B+ battery cable: does the ipd aftermarket part fit?

Post by **jreed** » 26 Mar 2012, 18:30

I'm looking to get a replacement (aftermarket) B+ cable for a 1997 855 GLT that ipd and fcp list on their websites. IPD and FCP both seem to list the same part. IPD says it only fits the V70 but FCP says it fits the 850 as well.
My question: has anybody bought the IPD version and successfully fit it to their 850? Thanks!

IPD's:

: IPD's aftermarket B+ cable (for V70 only? Or will it fit the 850 too?); ipdfullsize_3225.jpg (62.52 KiB) Viewed 4776 times

FCP's:

: FCP's aftermarket B+ cable, seemingly identical to the IPD part, and listed for both the V70 and 850.; fcp9456836.jpg (4.8 KiB) Viewed 4776 times

Post by **Pauloil** » 26 Mar 2012, 19:01

that is the starter cable, not the B+ cable. it is good on the V70xc I own. otherwise go by what they say. if you take the old one off, I'm sure you could go to car parts store and buy what you need if you know how to solder ends on. ipd sells a new end for your car. I ruined two alternators on my 850 before figuring out the pos cable needed replaced.

bob850 · Post by **bob850** » 27 Mar 2012, 07:35

It fit on my 1997 850 GLT wagon. The only glitch was that the screw for the B+ cable terminal (which connects to the top of the terminal of the cable in the above picture) is a little different. So I has to flatten out the B+ terminal so it would make proper contact with the starter cable terminal at the battery. You'll see what I mean when you get it, but it functions fine. There is also a TSB 3370001 that explains exactly how to route the new cable in a retrofit manner.

Post by **erikv11** » 27 Mar 2012, 08:10

I bought that part but from tascaparts.com not IPD. Price was the same but proves the point that there is no OEM part for this, all vendors (even Volvo) are selling the same thing. It is the appropriate part for your 850 if the starter cable needs changing.

I had the same experience installing as bob850, just needed to flatten out a connecter up at the battery. Routing is simple, just use zip ties and follow the old cable. In fact I left the old one in place (it was fraying but not yet getting hot) and added in the new one, to ensure good conductivity. I also added a second ground off the battery, just got a generic ground cable from Autozone (maybe 6 gauge? I don't recall).

Post by **jreed** » 27 Mar 2012, 11:43

Thanks for the feedback and advice! I ordered the IPD cable today and I'll post more details about the fit and installation after it arrives.
Does anybody have a copy of the Volvo TSB #3370001? Searching on Google, I can tell it's related to replacing the cable, but I can't access the detailed technical information.
TSB #3370001 / NHTSA ID #605938 Date Announced: JUNE 01 1999 Summary: INFORMATION DESCRIBING HOW TO REPLACE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND ALTERNATOR CABLE SEPARATELY.

Post by **jreed** » 01 Apr 2012, 10:45

The new cable came from IPD on Friday and I installed it today. The part does fit the 850 just as you guys (Bob850, erikv11) said it would. Thanks! I had to bend the ears on the cable terminal just like what you described. I suspect from the yellow ID label on the bag that it was made by Ramac ("RAMAC4520" just below the bar code on the label), just like the one offered by FCPeuro ( http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-b ... 70-9456836 ).

Battery cable in bag:

: Cable in bag as delivered from IPD

Terminal end, showing angled bolt:

: Bolt is at an angle to make access easier during tightening.

I took a few pictures along the way during installation to show what it looks like.
Be sure to disconnect the battery cables (positive first, then negative) -- be sure you have the code for the radio before disconnecting! I removed the battery from the car to make it easier to route the new cable.
Here is the starter with the original cable still in place, after removing the black plastic cover. The starter cable (on my 855 at least) was the spade terminal closest to the starter on the attachment bolt.

: Original cable at starter, after cover removal.

I loosened the bolt with a 1/4" drive ratchet and a 13mm socket. There is not much space to access the bolt but it can be done.

: Loosening the bolt on the starter. A 1/4" drive ratchet with a 6pt 13mm socket worked well for me.

Once you get the bolt loose you can pull all three terminals off and move the battery cable out of the way. I opted not to cut it off but instead I covered it with large diameter (~1" dia) heat shrink tubing. I moved the old cable to the left of the picture below. On the right, I used a tie-wrap to tie the new starter cable to the wiring harness. The new cable can be fished in along the old wiring harness, in front of the fan and then up to the battery tray area. I snapped the cover back onto the starter after this:

: New cable in place on starter.

Next I cut off the old positive terminal and wrapped the end of the wire with heat shrink tubing -- but save the nut on the old terminal. Next I installed the battery back into the car, using the little battery retaining clip.

Then I attached the cables to the top nut of the new positive terminal -- this is where on the 850 you have to flatten the ears on one of the cables to get it to sit flat against the top of the terminal. I used the nut from the old terminal on the new terminal because the new terminal did not come with one. I used some heat shrink tubing on these cables to protect them from accidental shorting.

: New positive terminal at battery with flattened ears on cable.

Then I reconnected the negative cable to the negative battery post. An overview shot of the finished installation at the battery:

: Overview at battery showing new positive cable.

Overall not a difficult job. I would definitely buy the part from IPD again -- great service and great price, even if they don't list the part as being a correct fit for the 850. Thanks again for the advice on the compatibility of this part with the 850 -- you guys were right!

Post by **ojdorson** » 08 Jun 2012, 11:25

"I used some heat shrink tubing on these cables to protect them from accidental shorting."

From shorting on what? The other positive-connected cables? If they touch, that's not a short... that's a better transfer of current!

Post by **jreed** » 08 Jun 2012, 15:34

I covered them up with heat shrink for safety. I once owned a 240 that had a burn mark inside the hood above the positive battery terminal. The metal in the hood was partially melted and the paint was discolored around the mark. The seller told me that the battery had come loose and bounced up against the inside of the hood, causing a short between the positive terminal and the hood. Since then, I've generally covered up the wiring and also the positive terminal with heat shrink tubing -- I didn't show that part in my write up from a few months ago.

Post by **ojdorson** » 08 Jun 2012, 16:03

jreed wrote:I covered them up with heat shrink for safety. I once owned a 240 that had a burn mark inside the hood above the positive battery terminal. The metal in the hood was partially melted and the paint was discolored around the mark. The seller told me that the battery had come loose and bounced up against the inside of the hood, causing a short between the positive terminal and the hood. Since then, I've generally covered up the wiring and also the positive terminal with heat shrink tubing -- I didn't show that part in my write up from a few months ago.

Totally makes sense, now.

jmartin919 · Post by **jmartin919** » 17 Jun 2023, 09:32

Need help with this cable. The one in the foreground came off my 2000 S70. The other one came off a 98 S70. There is obviously something missing on it. What is missing and does anyone have the missing piece that they might consider parting with?