Should I disconnect positive or negative for storage?

If you plan on storing a vehicle for an extended period, it's advisable to disconnect at least the negative terminal from your car battery. This prevents unnecessary battery drain, as a fully charged battery can hold its charge for 6-12 months if you do this.
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What terminal do you disconnect for storage?

Which battery terminal should be disconnected for storage? It is always recommended to disconnect the negative terminal first. When connecting the battery, however, the order will be opposite: Positive end first, then negative terminal after.
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Is it better to disconnect the positive or negative?

When disconnecting the cables from the old battery, disconnect the negative first, then the positive. Connect the new battery in the reverse order, positive then negative.” When you are replacing your car battery, It isn't always easy to remember the order in which to disconnect and reconnect the terminals.
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Should I disconnect battery when storing car?

Answer provided by. It's true: disconnecting your car battery is always a good idea if you plan on putting your car in storage. The car will use up the battery for no good reason if you leave it connected. Disconnect the negative cable first, always, then disconnect the positive cable second.
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Is it OK to just disconnect the positive terminal?

Be safe: always disconnect negative first. Disconnected either terminal will prevent drain, as stated already. A battery tender is another safe way to maintain the battery.
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Here’s Why Disconnecting Your Battery Will Destroy Your Car



Do I need to disconnect both battery terminals for storage?

If you plan on storing a vehicle for an extended period, it's advisable to disconnect at least the negative terminal from your car battery. This prevents unnecessary battery drain, as a fully charged battery can hold its charge for 6-12 months if you do this.
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How do I disconnect my car battery for storage?

In order to disconnect the battery, all you have to do is remove the cable from the negative port. Do not let the negative and positive cable ends touch under any circumstances.
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Is it OK to just disconnect the negative terminal?

Disconnect battery negative cable

It is a good practice to always disconnect your negative battery terminal first, to minimize the risk of sparks that can lead to car electronics damage and battery explosion. Once you have located the negative terminal, use the wrench to free the nut that tightens the terminal.
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How do I keep my car battery from dying when not in use in winter?

Tricks for Keeping Your Car Battery Charged in Cold Temperatures
  1. Park your car in the garage, away from the wind. ...
  2. Pause before turning on accessories. ...
  3. Juice it up! ...
  4. Keep your battery free of dirt and debris. ...
  5. Get your battery checked before winter hits.
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What battery cable do I take off to check alternator?

You can check the alternator by simply starting your car and then disconnecting the negative battery cable. Be careful doing this, though, because there are a lot of moving parts in your engine compartment that could cause injury.
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What happens if I disconnect positive first?

It's important to disconnect the negative side of the battery first, otherwise you can cause an electrical short if the positive is removed first.
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Which battery terminal must be disconnected first and why?

Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery

You should always remove the negative battery terminal first, to reduce the risk of sparks which can make the car battery explode. Once the negative terminal has been located, use the wrench to loosen the nut that holds the terminal.
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Does removing the positive battery cable reset computer?

While disconnecting the battery will not permanently damage your vehicle's computer, it can cause it to function differently. That's because, if you disconnect your battery for long enough to reset the computer, it may cause the processor to forget everything it has learned.
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How do I stop my car battery from dying when I go on vacation?

How to Maintain Your Sitting Car Battery
  1. If in a secure garage, disengage security system to preserve battery. ...
  2. Charge battery weekly by driving car for at least 30 minutes. ...
  3. Disconnect the negative battery terminal to preserve your battery. ...
  4. Get a portable jump-starter.
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Can you leave a trickle charger on all winter?

Some trickle chargers can be left on a battery indefinitely. These would be used on a vehicle that is not used all the time or is stored away for the winter or the summer. A trickle charger built specifically for this is left on in the event that the vehicle is needed in an emergency or other unexpected situation.
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Does an idling car charge the battery?

Does the Battery Charge if You Let the Car Idle? The simple answer to this question is yes, your car's battery will start to charge as long as your engine is running.
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How often do you need to start your car to keep the battery from dying?

The easiest thing you can do to prevent your car battery from dying is to start your car once a week and letting it run anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. You can even take it for a drive around the block, which should provide just enough power to recharge the battery and keep it alive for another week or so.
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How do I store my car for 6 months?

If you're storing a vehicle for six months, fuel stabilizer should help prevent corrosion in the fuel lines and engine. Add fuel stabilizer to a nearly full gas tank. It's also a good idea to change your car's oil and oil filter as well as check and top up all other fluid levels before storing your car.
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Which battery cable do I disconnect to reset engine light?

Reset Your Check Engine Light Manually
  1. Turn off the ignition. ...
  2. Identify the negative battery terminal, which is usually marked by a black cap and a negative (–) symbol. ...
  3. Use a wrench to loosen the negative terminal bolt, and then take the negative cable and hold it aside.
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Can you touch battery terminals together?

Whenever you touch the battery cables together and drain the capacitors the clock will lose its memory, the radio stations will need to be reset, all fault codes will be cleared, the outside temperature may take some time to relearn, any systems with security codes will need to be reset and the computer will need to ...
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Does it matter which battery terminal I disconnect first?

Disconnect the Battery Cables

Make sure you disconnect the negative terminal first. Lay the disconnected negative cable carefully to one side, making sure it's well away from the battery terminal. Disconnect the cable from the positive battery terminal in the same way, then lay it to one side.
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What terminal do you remove first on a battery?

Always work on the negative terminal before the positive when you disconnect your battery. Grab a socket from your socket kit and hold it near, but not against, the nut on the negative terminal of your battery.
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