jefhon Posted March 7, 2013 Report Posted March 7, 2013 so i looked at the price for OEM battery cables...and then i looked at the price for NAPA cables...can you guess my reaction? i normally go with OEM parts, especially for major parts but on this one... i have to ask: can anyone offer up a SOUND, repeat: truly sound argument for $81 difference in cables? i understand & accept that the aftermarket cables are probably inferior to some degree but really...i mean really. & NAPA 's cables come with a 1 yr lim. warranty so...the price differences are vast. like i said: i would prefer to go with OEM when & where possible but money is tight right now (not just a figure of speech here) & unless someone can provide a TRULY SOUND argument for paying 6x the amount for what is probably a marginally better cable...well. enough said. so any bids out there for shelling out 6x your money for OEM battery cables? i'm a discerning human so UNSOUND arguments will be duly dismissed. the only plausible thing i can think of is for those that like to modify, where one would want better quality, gauge, materials, fitment, etc. but i don't modify hardly ever. so for a stock setup: is it worth 6x the $ skrilla for OEM battery cables? TIA jingjong
Keaton85 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Posted March 7, 2013 Why the need for the cables in the first place? Any quality brand will work just fine, nothing special here.
jefhon Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Posted March 7, 2013 roger that. mine are just old as hell & i'm going to be working in there anyway (original cables@200K). there's been some corrosion arising & staying on the positive end so its possible that it worked its way down into the cable over the years...haven't stayed on top of keeping it clean as well as i'd like. i'd rather be safe than sorry. i guess i just wanted to bitch because the marginal increase in quality of OEM vs. aftermarket cannot possibly be worth 6x or more the skrilla. i can understand things like bigger gauge for more/better flow, better materials for increased concuctivity, etc. i just couldn't believe the difference in pricing! do you happen to know the lengths of these cables? i searched & looked, both here & on parts sites: nada. i'm not well-practiced at splicing, soldering,etc. so if i can help it i'd just assume replace with the same length. roger dodger
troyhyde Posted March 7, 2013 Report Posted March 7, 2013 The Volvo OEM cables are made in China, are relatively small gauge, and are very expensive. The generic cables at O'Reilly's are made in the USA, are large gauge, and cost 1/10 the cost of OEM. No construction differences I can detect. Forgot the cable length, sorry, but you ought to get the alternator/starter cable as well. There will be voltage drop in that cable just like the battery/starter cable.
Keaton85 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Posted March 7, 2013 If you check the voltage drop you can see how good or bad they are. Better then replacing them just for the heck of it, since most times they are fine.
jefhon Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Posted March 7, 2013 roger that. i'll just take them all out & measure/compare for purchase. i suspected what you say about the cable differences; good to get confirmation. nice to buy USA made occasoinally too! is there any reason to be picky about terminals? if one is replacing only terminals? i've read where the cheap Chinese ones are significantly inferior to other makers? something about the percentage of lead vs. other metals, conductivity, etc.? i dunno for sure... thanks for the input. the piece of mind that comes with all this understanding is worth more than anything... If you check the voltage drop you can see how good or bad they are. Better then replacing them just for the heck of it, since most times they are fine. so this is a reliable indicator? i'll look into this; thanks keaton. its certainly worth saving the time & bank. ericthecarguy has been teaching me how to do these kinds of tests...(youtube vids but seems credible enough)
Keaton85 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Posted March 7, 2013 It will indicate their usable condition, yes.
Yea-but... Posted March 7, 2013 Report Posted March 7, 2013 Does it conduct electricity reasonably well? Yes-> it will work. No-> it will not work. That should answer every question you have. If the stock wires have a small voltage drop, they are all good. Unless you live in an extreme climate, you'll be fine. If they needed replacing you would already be feeling them failing. Save the money for something worthwhile. Clean all the grounds/terminals with one of those wire brush thingys they sell in any auto parts stores. Just for shitsandgiggles.
jefhon Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Posted March 7, 2013 thanks for the replies. i'll clean & test them before buying anything . i'm not quite as nooby as i might seem; i just like to gather as much knowledge on things as i can...have absorbed your inputs & appreciate it.
Piston Slapper Posted March 8, 2013 Report Posted March 8, 2013 One of the reasons they're expensive is they aren't in demand since you shouldn't ever have to replace them.
troyhyde Posted March 8, 2013 Report Posted March 8, 2013 One of the reasons they're expensive is they aren't in demand since you shouldn't ever have to replace them. I've had to replace a handfull of cables, all because they had significant voltage drop and were causing driveability problems. Very easy to test. Not sure how you have come up with the exclamation that you "shouldn't ever have to replace them". Maybe you are implying that someones ownership of the car shouldn't exceed 125k miles, then junk the car and call it a day. You sound hopeful, naieve, or stupid.
Keaton85 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Posted March 8, 2013 I have to say in all my years working on these vehicles, Ive never had to replace a cable. Fix, a ground yes, replace a cable, no. BUT plenty of people on here have found significant voltage drops across select cables that were giving them issues. Climate dependent I guess...
troyhyde Posted March 8, 2013 Report Posted March 8, 2013 I would expect a stock car that isn't asked to perform at any extremes would operate fine with questionable cables. High boost, high heat, high mileage will all reveal power issues and abnormalities to someone paying close attention. Also, fluttering headlight strength is annoying regardless of performance desires. I think Volvo's spec. for voltage drop is a maximum of .2 volts or therabouts at the battery terminals. I think inquiring minds should investigate what (if any) voltage drop they have. I'd bet 8 out of 10 850/S/V70's on the road have 3-5 times that amount at the positive cable - if not more. Whether that bothers you or not is another question altogether...
VolvoS70SS Posted March 8, 2013 Report Posted March 8, 2013 I dont feel the volvo cables are a normal maintenance had my original for 400k on previous car and no issues, however in my moms car someone had added a bunch of electronics at some point and damaged the cable, I just went to the junkyard and pulled one and she has had no further issues. The cables last the life of the car unless someone damaged them by shorting system or adding a bunch of additional items. I remember reading the member aarons thread that he replaced all cables and electronic charging system and it was no different than before he started so he felt he wasted his money because he thought it was normal maintenance.
Keaton85 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Posted March 8, 2013 Yeah, but he replaced everything just because he felt like it When there is an issue, you can check them, and replace when needed. They DO degrade but it's not extremely common.
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