Which terminal to connect first when installing car battery

Before attempting to disconnect and reconnecting the battery from the vehicle, ensure all electrical equipment is turned off including the ignition system, air-conditioning, lights and radio. Remove the keys from the ignition and if the vehicle has a Frequency Operated Button (FOB) with keyless entry, the FOB should be kept at least 2 metres clear of the vehicle.

In vehicles that have a computerised electrical system, disconnecting the battery may erase memory from the engine control module (ECM), transmission control module (TCM), clock, radio, security codes and navigation systems. A battery backup can be used to retain memory by plugging a power source into the cigarette lighter socket, OBD (On Board Diagnostic) plug or using jumper leads on the positive terminal lead and earthed to the vehicle body.

If you need to reset the battery management system (BMS), FOB or Idle Stop Start (ISS) system in the case of the warning below, the drivability of the vehicle will be restored after completing at least one drive cycle. The drive cycle is usually defined in your vehicle manual.

 WARNING

• Always read the battery health and safety procedures before new battery installation.

• Vehicles that have BMS, FOB’s and ISS functionality may need to be powered down by disconnecting the battery to reset the system and prevent damage to the vehicle and new battery.

• Before disconnecting the battery from a vehicle fitted with an ISS system, the battery monitoring sensor will need to be disconnected from the battery earth lead.

• Battery backups or battery chargers must not be connected directly to the battery sensor terminal as this can cause damage to the sensor. The earth lead should always be earthed to the engine block or vehicle body.

NOTE: When possible always refer to the vehicle's user manual.

 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR
 VEHICLES FITTED WITH AIR BAGS

Removal or replacement of battery connections will not unintentionally trigger an air bag system. However removal of battery connections with the ignition remaining “ON” can cause damage to electronic components including the airbag system – always check to ensure the ignition is “OFF” before removing either battery terminal.

Before carrying out any work on the electrical system beyond the battery, the air bag system must be electrically disabled. Never indiscriminately probe the electrical wiring/connectors in the vicinity of the steering column.

The wiring and harness connectors of most air bag systems are bright yellow; do not interfere with any harness of this colour. As an added safety measure it is recommended that no person should remain seated behind the steering wheel while any electrical service work is carried out on the vehicle.

Removal of Old Battery

1. Note the location of positive terminal and mark polarity on positive cable.

2. Remove the negative (-) terminal first. This precaution is necessary to avoid damage to wiring and the battery by accidentally grounding tools.

3. Remove the positive (+) terminal.

4. Undo hold down clamp and remove the battery from the vehicle.

New Battery Installation

1. Check battery height to ensure there is sufficient bonnet clearance.

2. Inspect tray and area for corrosion. If necessary, scrub the area with a water and baking soda mix and rinse with water.

3. Corroded steel parts should be dried and painted with acid proof paint. Terminals should be cleaned and brushed.

4. Cable and starter motor connections should be checked and tightened if necessary.

5. If terminal clamps or cables are badly corroded, they should be replaced.

6. Place the new battery in the tray, ensuring it sits level and that terminal posts are positioned same as the battery.

7. Place and tighten the hold downs securely so that the battery cannot move in the tray.

8. Apply a thin coating of high temperature grease to the posts and cable connections.

9. Replace cables, ensuring positive cable is first followed by the negative. Tighten connections. Note: Do not over tighten.

10. Never hammer cable connections onto battery posts, as this can damage the battery posts and cover.

When installing a new battery to a car, the most common dilemma is which battery terminal to connect first. The concern is understandable since you are dealing with something that could possibly cause you harm or injury if not done the right way.

Which car battery terminal should we connect first? The positive terminal should be connected first when installing a new car battery to a car.

If you connect the negative terminal first, the car’s entire frame becomes grounded together with the nuts and bolts of the frame. Once you connect the positive terminal and the spanner touches the frame or any grounded part of it, a short circuit may occur that could cause the battery to explode.

Connecting the positive terminal first, on the other hand, would not cause any harm even if the spanner gets in contact with the frame.

11 Steps To Change The Battery Of Your Car

This question on which battery terminal to connect first comes up in relation to installing a new battery in a car.

Car batteries, just like everything else in this world, do not last forever. However, well you take care of your batteries, there will come a point when it will die and will have to be replaced.

You can bring your car to a mechanic to have the battery changed or you can do it yourself in the privacy of your garage. Changing a battery is not a difficult job. It can be done quickly and easily with a minimum of fuss if you know how.

In this article, I will give you a DIY battery changing project. So, read on and learn how to do it, phase by phase and step by step.

There are three phase and eleven steps involved in changing a car battery. The three phases are:

1. Preparation stage
2. Removal of the old battery
3. Installing the new battery

Phase ! – Preparation stage

Step 1, determine if your battery really needs a replacement

Sometimes there are other reasons why a car won’t start. It may not necessarily be the battery or maybe it’s the battery but a replacement is not really necessary. It will be a waste of time and money to replace your battery only to find out that it really does not need to be replaced. So, before anything else, do the following:

● Check for sulfate buildup on the battery terminals. This bluish gunk surrounding the terminals could be due to a loose seal that is causing the acid to leak out.
Sometimes, simply removing this gunk, cleaning the battery terminals and tightening the seal would solve the problem of a bad battery.
● Find out if the battery has been properly charged by driving the car for around 30 minutes without turning on the air conditioner and other electrical accessories.
● Inspect the alternator. There are times when the diode in the alternator malfunctions, and this is causing the battery drain.

Step 2, buy the correct battery replacement

Once you’re sure that your battery is truly moribund, the next thing to do is determine what kind of new battery you’ll need to replace the old one. When you go to an auto parts store, bring this information plus info on the make, model and engine size of your car.

Better yet, bring the old battery to the store. When you bring your old battery when buying a new one, you don’t get to pay a core charge for buying a new battery.

But to be able to bring the old battery to the auto part store, you should know how to remove the old battery first. The instruction on how to do this is given in detail below.

Step 3, prepare and secure the working area

If you are going to change your battery inside your garage, make sure that the surface is level and there is no open flame nearby. Refrain from smoking or admonish anyone close by not to smoke too.

Observe also the following precautions:

● Engage the parking brake
● Wear gloves and goggles as protection from the sulfuric acid solution of the electrolyte.
● Take out the lighter from the lighter socket and replace it with the memory keeper. The CMOS or complementary metal oxide semiconductor will retain the settings and the automobile components’ Pincodes and ensure that they don’t get deleted once the battery is disconnected. Without a memory keeper, you should check which electronic devices will be affected ( information is available in the car’s manual) when you remove the battery,.note down the Pincodes of these devices before proceeding.

Phase !! – Remove the old battery

Step 4, find your car’s battery

The best way to find out where the battery is located is to consult the owner’s manual of your car. In most cars, the battery is situated in the trunk; in some under the hood or under the floorboard and in others, concealed from view inside the wheel well.

Step 5, Locate the battery terminals

Locate the terminals and identify the positive and negative terminals including the cables attached to it The positive terminal is normally colored red with a + sign while the negative terminal is usually black with a – sign. In some cases, it will be the cable of the positive terminal that will be colored red and black cable for the negative terminal.

Step 6, Detach the terminals

In detaching the terminals, you start with the negative. Pry out the cable nuts of the negative terminal using a wrench and disengage the cable from the battery post. If the cable has no distinctive markings, such as being colored red, indicating that it is for the negative terminal, put a label on it to avoid confusion. Mixing it up with the cable for the positive terminal could botch the electrical system of your car. Set aside the negative cable away from the battery.

An important reminder, also disconnect the socket for the negative terminal first. Disconnecting the positive terminal socket ahead of the negative could cause a short circuit.

Repeat the process for the positive terminal!

Some words of caution: Make sure that no metal object gets into contact with both battery terminals at the same time, Also, never allow your wrench to touch the car’s frame or fender and the positive terminal simultaneously.

Step 7, Lift the battery out

Once you have disconnected the terminals, remove the clamps that secure the battery to the battery tray and slowly lift the battery. Take care not to jolt the battery too much. You can use a battery carrying strap for this purpose.

Phase !!! – install the new battery

Step 8, clean the terminals, clamps and battery tray

Once you’ve removed the old battery from the car, the next step would be to install the new battery. But, before you do that, make sure that the terminals, as well as the accompanying cables, are clean and free of corrosion.

If the terminals and cables need cleaning, clean them with a mixture of water and baking soda using a tool meant specifically to clean battery terminals or with a wire brush. Clean clamps and terminals mean better and more effective connection.

Clean the battery tray as well!

Step 9, install the new battery

Place the new battery on the battery tray, where you removed the old battery, with the terminals correctly positioned and clamp it securely to the tray.

Step 10, connect the terminals of the new battery

Before connecting the terminals, make the battery posts corrosion resistant by putting anti-corrosion washers over them. You can also apply a small amount of anti-corrosion grease both on the battery posts and the terminals as an added measure.

Connect the POSITIVE terminal to the positive post first and use a wrench to tighten the connection.

Repeat the process for the negative terminal!

Step 11, test if the battery is securely installed

Check if you have securely installed the new battery by wiggling it a little. If it budges, tighten the clamps that fasten it to the tray until no more movement is perceived.

Finally, you have installed a new battery successfully, Congratulations!!!

Go forth and ride off into the sunset, secure in the knowledge that you have a well-installed new battery that won’t die on you.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to install a new car battery properly, you won’t be asking anymore which battery terminal to connect first. Didn’t I tell you, installing a new battery is quick and easy, all you need is the right direction?

This is one skill all drivers should have, changing car batteries. If you notice, easy it might be,but caution is still required since you are dealing with a potentially harmful substance here, the sulfuric acid solution in your battery.