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Car Forum / Honda Cars / January 2006replace battery order
In the battery instructions, it gives this order: 1. disconnect negative terminal on dead battery 2. disconnect positive terminal on dead battery 3. replace with new battery 4. connect positive terminal to new battery 5. connect negative terminal to new battery Anyone know the reason for disconnecting the positive terminal last and connecting the positive terminal first? Intuitively, I would want to the do the exact opposite: disconnect the positive (hot) first, and connect it last. It is done that way to avoid a possible spark. Scott > In the battery instructions, it gives this order: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > the do the exact opposite: disconnect the positive (hot) first, and > connect it last. ===================================== Because the whole chassis of the vehicle is connected to the NEGATIVE cable, it's best to remove that wire first. That way you remove 90% of your chances of shorting the positive to anything while removing it with your (steel) pliers or wrench. If you did it the other way around, when you start unbolting the positive terminal you could weld the pliers to the battery hold-down bracket, the firewall, the fuel filter, brake lines, hood, etc. The spark can splatter molten metal in your eyes and start a fire in your clothing or your shop. Such a short can also fry your computer, apparently. If the short stays shorted more than a few milliseconds, (a fully charged) battery can explode in a boiling flaming mess of sulfuric acid. 'Curly' > Because the whole chassis of the vehicle is connected to the NEGATIVE > cable, it's best to remove that wire first. That way you remove 90% of > your chances of shorting the positive to anything while removing it with > your (steel) pliers or wrench. That helps, didn't know the negative cable was connected to the chassis. Let me ask this scenario then: So you've got the new battery seated in there (nothing connected yet). Now you're connecting the positive clamp to the positive terminal. Your wrench handle touches the chassis while the teeth are on positive terminal. Isn't this still going to cause a short since the chassis is ground? > > Because the whole chassis of the vehicle is connected to the NEGATIVE > > cable, it's best to remove that wire first. That way you remove 90% of [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > the teeth are on positive terminal. Isn't this still going to cause a > short since the chassis is ground? --------------------------- No, because the negative side of the battery isn't connected to anything yet, so there's no 'path' from positive to negative. Same idea as the first part of the procedure. Your owner's manual has an interresting procedure for boosting your Honda. Similar process and a few extras included. (protecting the computer). 'Curly' > No, because the negative side of the battery isn't connected to anything > yet, so there's no 'path' from positive to negative. OK, thanks, got it now! I wish manuals would give some explanations for why certain procedures are followed. It helps to understand the underlying reason, because it helps you remember the procedure. It's pretty amazing how many people don't know the real reasons for the order for jump starting a car (including me, until now). I was reading some forums, and most people know to attach the negative cable to the dead car's chassis to avoid sparking an explosion. But most people didn't think that the rest of the order mattered. > In the battery instructions, it gives this order: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > the do the exact opposite: disconnect the positive (hot) first, and > connect it last. ===================================== Because the whole chassis of the vehicle is connected to the NEGATIVE cable, it's best to remove that wire first. That way you remove 90% of your chances of shorting the positive to anything while removing it with your (steel) pliers or wrench. If you did it the other way around, when you start unbolting the positive terminal you could weld the pliers to the battery hold-down bracket, the firewall, the fuel filter, brake lines, hood, etc. The spark can splatter molten metal in your eyes and start a fire in your clothing or your shop. Such a short can also fry your computer, apparently. If the short stays shorted more than a few milliseconds, (a fully charged) battery can explode in a boiling flaming mess of sulfuric acid. 'Curly' |
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