Battery cable mess

Hello all!

I'm about to switch out a battery in my 1989 B2200. I'm seeing that the negative cable has had a spliced in addition... I think I'm looking at the original which was formerly hooked to the block and is now laying loose, a new section of cable is attached and run directly to the frame.

Now, everything was working just fine until the battery went dead and I just realized this morning the main fuse (80a) was blown. Just replaced that.

I'm a bit confused.. Not really a handy automotive person in the first place... Just so I'm clear, My positive battery cable should be the one on the right side that splits into kind of a harness and the negative cable should be on the left, and originally ran to the block and somewhere else??

I'm concerned about hooking up my new battery that I just bought until Im sure I know what I'm doing.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

If you're standing in front of the truck looking at the battery the negative battery post should be on the left closest to the passenger side fender frame. The loose cable should be attached to the engine block and the engine mount bracket. My original negative cable has two connection points. The positive battery cable should be connected directly to the starter. Another reference is the battery itself it should have the polarity symbols next to the battery posts.

Thanks, CAB+RIDER! I'm all good now. I just got all bewildered by the sight of another negative cable lol. Should I get rid of the old cable that's connected to the block? I can't imagine how or why someone would have left this cable attached and laying loose??

She started right up with new battery and new main fuse! Hooray!

I'd get color-coded cables with red for positive and black for negative; or paint my existing cables those colors.

Thanks, Cusser!

I'm all good with my cables. I guess I went the overly wordy way with my issue. I was just all confused and wondered if there was something terribly wrong with the cables because someone had done something goofy with one side.

Dano connecting that loose negative cable to the engine block and the other end to the passenger fender wall together with the negative cable from the battery is a factory specification. Maybe a noise eliminator for your audio electronics or for the charging system circuitry.