Stupid Battery Question
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Stupid Battery Question
Really dumb, I know..... I removed an old battery and several days later, went to replace. Now I cannot remember if positive is on the left or right side.....The car is a 68 Convertible. I believe the Positive lead is on the left and negative is on the right.
Can anyone confirm? I did see a pic which confirmed this (attached), but then saw another that was opposite. Just want to make sure before I hook up incorrectly and cause an issue. Is the attached pic accurate?
Thanks in advance.
Mike
Can anyone confirm? I did see a pic which confirmed this (attached), but then saw another that was opposite. Just want to make sure before I hook up incorrectly and cause an issue. Is the attached pic accurate?
Thanks in advance.
Mike
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Thanks for the response.... So opposite from the attached picture? Are you saying if i look down at the battery when installed correctly assuming I am looking front to rear that positive is right and negative is left?
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by 6280LDO; Mar 31, 2015 at 11:53 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 297
From: Midlothian VA
Just stick your head under the car near the battery box and you'll see the ground/negative cable is bolted to the frame right below the box. That's the cable you connect to the battery ground no matter what orientation you place the battery in the box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,419
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
The negative is a short cable, grab a cable with your left hand and reach under the car and see if that is the one connected to the frame just where the picture shows.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,419
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Glad you got it.
Always better to ask first rather than take a chance and see smoke everywhere.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 904
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From: Crestline CA
Just a FYI...Rule of thumb is positive is typically inboard, in case of accident the positive is just that slight bit safer from shorting to ground. Not so much of a issue on a fiberglass car.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
don't follow a picture of the internet,
physically follow the wires, someone may have switched them previously.
The short battery cable goes to the car frame, this is your Negative cable.
Long cable going to Starter is Positive cable.
Do not assume, hooking up backwards can be an expensive lesson.
physically follow the wires, someone may have switched them previously.
The short battery cable goes to the car frame, this is your Negative cable.
Long cable going to Starter is Positive cable.
Do not assume, hooking up backwards can be an expensive lesson.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,715
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
Oddly enough some time in the Production run of the C3's they Switched. My 69 has the Battery Terminals forward and my 80 has them aft. So there for the in board out board color code is opposite.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 5
From: Springfield Missouri
In my 76 the terminals face rear and the negative is inboard. The way the clamp holds the battery down in the box, were I to turn the battery so the terminals faced forward, I'd not be able to get a wrench on them to tighten them down; they'd be under the lid frame.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
I never did understand why Chevy used black wire for both positive and negative battery cables...especially with the Corvette, where you can't see those cable's termination points. {likely a cost-saving thing}
Probably a good idea to color-code the positive cable in all of them! (piece of red electrical tape?)
Probably a good idea to color-code the positive cable in all of them! (piece of red electrical tape?)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
I never did understand why Chevy used black wire for both positive and negative battery cables...especially with the Corvette, where you can't see those cable's termination points. {likely a cost-saving thing}
Probably a good idea to color-code the positive cable in all of them! (piece of red electrical tape?)
Probably a good idea to color-code the positive cable in all of them! (piece of red electrical tape?)
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: leesburg va
on top post batteries the positive post is larger than the negative post and it's really hard to attach the cables if youre trying to put the wrong cable on the wrong post. they just wont want to fit.
i havent iooked at a side post but the same may ring true on the size of the cable bolts
i havent iooked at a side post but the same may ring true on the size of the cable bolts
