How to Connect Wires to a Battery Terminal

Last Updated: September 4, 2020

The wire connection to the battery terminal significantly influences the performance of your car. It is the electrical connection of your car and it works like a power house. Just like any other battery, it stores power and supplies it to its connected devices. Many functions in your car including car on/off, radio etc. depends on it. If you are facing problem in any electrical-based system in your car, then you need to review your terminal. In most cases, the connection of wires to the battery terminal will be the necessary evil.

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Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparation

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1
Wear safety equipment. Wear your safety equipment, properly, every time you are modifying your car. You can add any other personal protective equipment if necessary as it can harm your eyes or any part of your body.
- Use spectacles, gloves, closed-toe shoes etc. It will be much more flexible to do this job with latex gloves.
2
Check if your car is on or off. Be sure that it is turned off. It is essential to do this thing anytime working with the electrical system of a car. There is a great chance of getting an electrical shock, or even it can harm your car.
- Make sure that your car display shows "PARK BRAKE ENGAGED". You need to disengage it before driving. It will add an extra layer of security.
- Safely hide the key so no one starts the car without your watching.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding the Battery Terminal

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1
Review the user manual of your car for better locating of the terminal as it should have an illustrated view. It has different locations based on the automakers. Generally, it is located near the nose or front or the engine compartment of your vehicle. It is large in size, black in colour, and there are two metal terminals in which the wires are attached.
- The owner's manual will help you to locate the battery terminal.
2
Recognize the positive and negative terminals which are usually coloured. Black wires are for negative and red wires are for the positive terminal. In some cases, you will find both colours are the same. You need to find any type of red/black or plus/minus indicators/signs. Moreover, the positive wire links to the starter and the negative wire couples to the engine block or body of the car. It will be helpful for you to review the user manual.
- Determine the positive and negative terminal by various coloured signs. If you cannot find it, then refer to the user manual. It will save your time.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Attaching the Wires to the Battery Terminal

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Remove all the plastic protective boxes. Remove any dirt or paint from the wire. Ensure that the end of the wire is bare so that it can pass electricity.
Use a bolt to connect the wire. Use your full strength to tighten it as much as possible. Ensure that the bolt is in a fresh condition. Remove any kind of dirt from the bolt.
Find the hole and use a bolt to attach it to the block or the body through the engine bay. Make sure that the wire is not touching the belts.
Double-check if the wires are installed properly. If any problem occurs, then tighten the wires.