How do you charge a Car's Battery

wuufer001 · 04-05-2007, 01:52 PM

My friend's CR-V's battery is flat because the car hasn't been started for 2 weeks and now he doesn't know what to do. Should he just get a new battery or just charge it with another car? If charging will just solve the problem then how can it be done using another car's battery. How does the battery cables work, the + and - signs and the (black and red) color of the cables.
thanks

zzinco79 · 04-05-2007, 02:01 PM

Use jump cable to start car (of course you need other car to do this) and let the engine running for about 20~30 mins.

ehhhwik · 04-05-2007, 02:18 PM

yea, just jump start it and go for a short drive, run it through the revs to allow the batteries to be charged, the higher the revs, the faster the charging will occur, so REV THAT V-TEC!!

wuufer001 · 04-05-2007, 02:18 PM

do i connect + to + and - to - ....or....+to- and -to+?

777ER · 04-05-2007, 02:22 PM

red is for +
black is for - (ground)

Attach red + to postive terminal, black to the frame or the engine block, wait a few mins and start the car.

It takes a 9 mile drive to charge the battery back up to normal.

teknochild · 04-05-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuufer001

do i connect + to + and - to - ....or....+to- and -to+?

seriously?

go buy a trickle charger from autozone, someones going to get killed if you jump the car

SteveMD · 04-05-2007, 03:27 PM

+1

But yes, connect the batteries in parallel. Pos to pos and neg to neg.

Do it in series and watch your cables get hot.

So you have never jumped a car eh?

SoYank · 04-05-2007, 04:30 PM

How old is the battery? If it is more than four years old, I'd suggest getting a new battery. It will come charged so you'd just have to remove the old battery and insert the new battery, connecting the red cable to the positive (+) terminal and the black cable to the negative (-) terminal. Connect the black last. Ensure you remember to clamp down the battery onto its tray.

If you're in any way uneasy about jump starting your friend's car, you might want to use AAA (if you're a member) and then, as others have noted, go for a nice drive.

If you are going to jump start the car yourself, please take heed to what 777ER wrote and connect the black cable to a metal part of the frame or body, preferably on the opposite side of the car from the battery. Never connect both cables straight to the battery terminals.

Here are the steps to jump starting a car:

Ensure the cars are NOT touching. You should be able to comfortably walk between them but do not stand between them during the jumpstart.
Connect one red cable to the red positive (+) terminal on the source (live) battery. Hold the black cables away from the bodies of the vehicles. This is as much to prevent scratches as it is to prevent electrical connectivity.
Connect the other end of the red cable to the red (+) terminal on the flat battery.
Connect the black negative (-) cable to the metal body of the jumped vehicle away from the battery, ensuring the other end is not touching the source vehicle.
Have someone in the vehicle ready to attempt to start.
Connect the last black cable clamp to the metal body of the source vehicle, again away from the battery.
Attempt to start the jumped car. If it fails, leave the cables connected, wait a couple of minutes while increasing the engine speed of the source vehicle above idle, and try again. Repeat as necessary.
As soon as the car starts, remove the cables in the reverse order they were attached, black first. Ensure the cables do not make contact with the source vehicle until at least two clamps are removed.
Once the car is started, go for a nice drive.

The danger in jump starts is that during the recharge process the battery will produce hydrogen gas that accumulates around the battery. When the last cable is attached, if all other clamps have good connectivity, there will inevitably be a small spark. By making this connection away from the battery you reduce the chances of any hydrogen igniting. You certainly don't want the car to mimic the Hindenberg.

Scarabeo · 04-07-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

How old is the battery? If it is more than four years old, I'd suggest getting a new battery. It will come charged so you'd just have to remove the old battery and insert the new battery, connecting the red cable to the positive (+) terminal and the black cable to the negative (-) terminal. Connect the black last. Ensure you remember to clamp down the battery onto its tray.

If you're in any way uneasy about jump starting your friend's car, you might want to use AAA (if you're a member) and then, as others have noted, go for a nice drive.

If you are going to jump start the car yourself, please take heed to what 777ER wrote and connect the black cable to a metal part of the frame or body, preferably on the opposite side of the car from the battery. Never connect both cables straight to the battery terminals.

Here are the steps to jump starting a car:

Ensure the cars are NOT touching. You should be able to comfortably walk between them but do not stand between them during the jumpstart.
Connect one red cable to the red positive (+) terminal on the source (live) battery. Hold the black cables away from the bodies of the vehicles. This is as much to prevent scratches as it is to prevent electrical connectivity.
Connect the other end of the red cable to the red (+) terminal on the flat battery.
Connect the black negative (-) cable to the metal body of the jumped vehicle away from the battery, ensuring the other end is not touching the source vehicle.
Have someone in the vehicle ready to attempt to start.
Connect the last black cable clamp to the metal body of the source vehicle, again away from the battery.
Attempt to start the jumped car. If it fails, leave the cables connected, wait a couple of minutes while increasing the engine speed of the source vehicle above idle, and try again. Repeat as necessary.
As soon as the car starts, remove the cables in the reverse order they were attached, black first. Ensure the cables do not make contact with the source vehicle until at least two clamps are removed.
Once the car is started, go for a nice drive.

The danger in jump starts is that during the recharge process the battery will produce hydrogen gas that accumulates around the battery. When the last cable is attached, if all other clamps have good connectivity, there will inevitably be a small spark. By making this connection away from the battery you reduce the chances of any hydrogen igniting. You certainly don't want the car to mimic the Hindenberg.

Excellent advice - if you are jumping the E90, the positive connector is in the engine compartment. Always make the last negative connection to the body of the car...watched my father years ago blow-up a battery as the spark ignited the hydrogen gas..I wonder if the same hazard exists with these new fully sealed batteries?

E90330iS · 04-07-2007, 06:09 PM

Nice, that's a very detailed procedure!

Driv3r · 04-07-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teknochild

seriously?

go buy a trickle charger from autozone, someones going to get killed if you jump the car

I think ill agree with you on this one!!
+1

BK · 04-08-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

Here are the steps to jump starting a car:

I always thought you connect both + and - on the live battery, and only grounded the - on the dead battery car. In your instructions, you have the - grounded on both cars?

To be clear, this is the procedure I thought was correct: + on dead, + on live, - on live, - ground on dead. Is this wrong?

wuufer001 · 10-01-2007, 05:37 PM

happened again and its me this time, the warranty has passed and gonna cost me $170 to replace the battery if i the Merc guys in. i have to do it myself but the thing is the car is in the garage and i can't put in on neutral to back it out for me to charge. how else can i do it? the battery was replaced about a year ago. its a C320, will jump starting it mess up the computer?

Hawker 800XP · 10-01-2007, 06:12 PM

wuufer001 · 10-01-2007, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawker 800XP

will that work with a mercedes?

schneid4323 · 10-01-2007, 09:32 PM

I ground the negative when jumping, postive to pos, neg to frame.

schneid4323 · 10-01-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarabeo

Excellent advice - if you are jumping the E90, the positive connector is in the engine compartment. Always make the last negative connection to the body of the car...watched my father years ago blow-up a battery as the spark ignited the hydrogen gas..I wonder if the same hazard exists with these new fully sealed batteries?

Our battery is in the trunk, youll just blow up your lid

533ogetnom · 10-01-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teknochild

seriously?

go buy a trickle charger from autozone, someones going to get killed if you jump the car

schneid4323 · 10-01-2007, 09:37 PM

Wuufer do i need to teach you how to jump a car?

just4kickz · 10-01-2007, 10:50 PM

i like how the first responses dont really say shit.

Hawker 800XP · 10-02-2007, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuufer001

will that work with a mercedes?

Yes, any 12 volt system. $69.99.

wuufer001 · 10-02-2007, 01:07 AM

will the battery charge if i disconnect it from the car and use the battery charger first then stick it back in the car and run the car? cause i live in an apartment and they don't have and wall outlets. this thing is just getting in to me

04-05-2007, 01:52 PM	#1
wuufer001 Colonel 403 Rep 2,348 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 M/T Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DFW, TX//Taiwan//South Africa iTrader: (5) Garage List 2006 325i [9.34]	How do you charge a Car's Battery My friend's CR-V's battery is flat because the car hasn't been started for 2 weeks and now he doesn't know what to do. Should he just get a new battery or just charge it with another car? If charging will just solve the problem then how can it be done using another car's battery. How does the battery cables work, the + and - signs and the (black and red) color of the cables. thanks __________________
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04-05-2007, 02:01 PM	#2
zzinco79 Major 131 Rep 1,411 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rochester, NY iTrader: (8)	Use jump cable to start car (of course you need other car to do this) and let the engine running for about 20~30 mins. __________________ 2006 BSM 325i / ZPP / ZSP / Adaptive Xenon / BLK leather interior / Steptronic Eisenmann racing / K&N Ram charger / M5 rep. wheels / D1S 6000k / Brex white ring / OEM style rear trunk spoiler / M steering / OEM strut bar / Blk line tail light Future Mod Hamann lip spolier / Mtech rear bumper
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04-05-2007, 02:18 PM	#3
ehhhwik Brigadier General 118 Rep 3,431 Posts Drives: 09' BMW 335d, 07' BMW E92 328i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (5)	yea, just jump start it and go for a short drive, run it through the revs to allow the batteries to be charged, the higher the revs, the faster the charging will occur, so REV THAT V-TEC!! __________________ Current: 09' E90 335d - Titanium Silver/Black Leatherette/Sports Package/6AT Paddle Shift/USB Integration/19" Staggered Breyton GT Gloss Black Retired: 07' E92 328i (Jet Black)
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04-05-2007, 02:18 PM	#4
wuufer001 Colonel 403 Rep 2,348 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 M/T Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DFW, TX//Taiwan//South Africa iTrader: (5) Garage List 2006 325i [9.34]	do i connect + to + and - to - ....or....+to- and -to+? __________________
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04-05-2007, 02:22 PM	#5
777ER Lieutenant 37 Rep 561 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	red is for + black is for - (ground) Attach red + to postive terminal, black to the frame or the engine block, wait a few mins and start the car. It takes a 9 mile drive to charge the battery back up to normal. __________________ -Chris 2007 Montego Blue 328xi Sedan \| Poplar trim \| Steptronic \| Cold Package \| Power front seats w/memory \| Xenon Adaptive Headlights \| PDC \| 2008 Plate LED's \| PBX \| LUX v5.2
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04-05-2007, 03:27 PM	#7
SteveMD Colonel 201 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 2016 F10 535i MSport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Raventown! iTrader: (3)	+1 But yes, connect the batteries in parallel. Pos to pos and neg to neg. Do it in series and watch your cables get hot. So you have never jumped a car eh? __________________ 2006 E90 330i (retired) 2009 E90 335i (retired) 2012 E70 X5 50i M Sport (retired) 2016 F10 535i M Sport
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04-05-2007, 04:30 PM	#8
SoYank Major General 582 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	How old is the battery? If it is more than four years old, I'd suggest getting a new battery. It will come charged so you'd just have to remove the old battery and insert the new battery, connecting the red cable to the positive (+) terminal and the black cable to the negative (-) terminal. Connect the black last. Ensure you remember to clamp down the battery onto its tray. If you're in any way uneasy about jump starting your friend's car, you might want to use AAA (if you're a member) and then, as others have noted, go for a nice drive. If you are going to jump start the car yourself, please take heed to what 777ER wrote and connect the black cable to a metal part of the frame or body, preferably on the opposite side of the car from the battery. Never connect both cables straight to the battery terminals. Here are the steps to jump starting a car: Ensure the cars are NOT touching. You should be able to comfortably walk between them but do not stand between them during the jumpstart. Connect one red cable to the red positive (+) terminal on the source (live) battery. Hold the black cables away from the bodies of the vehicles. This is as much to prevent scratches as it is to prevent electrical connectivity. Connect the other end of the red cable to the red (+) terminal on the flat battery. Connect the black negative (-) cable to the metal body of the jumped vehicle away from the battery, ensuring the other end is not touching the source vehicle. Have someone in the vehicle ready to attempt to start. Connect the last black cable clamp to the metal body of the source vehicle, again away from the battery. Attempt to start the jumped car. If it fails, leave the cables connected, wait a couple of minutes while increasing the engine speed of the source vehicle above idle, and try again. Repeat as necessary. As soon as the car starts, remove the cables in the reverse order they were attached, black first. Ensure the cables do not make contact with the source vehicle until at least two clamps are removed. Once the car is started, go for a nice drive. The danger in jump starts is that during the recharge process the battery will produce hydrogen gas that accumulates around the battery. When the last cable is attached, if all other clamps have good connectivity, there will inevitably be a small spark. By making this connection away from the battery you reduce the chances of any hydrogen igniting. You certainly don't want the car to mimic the Hindenberg. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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04-07-2007, 06:09 PM	#10
E90330iS Major General 148 Rep 6,333 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arcadia, California iTrader: (56) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Nice, that's a very detailed procedure! __________________ 2017 BMW M4 DCT Lease Transfer: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8#post23736398
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10-01-2007, 05:37 PM	#13
wuufer001 Colonel 403 Rep 2,348 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 M/T Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DFW, TX//Taiwan//South Africa iTrader: (5) Garage List 2006 325i [9.34]	happened again and its me this time, the warranty has passed and gonna cost me $170 to replace the battery if i the Merc guys in. i have to do it myself but the thing is the car is in the garage and i can't put in on neutral to back it out for me to charge. how else can i do it? the battery was replaced about a year ago. its a C320, will jump starting it mess up the computer? __________________
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10-01-2007, 06:12 PM	#14
Hawker 800XP Enlisted Member 0 Rep 31 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Monterey, CA iTrader: (0)
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10-01-2007, 09:32 PM	#16
schneid4323 Banned 345 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: 335i, M6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	I ground the negative when jumping, postive to pos, neg to frame.
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10-01-2007, 09:37 PM	#19
schneid4323 Banned 345 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: 335i, M6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (0)	Wuufer do i need to teach you how to jump a car?
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10-01-2007, 10:50 PM	#20
just4kickz boku no namae ha... 344 Rep 11,023 Posts Drives: 2006 BS 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S. Bay Area, CA + Newark, NJ + ChiCity + True Blue iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	i like how the first responses dont really say shit. __________________ looking for a PreLCI Black Sapphire e90 front bumper without license plate holes "Akimbo shotguns. Broken wrists anyone? And don't give me that 'it's just a game' bull**. Where the are my akimbo interventions then?! One scope on each eye mother**er!!"
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10-02-2007, 01:07 AM	#22
wuufer001 Colonel 403 Rep 2,348 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 M/T Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: DFW, TX//Taiwan//South Africa iTrader: (5) Garage List 2006 325i [9.34]	will the battery charge if i disconnect it from the car and use the battery charger first then stick it back in the car and run the car? cause i live in an apartment and they don't have and wall outlets. this thing is just getting in to me __________________
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