hood are adding relays for the headlights, but those weren't even hooked up at the time.

 

[mullinax95]

It looks as if it has stained rather than have gotten hot.

 

[daredevil]

usually they turn black when theres a dead cell

 

[flyboy1400]

usually they turn black when theres a dead cell

If there was a dead cell is there an easy way to test for that?

 

[inkjunkie]

Had a Pontyrat that did that years ago. Never did figure it out. Mine would get to the point that the cable end would get very soft. Like yours, it would never get warm to the touch. Was not a dead cell in my case......

 

[daredevil]

pull the caps and look in. one may be dry.if theres no bubbles on the plates while its charging its dead.voltage check doesnt show any thing wrong though.

 

[cudadriver]

I think it's a reaction with the lead and the anti corrosion red felt washer under the terminal. Just my .02