Battery terminal clamp - snapped bolt

[Drac]

Would you believe it? Another damn problem! I spotted a broken clip in the battery cover (actually - base) - it was done in the garage when the engine was swapped (why didn't they tell me???). I know because it was definitely there before and it clipped on both sides!

Being the one not liking the things broken I thought - piece of bent metal with a hole, bolt it to the plastic - problem solved. Well almost...

Took the battery out to get access - bolted the metal clip replacement and... as I was tightening the battery terminals (they were unusually loose), the bolt snapped!




Now the nut with the rest of the bolt is gone somewhere into engine bay. I managed to secure the terminal by using a bent thin metal plate. It's not tight, but it's tight enough to get the car started. Just in case I didn't deadlock the doors.

What's my best option? Getting a bolt and a nut on a saab scrapyard (easiest solution)? Getting a brand new cable p/n 12755254?

Any scrapyards near Staines (south west london/west london/berkshire/oxfordshire/surrey) that are open on Sunday?
Any other choice than Neobrothers to source it? Not that I don't like Neo - it's just they are closed on Sunday.

My baby is due on Monday, I was supposed to drive the SWMBO to the hospital at 7:30am on Monday, but now with busted terminal...

[Audax]

Bodge it with a bolt from a DIY store and a bit of home fabrication so it's secure for Monday which is the important thing and if you're OCD about it being correct source a second hand part later on?

[Max Headroom]

I'd second that. Just do a temporary repair until you have the correct bits.

I too, dont like broken things on the car and I'm finicky about having the correct bits fitted 

[CitTone]

Unlike Audax and Trenchfoot, I tend to leave the "bodges" in place as long as they are effective and safe! Many a vehicle/domestic appliance of ours has gone to the great recycling centre in the sky having fallen apart around my bodges. To me, a bolt is a bolt....the only advantage of the tee-shaped gizmo AFAICS is that you don't need two spanners.

SWMBO once threw a vacuum cleaner down the stairs to put it beyond reasonable bodge, because she hated it for its unreliability, but I kept fixing it....

[Petemate]

SWMBO once threw a vacuum cleaner down the stairs to put it beyond reasonable bodge, because she hated it for its unreliability, but I kept fixing it....

ROFPMSL

[Audax]

Unlike Audax and Trenchfoot, I tend to leave the "bodges" in place as long as they are effective and safe!

Hey! I leave plenty of bodges in place too. All I would want to do on the battery connection is make sure that it was man enough for the job long term, a bolt and a couple of washers short term would be fine though especially given Monday is the important day for Drac to have the car working.

[CitTone]

Mind you, anybody that doesn't keep a wire coat-hanger (and a pair of pliers/cutters) in the car is Not Fully Prepared

[Drac]

The terminal was fixed with simplest of solutions - a hose clamp. Regular bolt wouldn't do as it's supposed to shrink the two sides, but the clamp works better. In fact the tightness is better than with original T bolt... 10-16mm does the job very nicely.



Well I can't sleep waiting for the big day. Will report on Drac Jr...


By the way, dunno if it's just me being stupid, but as I was fiddling with different fixes for the damn terminal - I forgot I left the stereo on, boot was open (light on). And the battery went flat... I was near making a big bonfire out of that damn car in the driveway!!!

[Max Headroom]

Good job I do't bodge aeroplanes or half of you lot would never go on holiday 

[AlanM]

Good job I don't bodge aeroplanes or half of you lot would never go on holiday 

You've never used Speedtape?

[CitTone]

Good job I don't bodge aeroplanes or half of you lot would never go on holiday 

Bodging the coffee heater or the seat-back video I don't mind, but I'd rather the flight systems were kept to manufacturer's schedule.

OTOH, when you've been on a plane* whose arm-rests moved 50mm sideways when you leaned on them, you do wonder how carefully the rest of it was looked after!

*a Tunisian charter 737, since you ask

[Max Headroom]

You've never used Speedtape?

All the time - but mostly just for covering  bullet-holes   

BDR (battle damage repairs) AKA extreme bodging 

[Steve440]

We used to use it for almost everything on the Lightnings 

That with PRC A1/2 was the only things that kept them in the air. 

Is PRC still available?

Steve

[Drac]

Junior has been born - healthy, big and pink!

Battery terminal got a new (used) T bolt + nut.

Been to Neobrothers and was not impressed at all. I was quoted £45 for the whole positive cable (including the terminal). I was told not to look around in their workshop - there were couple of different saabs being worked on. I just literally wanted to have a look at the battery connectors which I explained and was refused again - if 9-3 1st and2nd gen had similar connectors which would help me find the damn awkward bolt. Then Andy (the only one who actually paid attention) went around the front where they keep the crashed saabs to be dismantled and looked under two bonnets - both cars had different types of terminals (so there is at least 3 versions). The price went down to £25 when I insisted just on the bolt and nut, however Andy wandered off and asked my phone number to call me if he "finds" one.

I thought I would go to the nearest scrap yard to find something that fits, but honestly finding a scrappy with plenty of cars around London is quite difficult, google was giving me thousands of crappy links that led nowhere. If you don't know where a good breaker is, don't waste time using google especially on a nokia mobile phone...

Then I thought - there is at least one more saab specialist breaker in South East - Two Stroke Turbo! Went up another 30 miles, got there by 5pm. The guys were very helpful, found the bolt+nut in about 30 seconds and even replaced it for me! All in less than 5 minutes. The charge was ....... nothing!!! I insisted on paying "something" and ended up lighter by £1 (ONE POUND).

Absolutely million kudos to Two Stroke! I'm less than impressed by Neo though, maybe that wasn't their best day...

[Max Headroom]

Is PRC still available?

PRC A1/2 A2   B1/2 B2  You name it we got it - best underseal ever. Probably the most toxic as well!

Known now as Thiokol in the civvie world but still known in the mob as PRC