side post terminals
 

Has anyone else had problems with side-post terminals pulling away from the contact? Consequently, I have to pop the hood and push in the cable so it makes contact while someone else starts it. It kind of sucks when you have to do it by youself. Should I replace the battery or what? Any suggestions?

never had that problem but just recently switched to side posts. i would buy a new battery, if you arnt tight on dough a nice dry cell is good. i have ran optima for 4 years, only one problem when my alternator fried the battery but with the optima warrenty i got a new one for free :D

Take the cables and cut the rubber off the end that attaches to the battery. Obtain a 3/8 by 1/2 inch long bolt, with a nut. (one for each post) Run the nut all the way to the head of the bolt, then thread the bolt through the hole in the cable terminal and turn it untill it bottoms out in the battery. Then with a 9/16 wrench, turn the nut towards the battery untill the cable terminal end is tight against the battery.
This keeps everything tight, and gives a great place to hook jumper cables/charger to. It also gets rid of the 5/16 head fitting that always gets rounded onless you have a box end wrench to use.
You could also just replace the cables with new ones or nice junk yard cables.

I buy the lead connections with 3/8 9/16 head bolts

I just keep a 5/16" box-end in the glove box of any car that has side-posts.

Do what Longhorn Man said. Remove the cable and look at the "face" of the cable were it makes contact with the battery. The "boot" for the cable end usually extends slightly further than the "face". Get a razor blade and trim around it to cut it back to ensure there is always a solid contact between it and the battery.

thanks guys, I'll have to go out there tomorrow afternoon and start messing around with her. Hope I don't fry myself.

Note: Disconnect battery before messing with it.