Ok.  That must be the answer.  I was ignoring the obvious.  If you've got a
metal wrench on the positive terminal of a fully connected battery, you very
definitely do NOT want it to swing against metal chassis parts (as a kid, I
used to WELD metal using a car battery and carbon D-cell posts!).  So, it's
safer to put the wrench on the negative terminal first.

Thanks.  I'm humbled!  But at peace now ...

//Jack

Date sent:              Tue, 21 Sep 2004 18:59:34 -0700
Send reply to:          mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
From:                   mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:                Re: Q: Battery Disconnect Sequence?
To:                     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> It's not that it matters electrically, other than as a safety
> precaution. If you put a wrench on the positive terminal first, you run the
> risk of sparks flying if you allow that wrench to touch the chassis while
> you are loosening the bolt. By undoing the ground terminal first, you
> remove any danger of a short while working on the positive lead.
>
> Likewise, attach the ground terminal last when connecting up a battery. All
> this assumes a negative ground system, which all modern autos that I know
> of use.
>
> Mark
>
> Jack wrote:
>
> >Ok, I need help.
> >
> >In several manuals, including a Ford Owner's manual (forgive me) and a
> >Haynes repair manual, I've noticed that they specify that the negative
> >battery cable must be removed first when disconnecting the battery.
> >Why???
> >
> >What possible difference can it make which terminal is disconnected
> >first???
> > When I first ran across this, I ignored it as a harmless error by someone
> >who didn't understand electrics, but now I find it in "professional"
> >references.
> >
> >Help!  What am I missing?
> >
> >//Jack
> >
> >
> >

------- End of forwarded message -------