Bongo Battery Flat

[footyste123]

Can anyone advise me how to connect jump leads to my bongo car battery which is flat?

It is a new battery (about 2 years old but van was left standing for a month and now will not start.

It mentions in the handbook about connecting to the earth and not the negative???

Never done that before.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[dandemann8]

Same thing last time I used jump leads

[francophile1947]

Yep - earth is negative

[Poohbear]

"You should always connect the black lead from the negative terminal on the good battery to an earth point on the car you are trying to start. The earth point on the car you are trying to start should not be near the battery or the fuel system." Having said all that most people just connect from battery terminal to battery terminal, including most rescue people. I think the reason for using an earth rather than the negative terminal is to avoid having a spark near the battery or fuel system as it could cause a fire.

[Bob]

Don't forget to wear safety specs when doing this as there is a chance of the battery going bang.

Worth a Google search as there are some decent videos there, and sadly your battery may be beyond recovery if it has been left discharged, although starting with jump leads should get you home.

[haydn callow]

a 2 year old battery is not new and dpending on how it's been used could well be past it's sell by date.