Quick question

[rosenkranswa]

Our '42 Sedan was dead this morning, no lights, no gauge movement, no cranking, nothing and wouldn't take a charge from the trickle charger. I'm assuming shot battery. Its gotten cold here and she hadn't been started in a few weeks.

Can I do a quick jump with a 12v jump starter without frying anything? Its almost impossible to reach the battery in my shed and I'll have to push her out otherwise to do the replacement.

[Bruce Lancaster]

It'll be fine. I'd be sure lights, radio, anything but ignition switch is off to avoid all risk.

[flatheadernie]

DISCONECT batt or jump direct to starter to test, could be u need to clean batt connection?? ernie n tx

[rosenkranswa]

Thanks guys! Just wanted to make sure before I maybe did something stupid...

[Big_Guys_baby]

Dumb question: how do you deal with polarity when jumping from 12V neg
Ground to 6V pos ground?

[Mountaindoc]

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Originally Posted by Big_Guys_baby

Dumb question: how do you deal with polarity when jumping from 12V neg
Ground to 6V pos ground?

It's not a dumb question. Hook the positive to the positive on the battery and the negative to the negative post on the battery. The easiest way to remember that is you're essentially replacing the dead battery for the good battery.

BTW, you can buy a battery charger at Tractor Supply, Walmart, and pretty much any auto part store that has a 6 volt charge/boost setting. The one I'm thinking about is manufactured by "Schumacher". I'd definitely get one before this happens the next time. It's not a healthy thing to keep using a 12 volt battery to boost a 6 volt car.

[rosenkranswa]

Success! No problem on the jump and disconnnected immediately after she started. Now is taking a charge as well - may have been bad cable connections.

[Ken Crans]

Make sure you got good size battery cables and use an Optima if replacing.

[rosenkranswa]

The cables are the appropriate stock cables. I've not had good luck with the Optimas, may be the only person that has. Had to replace two in my Model A's recently.

Disconnected the cables and ran a cleaner brush through them, then some dialectric grease to reassemble. Everything seems fine now. Interestingly, I had the same problem with my Model T that morning, I knew I was on borrowed time with that battery though.