Q: How Should I Inspect and Replace Battery Cables?A: Periodically inspect the entire length of each battery cable for damage, cracked or burned insulation, and corrosion. Check the cable-to-terminal connections for cracks, loose wire strands, and corrosion. Look for white, fluffy deposits under the insulation, which indicate cable corrosion and necessitate replacement. Also, inspect the terminals for distortion, missing mounting bolts, and corrosion. When removing the cables, always disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal first and hook it up last to avoid accidental shorting. Take the old cables when buying new ones to ensure identical replacements. Clean the solenoid terminals and ground terminals' threads with a wire brush and apply a light coat of battery terminal corrosion inhibitor or petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Attach and tighten the cable to the solenoid or ground connection securely. Before connecting a new cable to the battery, ensure it reaches the battery post without stretching. Connect the positive cable first, followed by the negative cable. For replacement of positive battery cables, the interior cable's longer length necessitates removing several components in the trunk, including seats, trim plates, and carpeting. The engine compartment cable requires removing the right front wheel, wheel well splash shield, and disconnecting it from the starter solenoid terminal. For ground cables, there is one short cable in the trunk connected behind the battery tray. In the engine compartment, two ground cables exist, but only one is separately replaceable, with its upper end connected to the right strut tower and lower end to the upper right part of the transmission bellhousing. The other ground cable, if damaged, may require splicing a new section or cable end.