# Checking negative battery terminal in 1998 Ford Taurus

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-negative-battery-terminal-in-1998-ford-taurus/130950>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** taurus, ford\
**Created:** [December 16, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-negative-battery-terminal-in-1998-ford-taurus/130950 "2018-12-16T22:35:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KrystalJeffries](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a183cd/32.png) [@KrystalJeffries](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KrystalJeffries)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-negative-battery-terminal-in-1998-ford-taurus/130950/1 "2018-12-16T22:35:48Z")

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How do I check my negative battery terminal to make sure that’s what the cause of my car not starting is?

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**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-negative-battery-terminal-in-1998-ford-taurus/130950/2 "2018-12-17T13:46:34Z")

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Make sure its tight.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-negative-battery-terminal-in-1998-ford-taurus/130950/3 "2018-12-17T13:47:55Z")

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Make sure the terminal is tight to the battery first. If that doesn’t solve the problem then;

Using an Ohm meter, check the resistance between the negative battery terminal and a clean spot of bare metal on the engine. It should be essentially zero.

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**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-negative-battery-terminal-in-1998-ford-taurus/130950/4 "2018-12-17T17:12:14Z")

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I would like to know more about why you’re asking.

Are you having starting issues? Who told you the negative battery terminal was the issue?

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**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/checking-negative-battery-terminal-in-1998-ford-taurus/130950/5 "2018-12-17T20:53:40Z")

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Just be sure all corrosion is removed from the battery post and the cable clamp.  
There is a special brush that you can buy at any parts store , that is made for this.  
Then tighten it just so it’s snug and can’t move.

Do the same with the positive terminal also.

Yosemite