Repair 7

General Motors uses a Duramax diesel engine in some of their full-size trucks. Normally, a Duramax idles between 500 and 1000 RPMs when the engine is cold, but with a warm engine the RPMs typically reach around 2000. If you need to fix your idle speed, its important to disconnect the battery first to keep you from getting shocked while you work. Unlike most vehicles, the Duramax engine has two batteries instead of one. However, since they are hard-wired together -- running parallel -- you only disconnect the one closest to the engine. Overall its a simple process and only takes a few minutes.

Instructions

1

Pull the hood release lever under the drivers side of the dashboard. Open and secure the hood of the truck. Then, locate the batteries. Youll notice two batteries sitting to the right of the engine, but only the battery closest to the engine connects to it. This is the one that needs to be disconnected.

2

Use a flathead screwdriver to pry off the black cover on the negative battery terminal. Using a wrench, loosen the nut attached to the clamp. Then, pull the negative battery cable from the post. Set it to the side where it wont touch anything metal.

3

Using a flathead screwdriver, take the red cover off the positive battery terminal. Use a wrench to loosen the nut that holds the clamp in place. Then, pull the positive battery cable from the post. Put it to the side and make sure it wont come in contact with anything metal.

A malfunctioning car alarm on your 1998 Nissan Altima can keep you and your neighbors up at night. If you are having problems with the alarm, you can disconnect the alarm system from the power supply to keep it from going off. Disconnecting the alarm from the power supply is not very hard. The power supply is your car battery and the alarm is wired into the negative terminal.

Instructions

1

Pop the hood to your Nissan Altima.

2

Locate the negative terminal labeled with a "-" mark.

3

Use a pair of channel locks or a socket wrench to loosen the negative terminal.

4

Pull the negative terminal off of the battery to disable the alarm.

Disconnecting a vehicle power or ground cable from a battery terminal allows you to safely work on your vehicle or exchange the battery. When you examine your battery, you will find either top-mounted or side-mounted terminals. Although the connectors look different, they both come off with similar tools. Top-mounted battery terminals require an extra step. In both cases, removing the risk of shock will increase your safety when working around the battery.

Instructions

Disconnect a Top-Mount Battery Terminal

1

Loosen the nut located on the side of the battery ground post (the negative post, marked by a minus symbol) by turning it counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench.

2

Move the loosened battery terminal clamp from side to side until it starts to move without resistance.

3

Slide the end of a flat-head screwdriver under the terminal clamp. Twist the handle of the screwdriver to push the clamp away from the battery.

4

Lift the ground terminal from the battery post. Remove the positive terminal clamp from the battery using the method described.

Disconnect a Side-Mount Battery Terminal

5

Turn the ground bolt (the bolt that secures the ground cable to the battery ground terminal, marked by a minus sign) protruding from the center of the ground terminal counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench.

6

Continue turning the wrench until the terminal tilts on its side.

7

Pull the side-mounted terminal from the battery with your hand. Disconnect the positive terminal cable bolt in the same manner.