A battery clamp can loosen over time. This causes a battery operated vehicle to become non-operational. A tight battery connection is a must, and you can accomplish this with a little effort. The best repair is a complete replacement of the clamp, but there are temporary alternatives.
Clean the battery terminal and clamp. Sometimes a cleaning and tightening can solve the connection problem. If the clamp is still loose after cleaning and tightening, follow these simple steps: Slightly twist and turn the clamp to find the spot where it appears to be the tightest. Hold the clamp in the desired position, and insert a deck screw, wood screw or sheet metal screw between the clamp and the battery terminal.
Check to make sure you have not over tightened or inserted the screw too far in, as the clamp can break easily. It is not necessary to insert the screw any further than the point which provides a tight connection between the clamp and terminal (post). By inserting a screw through the battery cable into the battery terminal, a sufficient connection can be achieved until the battery can be replaced.
Be sure to remember that the wing nuts can become stripped, which does not allow for a tight connection on the battery cable.
Keep in mind that all of the above suggestions provide a temporary fix. Never use any of them as a substitute for a complete repair.
