I hate posting things that just let everyone else know how dumb I am...but I've never actually had to disconnect a battery. The replacement parts for my Ice Link come in tomorow, and I have to disconnect the battery to install it. Electricity scares the hell out of me, so I didnt even want to try anything without knowing exactly the right way. Thanks guys!

 

Just use a small wrench to remove the brass clamp attached to the battery terminals. Usually, one removes only the positive (red) side.

 

It's actually safer to remove the negative cable. If you inadvertently touch the wrench you are using against a metal part of the car, you will end up with sparks flying and the potential for some serious damage if you do this on the positive terminal. Disconnecting the negative terminal breaks the circuit but does not have the hazard of inadvertent arcing because the terminal and the rest of the chassis are at the same potential. When replacing a battery, disconnecting the negative terminal first and reconnecting negative terminal to the new battery last is safest.

This also benefits Cooper S owners in a different way. The positive battery cable contains a disconnect system in case of an accident. Minimizing the disconnecting and reconnecting of that cable helps to prevent any inadvertent damage to it. If damaged, the entire cable will need replacing (it goes all the way to the front of the car) at a cost of around 600 dollars. The disconnect system is actually a tiny explosive charge, and is monitored and triggered by the airbag system. That's what the big black 'cover' on the cable houses, and what the two small wires running to it are for.

Non-S cars dont have this item.

 

As Greatbear said, it’s always safer to disconnect the ground cable first.

After you reconnect the battery you’ll have to re-initialize the windows (and sunroof if you have it).

To initialize the windows raise the window and hold the window switch in the raised position for 5 or 6 seconds.

To initialize the sunroof close the sunroof with the switch. Then hold the switch in the tilt (raised - not open) position for about 15 seconds. When the roof moves from tilt to closed initialization is completed.

 

Sometimes, I need to just keep my mouth shut and wait for greatbear to offer the more correct info. . . .

I did learn my lesson once about only disconnecting one of the terminals. I disconnected both while working on my Land Rover and asked my buddy to hook it up so we could see if the new alternator was going to work. He did not know the difference between red and black and when I turned my key, the vehicle's wiring harness erupted in a huge cloud of blue smoke!

One thing I can tell you is that it takes a LOT of work to re-install the blue smoke into your wiring harness. In fact, it is actually easier to replace the wiring harness with a new one that has the full amount of blue smoke already installed.

 

I thought your answer was good Yucca. I always took the red or positive side off of my old panel truck - it was a positive ground system though.

 

Yes, remove the ground (-) black wire from the battery. If the car
is going to be parked inside, you should keep one of the side windows
cracked open so that you don't damage the seals when you open
the doors (if your trunk is going to be closed too).

 

Don't think you want to close the boot while the battery is disconnected, since its and electric latch, and the battery is back there

Nik

 

i didn't know that! :smile:

 

But didn't MINI put the emergency boot release back in, starting with the 04's?

 

Nik, is right-on with that recommendation. I've had my battery out and/or disco'd at leat 20 or so times. It's a real pia to have to crawl back there from the front to connect everything - especially if you have to haul the battery as well...

I now just put a folded piece of paper over the latch area so it doesn't catch

Anyone install a battery quick-disconnect on their MINI? I've thought about it a few times. Just hand-turn a **** on the negative lead...

 

Congratulations, you just invented the poor man's anti-theft device. Make it simple to reach, but inconspicuous, so even if they've got your keys, they won't notice it under the hood if they check.

Even better, don't get a full rack of toggles (blasphemy!), and install your interrupter there.

Possibilities abound!

 

Yeah, my '04 has a manual hatch release under the back seat

 

Actually, if you do a lot of work on your car, it would do to keep a couple of cans of blue smoke handy. I keep mine right beside my box of various size holes.

You can find them on-line.


edit: I was going to add that I usually get the band-aids handy and go ahead and fill the garage with blue smoke before I work on the car. Saves time.

But I don't think I want to admit that.

 

I see you have a chrome interior. Those seats gotta be uncomfortable. All good advice. I press the cable to the body of the car while removing the bolt, leaving the clamps &the soft lead of the battery post alone.

 

So does my 03 MC