How to Disconnect and Reconnect the Car Battery

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[hugodacosta]

I have learn this like this: if I need to disconnect my battery, that means that I cannot ride, so that is a sad thing (a NEGATIVE thing); but when I connect the battery, that means I can ride again, so that's a cool thing (a POSITIVE thing). Call me childish but it works.

[neostephens]

As I like to say, "Start with black and end with black".

[senior_ranger]

Funny, 50 years ago I was writing repair manuals for Chilton. First step for nearly everything was always, "Disconnect the negative battery cable." I wrote that so many times, it's seared into my brain!!

[acu]

First thing first, always roll down the driver side window, if you have power to the car or leave the door open. I have looked myself out and other friends have had similar experiences. Wanted to share.

[akaCamo]

There have been a few suggestions on how to remember which cable to remove or connect first. Here is how I remember which cable to grab first.
When you add cables (hooking the battery back up) you are Adding so start with the (plus sign) Positive side cable.
When you want to remove a cable you are Subtracting so start with the (minus sign) Negative side cable.

[simonilett]

Thank-you for doing this very short and to the point video.
This is such a misunderstood subject, and it gets me fired up when I see people do it wrong.
I always tell people, disconnect negative first, and reconnect negative last.
I really like another guy's way to remember it:
If your taking away (the battery) remove the minus cable first.
If you're adding (the battery) connect the plus cable first👌

[MrSuzuki]

Perfectly done!! Using this sequence prevents a spark from jumping from the battery terminal to the battery cable clamp. Sparking the positive terminal can cause an electrical spike throughout the car's electrical system which can damage high tech gadgets as well as the alternator. Use the same sequence for connecting jumper cables. When connecting a battery charger, connect the clips in any order, then plug the charger into the wall outlet.

[MrSuzuki]

Perfectly done!! Very few people know what you just presented. See my comments below. The correct sequence as seen in this video also applies to connecting and disconnecting battery charger clips, although the safest way is to connect the charger's clips in any order, then plug the charger into the wall outlet. Either way avoids sparking the positive terminal of the battery.

[EdgarAllanGo]

Straight and to the point! Perfect video

[bobhilder]

Also, if you have to use a metal wrench, wrap the handle with electrical tape. It is quite easy for the wrench to simultaneously touch both the positive and negative of the battery creating a short circuit.

[Steven_Rowe]

There is a very good reason you disconnect the black eath lead first and then reconnect it last.
If you disconnect the red lead first and your spanner makes contact with any earthed part of the car then you then have a short circuit between the earthed body and the spanner on the positive, the result could actual cause the battery to explode or cause a very large spark and or the spanner getting that hot that it could actually melt the spanner.
Once the earth is off then it doesn't matter if the positive shorts to eath, the only thing you could do wrong is short the battery terminals out with the spanner which would be the same.
By putting the positive on first again shorting out the earth terminal with the spanner to an earth on the car body or engine block will be OK as there is no voltage difference between the earth terminal and the body, ie they are both grounded.

[sturdybutter]

Perfect video. Everything you need to know, nothing you don’t.

[Devo]

Seeing how close you came to shorting out the battery with the spanner reminded me of the time I did this, and the circuit was completed via my wedding-ring. The ring was instantly red-hot, and seared into my finger big-time. Had to cut the ring off, and took weeks to heal. Electrocution is almost impossible with a 12-volt battery, but that's not the only danger.

[ivans.]

Best to keep the cover of positive terminal in place until you disconnect the negative one, to prevent accidentally shorting with the wrench. Same goes when you connect the terminals to the battery.

[erikaalbury]

Just the info I needed. Clear and concise. Thank you.

[poopandfartjokes]

This dude had to reset his radio clock just for this video. That’s dedication!

[ronaldstevenson]

I was an auto electrician at the Ford assemblyy plant. In Australia cars with computers connect negative first then positive, to disconnect it's positive first then negative. This is to prevent an electrical spike damaging the computers. DC voltage runs from negative towards positive.

[chipdayton]

You don't remove the negative cable first, you remove the ground cable first. It is almost always the negative cable, but on older cars from the 50s and back, positive was often the ground cable.

[goochi]

your terminals are clean. shows that you know how to take care of your car.

[DrcJr]

Ground is First and Ground is Last. Easy way to remember.