You've said washer a couple of times and I don't know what you're talking about. Sometimes there will be a little felt washer that goes on the battery terminal post on the battery and sits flush on the surface of the battery, then you put the battery cable on and tighten it down...is that what you are talking about?

I'm wondering if you are referring to the nut as the washer. A washer is flat (well most are but in this case yeah...) while a nut has depth and screws onto the bolt.

These are nuts... http://www.boltdepot.com/Nuts.aspx?nv=l
These are washers http://www.boltdepot.com/Washers.aspx?nv=l

And from looking at the pic, it does look like that bolt might be stripped as those threads look kinda flat and shiny but it's not clear enough to tell for sure.

So when you try to put the battery cable onto the battery post (stick the male part on the battery through the female part of the battery cable) does it go on or is it too tight? Thats the first thing.

One more thing, we havent talked about your mechanical knowledge, but make absolutely sure that you are extremely careful around that battery with any metal tools like screwdrivers and socket wrenches. The last thing we need is a battery blowing up on you because you've accidentally bridged the terminals...

 

Sorry, its a flange nut...

"A nut with a built in washer which is serrated to resist loosening"

if the nut is serrated, would it be hard to tighten back on? im thinking this could be the issue, but the bolt seems somewhat stripped too.

 

Depending upon how much crap is in the threads, and if you started it wrong, yes. The serrated bits are on the ring to bite into the connector.

You are likely fine, so long as you start it right when threading again later. Just be sure to clean all that crap out first. That includes off the threads on the bolt, and inside the nut, unless you'd like to replace that entire harness in a couple years.

 

Exactly what Wayne said.

I'd add that the correct way to properly start any nut is to place it on the bolt, then instead of just starting to screw it on, gently turn it on the opposite direction that would be removing the nut (turn to the left, not right) until you feel a slight bump or drop of the nut, then start turning it onto the bolt. That tiny drop indicates that the start of the thread on the nut is properly aligned with the start of the thread on the bolt. If you do that every time, you will never end up with a cross threaded nut again. Unless the threads are already shot to hell then your f***ed anyway.

 

Would torching a new terminal on be above your ability? That's always a good way to go. Then you can get a quick disconnect terminal and upgrade at the same time.

 

i cant even put this nut back on. ive spent hours trying to start the nut on the bolt and its impossible... ive let my friend try and he cant do it either. the nut just goes in wrong everytime.... i dont have expertise to play with a torch, but it does sound fun.

not sure whats wrong with the nut. Im thinking of going to home depot to get a new bolt (and possibly a new nut as well just to make sure i got both out of the way). might get a new nut as well. one or both of these has to be stripped because the nut is not going on the bolt

worst decision ever to take off this nut.

right now my problem is either: getting a stripped nut onto a bolt, getting a nut onto a stripped bolt, or getting a stripped nut onto a stripped bolt.... i dont have the greatest mechanical knowledge.

update: got the bolt off finally with a hammer. to home depot i will go to get a new bolt and nut.

 

That bolt was trashed and the nut looked like it was stripped Did you get the car started?

 

ended up getting a screw with a bol at lowes, worked like a charm...

finally installed it all, and new battery works like a charm. car finally starts .

"tire pressure monitor fault" is coming up on computer but probably from the battery reset

 

Your sensors probably just need to be re-synced with the cars computer. If it doesn't clear in a few days, your Ford dealer should be able to do it for free. If not, the TPMS sync tool is about $40 at American Muscle. Quite a bit cheaper than the dealer I believe.

 

Or if you have a discount tire, they will resync tires for free too.