C7 General Discussion General C7 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Jump starting

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 20, 2022 | 04:15 PM
  #1  
johnfin's Avatar
johnfin
Thread Starter
Drifting
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 73
Default Jump starting

What is the proper way to jump start a c7.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2022 | 04:16 PM
  #2  
eboggs_jkvl's Avatar
eboggs_jkvl
Moderator emeritus
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,951
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Default

Connect directly to the battery in the rear of the car.

Elmer
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2022 | 05:52 PM
  #3  
Avanti's Avatar
Avanti
Race Director
25 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,948
Likes: 6,753
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Default

As I recall, that's what the Manual says.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2022 | 07:50 PM
  #4  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,079
Likes: 24,732
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 12:56 PM
  #5  
brocco's Avatar
brocco
Pro
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 617
Likes: 292
From: New Joisey
Default

I see some refer to a "secret terminal" under the hood, what's that, is it real or a C7 myth ?

Found out it's a bunch of baloney, use the battery terminals to jump

Last edited by brocco; Mar 21, 2022 at 03:41 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 01:15 PM
  #6  
DTOM's Avatar
DTOM
Drifting
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 771
From: Miami
C7 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...rt+c7+corvette
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 01:28 PM
  #7  
Zjoe6's Avatar
Zjoe6
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,248
Likes: 4,740
From: SE WI
Default

Pages 295,296, 297, and 298 in the 2019 manual (attached). Although this should be the same for all years and models of C7.
Attached Images
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 03:28 PM
  #8  
Walt White Coupe's Avatar
Walt White Coupe
Race Director
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Default

Originally Posted by brocco
I see some refer to a "secret terminal" under the hood, what's that, is it real or a C7 myth ?

Found out it's a bunch of baloney, use the battery terminals
The terminal under the hood can be used to charge the battery.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Mar 21, 2022 | 03:29 PM
  #9  
eboggs_jkvl's Avatar
eboggs_jkvl
Moderator emeritus
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,951
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by Walt White Coupe
The terminal under the hood can be used to charge the battery.

Correct, but should not be used to jump start.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2022 | 03:21 PM
  #10  
The Successful Plumber's Avatar
The Successful Plumber
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 582
From: North Western Wyoming
Default

Connecting directly to the negative terminal of the dead battery contradicts how I thought was safe. This is how I do it to avoid causing the dead battery to explode.

https://www.healthsafety.com/article...g-dead-battery
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2022 | 10:12 PM
  #11  
ersatz928's Avatar
ersatz928
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 849
From: New Jersey
Default

There is no technical reason that the underhood terminal shouldn't be used for a jump start, as a matter of fact it is a better place to jump start, as it is a lower resistance connection to the starter.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2022 | 10:15 PM
  #12  
Skid Row Joe's Avatar
Skid Row Joe
Team Owner
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,042
Likes: 4,610
Default

Originally Posted by johnfin
What is the proper way to jump start a c7.
Instructions are in your car's Owners Manual......
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2022 | 10:47 PM
  #13  
The Successful Plumber's Avatar
The Successful Plumber
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 582
From: North Western Wyoming
Default

If you’re going to connect a jumper cable directly to the negative terminal of a dead battery. Make sure you at least have safety glasses on.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2022 | 11:13 PM
  #14  
Spicy16's Avatar
Spicy16
Instructor
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 119
Likes: 119
From: DFW Texas
Default

Originally Posted by ersatz928
There is no technical reason that the underhood terminal shouldn't be used for a jump start, as a matter of fact it is a better place to jump start, as it is a lower resistance connection to the starter.
Actually there's a very good reason not to use the underhood terminal... The wire is not of sufficient gauge to carry the current necessary to spin the starter. That is why on my 16, the fuse panel on the battery explicitly says to jump start by connecting directly to the battery terminals.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2022 | 11:14 PM
  #15  
Steve_R's Avatar
Steve_R
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,208
Likes: 3,892
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
Default

Originally Posted by ersatz928
There is no technical reason that the underhood terminal shouldn't be used for a jump start, as a matter of fact it is a better place to jump start, as it is a lower resistance connection to the starter.
What?

Reply
Old Mar 23, 2022 | 08:45 AM
  #16  
Walt White Coupe's Avatar
Walt White Coupe
Race Director
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Default

Originally Posted by Spicy16
Actually there's a very good reason not to use the underhood terminal... The wire is not of sufficient gauge to carry the current necessary to spin the starter. That is why on my 16, the fuse panel on the battery explicitly says to jump start by connecting directly to the battery terminals.
I agree. It wouldn't state that in the manual if there wasn't a good reason for that caution.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2022 | 09:15 AM
  #17  
ersatz928's Avatar
ersatz928
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 849
From: New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by Spicy16
Actually there's a very good reason not to use the underhood terminal... The wire is not of sufficient gauge to carry the current necessary to spin the starter. That is why on my 16, the fuse panel on the battery explicitly says to jump start by connecting directly to the battery terminals.
That is NOT true, That terminal stud, at the back of the underhood fuse box, is where the long heavy wire from the battery pos terminal, connects to a short heavy wire that goes to the starter. The high current for the starter goes through that underhood terminal stud every time you start your engine. Take a look at the wiring diagram.

That underhood stud is where the battery +12V feeds the electric power steering, the electric radiator fan, the alternator, the underhood fuse box, and the starter.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Jump starting

Old Mar 23, 2022 | 01:49 PM
  #18  
SouthernSon's Avatar
SouthernSon
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,063
Likes: 1,166
From: N. Alabama
Default

Which ever method you use, be sure to completely charge the battery asap. The alternator is not intended to completely charge a dead battery. It can and probably will shorten the life of the alternator.
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2022 | 02:23 PM
  #19  
sjw91's Avatar
sjw91
Drifting
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 817
From: Melbourne FL
Default

The Corvette owners manual specifically states that you should jump the battery directly, not under the hood. Chevrolet is well aware of the other terminal in the fuse box, but they don't want you jump starting from there. I'm assuming it could induce damage to all the circuits going through the fuse box.

My BMW and Lexus had batteries in the trunk. In those cars, the positive terminal under the hood was in it's own red box with a big + on it, and it was far away from any fuse box. Those owners manuals state that's where the cars should be jump started from.

Reply
Old Mar 23, 2022 | 02:43 PM
  #20  
The Successful Plumber's Avatar
The Successful Plumber
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 582
From: North Western Wyoming
Default

I like where you’d connect jumper cables on my 2004 2500 Silverado. Didn’t connect to the battery at all, very safe.



Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:29 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE