02-01-2008, 10:30 AM
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#1
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Porscheectomy
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 3,011
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When you touch the negative jumper cable to the car, it can make a small spark because it should be the last wire connected to the car. The reason it's recommended to connect to a location other than the battery terminal is to make sure this little spark is far away from any potentially explosive gasses generated by and residing near the battery.
Use a strut bolt. Don't use the bolt that holds the negative cable to the chassis, it's right next to the battery. Don't use any other location that's right next to the battery.
Jumping and charging are very different operations. If you're charging your battery (which is better to do if you're not stuck somewhere), disconnect the battery from the car, attach the cables to the battery, and plug the charger into the wall.
Last edited by blue2000s; 02-01-2008 at 10:37 AM.
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02-01-2008, 11:23 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 644
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I have to agree with blue2000 regarding the placement of the cable, but as far as removing the battery.....although, it is the recommended way, IMHO, I think it's a bit tedious to remove the battery from the car each tiime you use the trickle charger.... I think that's fine if you're storing the car for long periods (re: winter), but leaving it in the car with the trickle charger on has not been deleterious as far as I know??? (re: unless you leave it plugged for days---although leaving the charger on for days is not good for the battery in either case) ... thawing out the battery in extreme cold conditions would be another reason I could think of at the moment that is also recommended ??? But again, ....never had a problem with leaving the battery hooked up in the car while using the trickle charger.... 
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02-01-2008, 11:31 AM
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#3
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Porscheectomy
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 3,011
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dcporsche99
I have to agree with blue2000 regarding the placement of the cable, but as far as removing the battery.....although, it is the recommended way, IMHO, I think it's a bit tedious to remove the battery from the car each tiime you use the trickle charger.... I think that's fine if you're storing the car for long periods (re: winter), but leaving it in the car with the trickle charger on has not been deleterious as far as I know??? (re: unless you leave it plugged for days---although leaving the charger on for days is not good for the battery in either case) ... thawing out the battery in extreme cold conditions would be another reason I could think of at the moment that is also recommended ??? But again, ....never had a problem with leaving the battery hooked up in the car while using the trickle charger.... |
Sorry for any confusion. I meant to disconnect the car's cables from the battery. This is to keep current draw on the charger from burning up the charger more than anything else.
I agree that you don't need to remove the battery from the car. I leave my battery attached to a battery tender in the car all winter. I've seen recommendations of removing the battery from the car to reduce the risk of hydrogen and oxygen gas build-up while charging, but if the car's in a ventilated area and the vent tube is left attached, there's not issues.
Last edited by blue2000s; 02-01-2008 at 11:34 AM.
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02-01-2008, 11:32 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 119
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Hey, when I went home for lunch, I jumped started the car using the bolt that holds the negative cable to the chassis, (had not read blue2000s's post until now)
My logic was that this is clearly a bolt attached to the frame so it seems safe to me as previous post suggested finding a bolt to attach the negative clamp to.....
It started right up, drove it to run some errands and back to work, probably a good 50 minutes total. Hopefully I won't be stuck in the parking lot after work.
blue2000's post "Don't use the bolt that holds the negative cable to the chassis, it's right next to the battery"
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02-01-2008, 11:54 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 644
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Hey Joshua6060,
Glad to hear you're up and running! 
Hey blue2000s,
Thanks for the clarification.
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02-03-2008, 11:45 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 84
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I had to jump mine at a friends a couple of weeks ago due to leaving the hood open for a couple of hours. I did not see any good place to connect the short cable to for negative, so just hit the negative post and it jumped.
I have not driven it for a week and it is dead again. Time for a new battery. OEM or aftermarket? Suggestions?
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02-03-2008, 12:27 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In the garage...
Posts: 1,738
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might wanna check the fluid level in the battery first and put it on a maintainer/charge first to see if it can be brought back (depending on how old). Otherwise, here's some info on replacements....
Mike Focke's Battery Replacement Info
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02-03-2008, 04:27 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 84
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Mike's got a great site! I now am thinking of going with an Optima. I have put them in my other cars. Cheers.
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