Description
Disconnecting the battery physically isolates it from the car's electrical system, stopping parasitic drain from components like clocks, alarms, and computers.
Recipe/Instructions
- Caution: This will reset clocks, radio presets, and potentially some computer memory. Only do this if comfortable working with battery terminals.
- Locate the car battery.
- Using an appropriate wrench (often 10mm), loosen the nut on the NEGATIVE (-) battery terminal clamp.
- Carefully lift the negative cable clamp off the battery post. Tuck it aside securely so it cannot accidentally touch the terminal.
- Do NOT disconnect the positive terminal unless necessary for other work.
- When ready to use the car again, reconnect the negative terminal clamp and tighten the nut.
- Note: Self-discharge will still occur slowly even when disconnected, so this isn't ideal for multi-month storage without occasional charging.
What makes the Dish Special
N/A - Effectively stops parasitic drain but requires manual disconnection/reconnection and resets vehicle memory.