Disconnect the Negative Battery Terminal

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

1. Caution: This will reset clocks, radio presets, and potentially some computer memory. Only do this if comfortable working with battery terminals.
2. Locate the car battery.
3. Using an appropriate wrench (often 10mm), loosen the nut on the NEGATIVE (-) battery terminal clamp.
4. Carefully lift the negative cable clamp off the battery post. Tuck it aside securely so it cannot accidentally touch the terminal.
5. Do NOT disconnect the positive terminal unless necessary for other work.
6. When ready to use the car again, reconnect the negative terminal clamp and tighten the nut.
7. 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.