Spark when reconnecting battery
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
Spark when reconnecting battery
I have a stock radio on my 2002 C5, so I just started installing a Double Din Pioneer DMH-2660NEX. Once I was done with the install, I went to reconnect the negative side of the battery and I’m getting small sparks almost every time. Has anyone else experienced this? I ordered all of the parts from Crutchfield, and even ordered the ReadyHarness so I didn’t have to mess around soldering anything, but do you think I may have missed a connection which is causing the battery to spark? I’m nervous to continue trying to connect the battery because I don’t want to fry anything, including myself!
Last edited by Extoncorvette; Sep 10, 2020 at 09:44 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 437
Likes: 182
From: Renton WA
I've owned many cars in my life and have had this happen on the majority of them. I'm not saying it is normal but I've never had them have an electrical failure.
I'm sure it is caused by some kind of ground or loop in the system. That's the extent of my expertise. Hopefully someone more adept pipes in.
I'm sure it is caused by some kind of ground or loop in the system. That's the extent of my expertise. Hopefully someone more adept pipes in.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
I have a stock radio on my 2002 C5, so I just started installing a Double Din Pioneer DMH-2660NEX. Once I was done with the install, I went to reconnect the negative side of the battery and I’m getting small sparks almost every time. Has anyone else experienced this? I ordered all of the parts from Crutchfield, and even ordered the ReadyHarness so I didn’t have to mess around soldering anything, but do you think I may have missed a connection which is causing the battery to spark? I’m nervous to continue trying to connect the battery because I don’t want to fry anything, including myself!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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Any car that has computes will have an immediate draw of power to turn on and that's the spark you see. I've disconnected my battery and friends hundreds of times overs the 20 years of owning it. Manny many upgrades and broken parts over the years. Well that's my experience.
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Had that happen many times also. Normal as far as I can tell.
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Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
Thanks to everyone for the replies; I taped up my wrench in electrical tape, put on a pair of rubber gloves and tightened the nut as it crackled and sparked a little. No issues at all and I love my new stereo.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,390
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From: Cincinnati OH
Cruise-In I Veteran
BTW, this is also why you always, ALWAYS connect ground last!
This also applies to jump starts.
You will always get a spark when connecting the last terminal.
If the last one is positive, the spark surge may take out an electronics module.
That's the start of a really bad day.
Spark surges on the ground side seldom cause any problems.
This also applies to jump starts.
You will always get a spark when connecting the last terminal.
If the last one is positive, the spark surge may take out an electronics module.
That's the start of a really bad day.
Spark surges on the ground side seldom cause any problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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Sorry
