| Author | Message | ||
| John Delvac (Johndelvac)
Junior Member Username: Johndelvac Post Number: 197 Registered: 11-2001 |
I almost never unplug mine. I've only done it when away from home and with fear of theft. The previous owner always had it unplugged. | ||
| Steve (Steve)
Junior Member Username: Steve Post Number: 248 Registered: 2-2001 |
Here's a trick I've seen. If you have seen the newer snow plows they have 2 plugs mounted in the grill. 1 of these plugs supplies 12v to the elect. pump and it is heavy guage wire.So what you do is take this pigtale and attach it to your battery and run it out to the grill.Now for us that have to have a front licence plate you mount this plug behind the plate.So if you need to charge the battery you take the other pigtale with the mating plug and hook it up to a battery for a jump or a charger. Don't need to open up the hood any more. Sorry for the folks who havn't seen a snowplow hook up but that means you can drive the Fcar all year round. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Junior Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 121 Registered: 8-2002 |
I do something similar, using the battery tender with cigarette lighter plug since it's a pain to get to the battery, and I just leave this connection plugged in through the cigarette lighter when the car is in the garage. Easy in, easy out. Actually, I have a 2-connector adapter plugged in to the cigarette lighter, which has its own LED which tells me it's making a good connection. In one of the receptacles goes the Schumacher's "plug", and in the other is a simple battery voltage gadget that tells me what the actual voltage is. If only the red light is on, the voltage may not start the car. Red and yellow is ok, red/yellow/green means your car battery is fully charged. I got the gadget at Wal-Mart some years ago. Together it's a great arrangement. Below is a picture of the setup.  | ||
| Robert Mann (Robertmann)
New member Username: Robertmann Post Number: 28 Registered: 2-2001 |
Carl, They are telling you correctly. I have used the battery tender, or equal, for years and just plug it into the wall and then into the cigarette lighter when you are not going to be using the car for a few days. It is cheap and simple. Have you had the chance to enjoy the car since you had the problems getting it to you ? Robert Mann | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
Advanced Member Username: Magoo Post Number: 3672 Registered: 2-2001 |
David, I like the twice a day same time, CYA statement, It shows you are thinking. | ||
| VS (Vs1)
Junior Member Username: Vs1 Post Number: 59 Registered: 10-2002 |
Congrats Carl. Did you get a chance to take it out yet? Let's see some pics. I installed a "battery tender" today as well. Like JRV said Sears has them pretty reasonably priced [1.25 amp] and that's the one I'm using as well. I connected the "permanent plug" but ran it down along the battery and wire tied to the chassis below. It's a tight fit to wiggle your arms under the car to connect - but sure beats fussing for the plug in the spare tire comparement. Figured I'd just cap the plug off with some tape to keep the plug contacts clean when driving. Then just reach [actually stretch] underneath and reconnect when it's back in the garage..........V | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 320 Registered: 5-2001 |
The battery tender products is the way to go, otherwise you lose your memories on you radio, and the clock will be wrong all the time (well, actually, it will still be correct twice a day, at least when stopped). Get a battery tender (that's brand name), then go to Radio Shack and get a cig lighter plug with cord. Splice it in, and stick it into the cig plug and you are "good to go". You can also use the "hardwire" kit that comes with it, but then you have to always open the trunk to fish out the plug....Not a huge deal, but I like the cig lighter trick as then it works on all my cars...well both of them. :-) All the battery tenders are pretty much the same, just make sure you get one that is around 1 amp, and is microprocessor controlled and will automatically shut off when charged. | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 286 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tom is correct. To disconnect the battery you pull the 'red' rectangular ground wire plug on the frame rail between the spare tire well & the radiator drivers side. Diagonal to headlight & down. On my customers cars that use them only occasionaly I install a battery maintainer (not charger) that plugs into the wall when not in use and keeps the electrolyte tickled & charged. The ones I use I just buy at a local Sears, about $20 or so, but many places sell them. They keep the battery 100% ready to go. | ||
| Tom Jones (Ferrarioldman)
New member Username: Ferrarioldman Post Number: 34 Registered: 6-2002 |
There is a ground wire connector, red in color, on the left side of the front compartment below the top radiator hose. Just unplug it. Should tell you about it in the owners manual I think. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Junior Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 83 Registered: 9-2002 |
Your car should have a disconnect switch already in it from the factory. I believe it is in the front compartment on the left side,just in front of the rad. | ||
| Carl Rose (Carl_rose)
New member Username: Carl_rose Post Number: 28 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hello again everyone, 328 finally arrived last night, despite trailer tire blowout on my parents about 60 miles from destination (fortunately trailer had two axles so exciting...but uneventful). Very pretty car, shall be posting pictures in near future. Now since I probably won't actually be using this car on more frequent than weekly basis, what would you reccomend for battery disconnect switch? (on my other cars I have always simply either disconnected at solenoid or at spring-ring cables) In the past I have seen both the "screw-in/out knob" and bayonet styles. Has anyone installed either type? And if so, best place to purchase? Thanks once again, Carl |