Battery Problems
Disconnecting and Reconnecting Your Battery
If you’re going to do any work on your car involving electrical repairs especially with the electrical system, disconnect the battery first.
To do this, loosen the connector for the negative/ground terminal first, and wiggle the terminal cap off. Use a wire-tie or similar to tie the cable back out of the way. If you need to take the battery out, you can now take off the positive connector.
Why negative then positive?
If you disconnect the positive side of the battery first, the negative side is still connected to the entire car. If you drop a tool and it lands on the positive battery terminal and touches anything else on the car, you’ll have an electrical short. By disconnecting the negative first, you’re cutting off the return path for the current. Now, if a tool drops on to either of the battery terminals, it doesn’t matter if it touches part of the chassis or not – there’s no continuous path for the electrical current.
Reconnecting your battery.
Connect the positive terminal first, and the negative second – the reverse of removal, and for the same reasons. When you slip the negative connector on, there will be a spark as it gets close and makes contact with the negative battery terminal. Don’t be afraid of this – it’s nothing to worry about. Make sure the terminal caps are done up nice and tight.
Note that if your car radio is coded, disconnecting the battery will clear the code on the radio so ensure you have the code available to reset the car radio after the battery is reconnected. Also note disconnecting the battery on some cars may result in clearing codes from the cars computer which will need to be reset after the battery is reconnected. Our professional service technicians will be able to assist when required.
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ACE Auto Electrician
Electrical Repairs | Car Service
www.aceautoelectrician.com.au
CALL 13 20 42