Battery installation procedures

To assure safe installation and proper operation, follow these installation procedures:

1. Disconnect ground cable first (usually the negative cable; however, older vehicles may have a positive ground).

2. Remove old battery. Note the position of the positive (+) terminal and the negative (-) terminal. Mark the cables for correct connection to new battery.

3. Clean terminals and cable connections with a wire brush. Broken connections or frayed or cut cables should be replaced.

4. Place the new battery in the battery compartment with the terminals in the same position as the old battery. Secure the battery with the hold down assembly.

5. Do not allow the terminals to touch any metal mounting, engine, or body parts.

6. Connect cables tightly. Connecting the ground cable last will avoid sparks.

Jump-start procedures

· Examine both batteries. If they are not the same voltage, do not attempt to jump start. Do not jump start if the electrolyte is frozen.

· Bring the vehicles together. Do not allow the vehicles to touch.

· Set vehicle hand brake and turn off ignition switches. Set transmission in the park position for an automatic transmission or neutral position for a manual transmission. All switches and unnecessary loads should be switched off on both vehicles.

· Locate the ground cable and connect the booster cables. The connection should always be positive to positive or negative to negative depending on which terminal is grounded in the disabled (stalled) vehicle.

· Keep all observers at a safe distance. Batteries can explode and throw out corrosive sulfuric acid.

· Start the engine of the assisting vehicle. If the engine turns over but does not fire, the problem is not simply a battery problem.

· Turn off the engine of the assisting vehicle. With the engine of the stalled vehicle warming up and running smoothly, shut off the engine of the assisting vehicle.

· Disconnect the booster cables. Disconnect the booster cables in exactly the reverse order of the original connection.

· Keep the engine running. Keep the engine of the disabled (stalled) vehicle running until you can get additional service or a replacement battery.

1) Connect the positive (+) booster cable clamp to the positive terminal of the discharged (or stalled vehicle) battery.

2) Connect other clamp of the positive (+) booster cable to the positive (+) terminal of the "assisting" (or starting vehicle) battery.

3) Connect the negative (-) booster cable clamp to the negative (-) terminal of the assisting (or starting vehicle) battery.

4) Make the final connection of the negative (-) booster cable clamp to the engine block or frame of the stalled vehicle…away from the battery.

5) Start the vehicle and remove the booster cable clamps in the reverse order of the connections.

Last modified: 12June06.