Jumpstarting a C3....
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Jumpstarting a C3....
When the battery runs out on a 1976 C3, I have the option to jump start the engine with cables.
It is however difficult to connect the cables to the battery poles, those types are on the vertical side of the battery connected with small headed screws.
So my question is if there is any "pole" somewhere in the engine compartment for quicker and better access like in newer modern cars -i.e.Mercedes and BMW - where the battery is stored in the trunk?
Thanks
It is however difficult to connect the cables to the battery poles, those types are on the vertical side of the battery connected with small headed screws.
So my question is if there is any "pole" somewhere in the engine compartment for quicker and better access like in newer modern cars -i.e.Mercedes and BMW - where the battery is stored in the trunk?
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
I don;t know about any poles ion the engine compartment and I don't hink I would try at the alternator for fear of blowing something, but they make adapters for the side mounts that give you a larger positive and negative post to put the jumper cables onto.
Also, if you get a battery tender, you will never need to worry about your battery needing to be jumped again as it will always be at 100% and will not get overcooked as a regular charger would do. I have used battery tenders on all my cars for years and when I start one up after sitting for 6-9 months, it starts like it was driven an hour ago. Good investment I learned about the hardway after buying a few Mercedes Benz batteries at over $200 for a car that wasn't driven very often.
Also, if you get a battery tender, you will never need to worry about your battery needing to be jumped again as it will always be at 100% and will not get overcooked as a regular charger would do. I have used battery tenders on all my cars for years and when I start one up after sitting for 6-9 months, it starts like it was driven an hour ago. Good investment I learned about the hardway after buying a few Mercedes Benz batteries at over $200 for a car that wasn't driven very often.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
DO NOT connect to anything under the hood when jump starting (unless its the starter itself).... starters pull a couple hundred amps when you turn the key, and the only wire large enough to handle that amount of current is that big 'ole fat wire that goes directly from the battery to the starter.
anything else you'll fry and risk starting a fire.
if you really cant get the clamp on the battery terminal, get a battery that has both side and top terminals.
anything else you'll fry and risk starting a fire.
if you really cant get the clamp on the battery terminal, get a battery that has both side and top terminals.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
I also think Kragen, AutoZone and the others sell a post converter that connects to the side posts and turns it into a standard post.... but then your buying BUBBA stuff.... If your having that much battery issues then either find the source of the problem or invest in a top post or a dual post battey that has both top and side posts.
EDIT: I found the posts i was talking about... don't buy these i think they are junk... but if you want to try them out then for 2.99 plus tax it might be worth it. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...number=LCSTCP2
Good Luck
jim
EDIT: I found the posts i was talking about... don't buy these i think they are junk... but if you want to try them out then for 2.99 plus tax it might be worth it. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...number=LCSTCP2
Good Luck
jim
Last edited by luerja; Apr 7, 2006 at 07:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Originally Posted by luerja
I also think Kragen, AutoZone and the others sell a post converter that connects to the side posts and turns it into a standard post.... but then your buying BUBBA stuff.... If your having that much battery issues then either find the source of the problem or invest in a top post or a dual post battey that has both top and side posts.
EDIT: I found the posts i was talking about... don't buy these i think they are junk... but if you want to try them out then for 2.99 plus tax it might be worth it. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...number=LCSTCP2
Good Luck
jim
EDIT: I found the posts i was talking about... don't buy these i think they are junk... but if you want to try them out then for 2.99 plus tax it might be worth it. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...number=LCSTCP2
Good Luck
jim
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 663
Likes: 63
From: Ft Myers FL
Have you looked for problem that is causing your battery to fail? Unless you do this, it really doesn't matter whether you have side posts or top posts, it is always going to be a PITA!
If your problem is that you let the car sit for a while between starts, then as mentioned earlier you should look at the Battery Tenders. I have one on my '69 to keep the battery fresh all the time. They say it will even extend the life of the battery, plus they are pretty cheap for what they are doing for you.
If your problem is that you let the car sit for a while between starts, then as mentioned earlier you should look at the Battery Tenders. I have one on my '69 to keep the battery fresh all the time. They say it will even extend the life of the battery, plus they are pretty cheap for what they are doing for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Originally Posted by Rich427
Have you looked for problem that is causing your battery to fail? Unless you do this, it really doesn't matter whether you have side posts or top posts, it is always going to be a PITA!
If your problem is that you let the car sit for a while between starts, then as mentioned earlier you should look at the Battery Tenders. I have one on my '69 to keep the battery fresh all the time. They say it will even extend the life of the battery, plus they are pretty cheap for what they are doing for you.
If your problem is that you let the car sit for a while between starts, then as mentioned earlier you should look at the Battery Tenders. I have one on my '69 to keep the battery fresh all the time. They say it will even extend the life of the battery, plus they are pretty cheap for what they are doing for you.
also, whenever I park the car, i disconnect my battery. Being in school still, it will sit for a few weeks at a time.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Originally Posted by icyvette
When the battery runs out on a 1976 C3, I have the option to jump start the engine with cables.
It is however difficult to connect the cables to the battery poles, those types are on the vertical side of the battery connected with small headed screws.
So my question is if there is any "pole" somewhere in the engine compartment for quicker and better access like in newer modern cars -i.e.Mercedes and BMW - where the battery is stored in the trunk?
Thanks
It is however difficult to connect the cables to the battery poles, those types are on the vertical side of the battery connected with small headed screws.
So my question is if there is any "pole" somewhere in the engine compartment for quicker and better access like in newer modern cars -i.e.Mercedes and BMW - where the battery is stored in the trunk?
Thanks
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
jumpstarting...faulty ignition switch?
Thank you all for your answears, 
-in the meantime, I found out the battery is good,- I wrongly expected it to be low as the car has been sitting since mid december last year.
Something must be fault in the wiring from the ignition key switch to the starter, or with the ignition switch, I cranked the engine twice like normal, and then the starter decided to take a break.
But I can crank the engine by connecting the poles on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver
, so the battery and the (new) starter is OK.
The question now is...where is the fault?
When I turn the Ignition key, all the instrument lights are normal, but the engine RPM needle jumps like a frog up and down.
Is it a big process to remove the ignition key switch for a check or change?
Icyvette
-in the meantime, I found out the battery is good,- I wrongly expected it to be low as the car has been sitting since mid december last year.
Something must be fault in the wiring from the ignition key switch to the starter, or with the ignition switch, I cranked the engine twice like normal, and then the starter decided to take a break.
But I can crank the engine by connecting the poles on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver
, so the battery and the (new) starter is OK. The question now is...where is the fault?
When I turn the Ignition key, all the instrument lights are normal, but the engine RPM needle jumps like a frog up and down.
Is it a big process to remove the ignition key switch for a check or change?
Icyvette
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 246
Likes: 1
From: Alpine Texas
My car sat for 2 wks while we had ice storms 2 weekends in a row and couldn't go out/didn't want to go out in the vette. When we had a nice day and I wanted to drive it to work the battery was dead. This is a brand new (August) Optima battery that I didn't expect to be dead in December. I borrowed a trickle charger from my mechanic and the next day it was good as new. I think it's draining from somewhere, and I'm going to get one of the battery tenders, too. I don't know how to find out where the drain is coming from. Is this hard to find out?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
My car sat for 2 wks while we had ice storms 2 weekends in a row and couldn't go out/didn't want to go out in the vette. When we had a nice day and I wanted to drive it to work the battery was dead. This is a brand new (August) Optima battery that I didn't expect to be dead in December. I borrowed a trickle charger from my mechanic and the next day it was good as new. I think it's draining from somewhere, and I'm going to get one of the battery tenders, too. I don't know how to find out where the drain is coming from. Is this hard to find out?
You can test for the circuit by putting a meter in series with the batt, verify there is a current draw and start pulling fuses until you see the current draw drop. That will give you a good idea what is drawing the battery down.
It's probably the radio or some accy, maybe a solenoid.
However I have found once one of those AGM batteries gets drained one really good time it never bounces back.
Battery tenders are
IMHO.
Last edited by jnealg; Dec 26, 2013 at 07:17 AM.
