I have a 2001 F150 Super-crew (5.4L, auto-trans, 2 wheel drive) that has always gives me trouble whenever I change the battery. We've got it started/running again, and in an attempt to remove the possibility of dirty connections and/or a frayed or broken wire (hidden by shielding), I've decided to start changing out everything I can, starting with the battery cables. I did an internet search for the positive battery cable (Ford part Number: 2L3Z-14300-AA) and it comes up for an average price of between $400 to $500 dollars??? I understand that they don't make these cables anymore because our truck is over 20 years old, but $500 bucks for a battery cable? What is so special about the positive battery cable for this truck? Can't I just make my own if need-be? Or is there something special on this cable that is required? Is there an alternative, and less expensive alternative that can be used?

Thanks in advance for everyone here who offers help and advice!

 

Junk yard

 

Dealer parts are always expensive...I'd just go get some heavy gauge (4 or even 1/0 ga) wire from a welding or sound shop and replace it with that and aftermarket terminals...Amazon stuff is just as good so long as you get pure copper...

You can get gold plated if you like but unless you get a well known reliable brand, it'll probably be so thinly plated that it wears off quickly...

Highly recommend that if you replace the starter wires you get a heat sleeve for the wiring as the manifold/header tends to be rough on the wire...my solenoid wire disintegrated in my hand when I installed headers...the AutoZone price is comparable to the internet price for that stuff...

If you look up "big 3" you should get a synopsis on what will work well...at most you might spend maybe eighty bucks to upgrade everything.
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A few years back Tasca had complete harnesses for 99 and up 4x4's. Old stock they were getting rid of. It was $99 as well, which was a killer deal. That's a lot of harness for 99 bucks...totally Ford finished. They can easily work for other gen 10's. Check them out, they may still be hanging onto some.

 

The reason that it cost so much is because it is part of a harness.
If you go to 4:50 in this video, you will see what I mean.

 

Yeah, I replaced all that with 4 gauge...it looks pretty though...I woulda gone 1/0 but I'm not likely to be hooking up a plow anytime soon and Im already half deaf from working on airplanes, so 4 gauge is fine...

 

I would agree that seems like a lot of money for just a positive battery cable, but it is more than just that, there are brackets and you get both the positive and negative sides, it appears.
Plus in todays market, nothing is cheap, copper isn't cheap anymore. Be thankful you actually found them still available.

Two options, make one like Monkeybizness did, buy new, or buy used. Found one on the Ebayz for $98, not sure I would trust it, but Ebay does have 30? day guarantee? Maybe not on a used one though.
Tasca has one for $398 new. 2001-2004 Ford Battery Cable 2L3Z-14300-AA | TascaParts.com
Used on Ebay. OEM NEW 2001-2004 Ford F-150 Positive Battery Cable Assembly 2L3Z-14300-AA #220 | eBay

I hope I grabbed the right part number for you.

 

$315 at Rock Auto

 

Your reason for changing cables is bad, and expensive, and might not solve your problem. There are simple tests that you can do - resistance measurements, voltage drop measurements, etc. - that will tell you where your problem might be.

But the first most basic question would be - why are you needing to change the battery so often? Most batteries last 6 - 10 years.

 

Thanks everybody! Even with all thew due dads, is it possible to make a negative cable that hooks up, and does everything the facory cable did/does?