Periodically check the full length of every battery cable to detect damage, broken or burnt insulations, corrosion due to low sticking or corrosion of connections may cause problems with the machine starting and loss of engine performance. Inspect the cable-to-terminal connections by checking them to determine the presence of cracks, loose wire strands, and corrosion; if there are white, fluffy deposits beneath the insulation, then the connections are corroded and require replacement. It is also important to ensure that when removing cables, the negative cable would be disconnected first and last to ensure that the battery is not shorted. Unplug the former cables out of the battery, following them to their opposite ends, in order to remove them out of the starter solenoid and ground connector, observing the route to follow them properly. In case of replacement, bring the old ones along so that the same parts can be taken since the positives ones are usually in red and bigger, whereas ground ones are usually in black and smaller. Use a wire brush to clean the threads of the solenoid or ground connection by cleaning away any rust and corrosion and grease it with a light coating of battery terminal corrosion inhibitor or petroleum jelly to avoid future problems. Connect the cable to the solenoid or ground connection, and screw the mounting nut or bolt. Prior to attaching a new cable to the battery, it must fit into the battery post exactly as it is, without being stretched, firstly the positive cable, then the negative cable.