Due to my starter dragging on occasion I began troubleshooting the possible causes and found the positive battery cable to be the problem. I took the old one off and began my search for a new replacement. Much to my surprise this cable was not available at any of the local parts stores or dealerships. I started looking on the internet for replacements and have narrowed it down to one of two cables available for my truck. The problem is one is available for a "California emission model", and I do not know if my truck has California emissions. Could anyone help me figure this out? Thanks

 

There should be a emissions sticker under the hood telling you if it's a fedral or a CA modle. If not the parts dept. at your dealership should be able to tell you from the vin #.

 

sthar....... thanks for the info. I remember seeing the sticker you mentioned under the hood. As for the dealerships in my area they are reluctant to give you information such as this even if you buy their parts, but hey it is worth a shot.

 

May check out sites like RockAuto.com, lmctruck.com and the like. Didn't see any reference to CA vs Fed hookups in their listings???

 

I seen several websites listing different cables as "calif."as well the dealership mentioned this also. I do not know the significance of this if any to my truck. I was trying to find the motorcraft part initially, but found the positive cable needed on a napa website. I ordered it and will pick it up tomorrow. Thanks for the input.

 

Just go to any auto parts store, buy yourself 2 items.
#1 - a regular thick guage cable with regular through hole connectors on each end (it's probably going to be a black cable and not red and the 60" length is around $10.00).
#2 - a positive battery terminal replacement (it will have ~2 thick wires running off of it with a special screwable quick connect on the end of each wire to easily splice existing wires)

Run the wire from the starter up to the battery (removing the old starter cable as you go).
Cut the end of your new cable by the battery and strip it back 3/4" or so to expose some wire (you'll do the same thing to the other existing positive wire too).
Insert the wire(s) into the quick connects and screw them in tight.
Connect your wires to the positive terminal on the battery...
Now go ahead and start your truck!
(Make sure none of the wires are touching anything that might get hot like the exaust pipes or engine!!!)

 

Tried to find replace neg/pos battery cable assembly for my recently acquired truck. Ford wants $160+ for the cables. Tried to find on-line and at local auto parts stores to no avail. Even tried to use the FOMOCO part number with the same results! Also tried the local salvage yard. They had a pretty beat up one and sold it to me for only $25.00. Hoping to use it for a pattern as the original has fusible links embedded. Is there anything reasonably priced and/or available on these things? Anybody out there have any sources?

For the right price I would definitely be tempted to sell the darn thing! It is a good looking truck in reasonably good condition for having 180K.