04 battery disconnect
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
04 battery disconnect
hi new member. I bought an 04 a couple weeks ago. I'd like to hook up a battery disconnect switch to prevent battery rundown during the winter. My car has those odd looking cable terminals that they apparently only used one year (?). Can anyone suggest a battery disconnect switch that will work well with the stock terminals and handle the current draw during starting?
thanks for any help. I've learned a lot from this forum already.
thanks for any help. I've learned a lot from this forum already.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
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Will the car be stored where there is electrical power available? If so, you should get a battery maintainer which will keep the battery at a full charge. Look at either the Deltran Battery Tender or the CTEK maintainer. Both of these maintainers come with detachable clamps and ring terminals on separate harnesses. Easy to install and they work great.
If you don't have electrical power available, you may want to consider simply removing the battery from the car. Extremely cold temps can hurt a battery that is not fully charged. It can sit inside with no problems; just get a cheap plastic battery box for it.
I've never used a disconnect switch as I will use my C5 off and on throughout the winter months. But I always have my Deltran Battery Tender Junior hooked up I use the ring terminal harness and mount the positive wire to the large stud next to the fuse box and to a good ground. All I have to do is to remove the power cord from the harness and start the engine. I even leave the hood closed as the harness connector will extend to the wiper tray.
If you don't have electrical power available, you may want to consider simply removing the battery from the car. Extremely cold temps can hurt a battery that is not fully charged. It can sit inside with no problems; just get a cheap plastic battery box for it.
I've never used a disconnect switch as I will use my C5 off and on throughout the winter months. But I always have my Deltran Battery Tender Junior hooked up I use the ring terminal harness and mount the positive wire to the large stud next to the fuse box and to a good ground. All I have to do is to remove the power cord from the harness and start the engine. I even leave the hood closed as the harness connector will extend to the wiper tray.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
thanks for the reply
yes the car is in a garage with electric available. I don't like the idea of having the hood open all that time so I can keep my battery charger connected. I'll see if I can figure out some way to close the hood on it.
Pulling the battery is an option but a switch would make the whole process a lot easier.
yes the car is in a garage with electric available. I don't like the idea of having the hood open all that time so I can keep my battery charger connected. I'll see if I can figure out some way to close the hood on it.
Pulling the battery is an option but a switch would make the whole process a lot easier.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
I think the 04's had the top post batteries. You can get a disconnect switch that looks like the picture below from Advance or Autozone. Make sure you install it on the NEG terminal.
Last edited by MAC5; Nov 9, 2015 at 08:54 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Chandler Az
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
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From: North Carolina
Everything I've ever read has said disconnect the negative battery cable first. If your breaking the circuit with a switch at the battery it only make sense the same rule applies. The reverse is true if reattaching the cables. Positive first, Negative last.
Google battery replacement processes, several articles are available.
http://www.pepboys.com/parts/batteries/diy_replacing/
Google battery replacement processes, several articles are available.
http://www.pepboys.com/parts/batteries/diy_replacing/
Last edited by MAC5; Nov 9, 2015 at 09:06 PM.
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I run a Deltran Battery Tender Plus on my car and use the alligator clips to hook to the battery terminals. I then just drape the wires over the passenger fender and close the hood down without latching it. I do put an old soft towel between the wires and the painted surface for some protection. Never had any issues with leaving the hood open just a crack and the battery is kept fully charged at all times.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
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From: Columbia SC
I don't like to keep batteries on trickle chargers for a long time. I prefer to pull the batteries and store them outside the car using the charger. I don't want an overcharging event to happen I don't catch. I figure if I'm not going to be driving it for several months it doesn't need a battery.
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
I run the CTEK But pull the battery in the winter as the car is stored in a bag. In the summer, if the car won't be driven from some time I connect the CTEK and close the hood so it simply rests on the latches, i.e., don't latch it. This leaves enough room for the cables to exit. I then wrap a clean soft rag around the cables just in case I trip over them I don't scratch the car. What can I say, its been known to happen
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 807
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Everything I've ever read has said disconnect the negative battery cable first. If your breaking the circuit with a switch at the battery it only make sense the same rule applies. The reverse is true if reattaching the cables. Positive first, Negative last.
Google battery replacement processes, several articles are available.
http://www.pepboys.com/parts/batteries/diy_replacing/
Google battery replacement processes, several articles are available.
http://www.pepboys.com/parts/batteries/diy_replacing/
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
The removal and install sequence really has nothing to do with it's effect on the electrical system. (not saying you claimed it does) It's a safety procedure. Removing/installing the positive side first could result in the tool contacting a metal component or the negative terminal causing anything from a large spark, welded wrench and or melted terminal(s). Removing/installing the negative terminal and contacting a metal component, other than the positive terminal, will have no consequence. Having said that, there is not a lot, if any, grounded metal in close proximity to the battery on a C5 leaving the opposite battery terminals as the main concern.
in regard to your commentYour absolutely correct, there are two ways to skin that cat. When I am answering a question, especially one that I know the answer either from personal experience or reading presents a possible hazard I prefer to pass along the process less likely to get someone into trouble. Always keeping Rule #1 first.
Rule #1
Last edited by MAC5; Nov 10, 2015 at 11:30 AM.
