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[Webby the Bear]

Hi all,

I was thinking yesterday that there's some very simple jobs that I don't know how to do... simply cos I've never been shown

One being I know nothing about the car battery. I've of course seen a car having jump leads used on it but don't know how to or anything else about the battery.

...So I read a guide online.

Firstly, removing and replacing a battery. Simply unscrew the lead to the ''-'' negative terminal (has to be the negative off first as it could short circuit but why?). Then the positive unscrewed. Then pull out and replacement is reversal of removal?

Secondly, using jump leads. Is this what's known as ''jumping'' a car? Am I right that if batteries dead, attach the respective ''+'' and ''-'' leads to the respective terminals and attach in the same way to your ''helper'' car. start the helper car, run for a few mins, try and start the dead bat. car and then a good run for the alternator to charge the battery?

And finally, how do you check if you need a new battery? I know there are expensive tools to check the voltage being produced. Anything I can check wuithout this?

Cheers all. Again, sorry if questions are retarded but I genuinely don't know and would like to learn 

[henryd]

Hi all,

I was thinking yesterday that there's some very simple jobs that I don't know how to do... simply cos I've never been shown

One being I know nothing about the car battery. I've of course seen a car having jump leads used on it but don't know how to or anything else about the battery.

...So I read a guide online.

Firstly, removing and replacing a battery. Simply unscrew the lead to the ''-'' negative terminal (has to be the negative off first as it could short circuit but why?). Then the positive unscrewed. Then pull out and replacement is reversal of removal?

Secondly, using jump leads. Is this what's known as ''jumping'' a car? Am I right that if batteries dead, attach the respective ''+'' and ''-'' leads to the respective terminals and attach in the same way to your ''helper'' car. start the helper car, run for a few mins, try and start the dead bat. car and then a good run for the alternator to charge the battery?

And finally, how do you check if you need a new battery? I know there are expensive tools to check the voltage being produced. Anything I can check wuithout this?

Cheers all. Again, sorry if questions are retarded but I genuinely don't know and would like to learn 

the reason its negative first to disconnect is because if you did the positive first and the spanner that you were using should touch surrounding metal work there would be big flash and sparks and stuff as the spanner would complete the circuit,so disconnect negative first and reconnect last

[Webby the Bear]

Ok thanks Henryd.

Does every other process I've highlighted seem correct?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Nope.

For jump starting you should.

Both vehicles off

Connect the positive terminals first.
Then connect the ned lead to the neg terminal of the running vehicle.
Connect the neg lead to the ENGINE on the vehicle requiring jump starting.
Start and run the good vehcile with a few revs on for a few minutes so as to get a bit of juice into the flat battery
Then start the car with the flat battery.
Remove negative connections first starting with the one connected to the engine.

Reasoning being that the final connection is likely to spark and a flat battery could have been gassing.....and I have seen a battery blow up when the spark lights the hydrogen!

The other lesser reasons are that it reduces the series resistance to the starter on the flat vehicle by eliminating the neg connection.

[henryd]

Nope.

For jump starting you should.

Both vehicles off

Connect the positive terminals first.
Then connect the ned lead to the neg terminal of the running vehicle.
Connect the neg lead to the ENGINE on the vehicle requiring jump starting.
Start and run the good vehcile with a few revs on for a few minutes so as to get a bit of juice into the flat battery
Then start the car with the flat battery.
Remove negative connections first starting with the one connected to the engine.

Reasoning being that the final connection is likely to spark and a flat battery could have been gassing.....and I have seen a battery blow up when the spark lights the hydrogen!

The other lesser reasons are that it reduces the series resistance to the starter on the flat vehicle by eliminating the neg connection.

So have I and it aint nice ,nor is the shower of acid that comes with it

[Webby the Bear]

Cheers Mark, that's perfect

Is removing and replacing how i've said to do it correct? 

[YZ250]

Firstly, removing and replacing a battery. Simply unscrew the lead to the ''-'' negative terminal (has to be the negative off first as it could short circuit but why?). Then the positive unscrewed. Then pull out and replacement is reversal of removal?

Yep, disconnect - negative first, + positive second. I personally undo the negative, wrap a rag around it and tie it out of the way, then undo the positive and do the same with that. It makes it easier to drop in the new battery without it getting caught up on the leads, especially if you have to feed it into the jacket. It may seem a bit over the top but ensures that the terminals don't touch any metal parts. 

[Webby the Bear]

Firstly, removing and replacing a battery. Simply unscrew the lead to the ''-'' negative terminal (has to be the negative off first as it could short circuit but why?). Then the positive unscrewed. Then pull out and replacement is reversal of removal?

Yep, disconnect - negative first, + positive second. I personally undo the negative, wrap a rag around it and tie it out of the way, then undo the positive and do the same with that. It makes it easier to drop in the new battery without it getting caught up on the leads, especially if you have to feed it into the jacket. It may seem a bit over the top but ensures that the terminals don't touch any metal parts. 

Cheers mate 

[bored bigyin54]

or you can use a power pack if you got auto box its easier then jump starting with another car which i will have to do to the silver one monday

[Webby the Bear]

or you can use a power pack if you got auto box its easier then jump starting with another car which i will have to do to the silver one monday

can you not jump lead an automatic then ralf? 

[Andy B]

or you can use a power pack if you got auto box its easier then jump starting with another car which i will have to do to the silver one monday

can you not jump lead an automatic then ralf? 

Yes you can jump start an auto, good job really as you'd struggle to bump start one  Just suggesting a power packis easier than using  A N Other car to jump from .......... although that depends how handy the other car is & how long your jump leads are. 

[Webby the Bear]

Sorry Andy, what's bump starting? 

[Andy B]

Sorry Andy, what's bump starting? 

You're pulling my leg ................ aren't you 

Push starting = bump starting ie push car as fast as you can, dip clutch & select 2nd gear, quickly raise clutch to spin engine. Hopefully car will start!! NB make sure your wife/girl friend/other has actually turned the ignition on as originally requested. 

[Webby the Bear]

Sorry Andy, what's bump starting? 

You're pulling my leg ................ aren't you  Push starting = bump starting ie push car as fast as you can, dip clutch & select 2nd gear, quickly raise clutch to spin engine. Hopefully car will start!! NB make sure your wife/girl friend/other has actually turned the ignition on as originally requested. 

No mate. I've never had to do this or ever been shown 

[Webby the Bear]

But thanks for info though