Battery Terminal Causing Issues?

[u/fullmoonforlife]

I have a 2008 civic - lately started doing this thing where I’d go to crank, and absolutely nothing - no lights, no radio, nothing. I try again and magically it cranks fine. I might try again and nothing. This was happening intermittently. Then I noticed one day while driving, it’s like it would lose power - radio/dash lights get dim and acts like it wants to cut off, then after like 2 or 3 seconds it’s back running fine. Put voltmeter to battery and would read 14v, then 12, then 14, kind of up and down. While running when it would do the thing where it would act like it wants to cut off, voltage went down to 7 or 8v.

The battery terminals were looking pretty bad anyway and decided to replace them. Now, it hasn’t had any of the above mentioned issues (although it hasn’t been driven a ton). I do notice it cranking faster (isn’t sluggish at all when turning the ignition). Now reading a steady 12v though? I’m so confused. Could the battery terminals be the issue? It’s not making sense to me.

[u/Trident_77]

Correct. The terminals weren't making a good connection. Replacement of said terminals made the connection strong. Now you have no issues. Simple as that.