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where is the ground location under the hood for boosting battery? Please provide a picture of the location. Thanks
There is an illustration of the jumper/booster cable connection points in the ES 350 Owner's Manual. (Since I don't know your model year, I don't know which model year version of the Lexus Canada ES 350 Owner's Manual to consult for a page number reference.) In all the US and Canadian versions of the Owner's Manual I've looked at, the illustration is found in the "7-2. Steps to take in an emergency" sub-chapter, "If the battery is discharged" section.
The text description of the ground location has varied over the model year manual versions. Older model year versions read:
🄳 Solid, stationary, unpainted metallic point away from the battery and any moving parts as shown in the illustration
and starting with the 2024 version, now reads:
🄳 Metallic point shown in the illustration
The illustration is unchanged; just the text is worded differently.
In the illustration, location 🄳 is on the top, left side (when looking into the engine bay from the front) of the engine.
Why not just use the negative post on the battery? Or, any unpainted part of the engine or it's supports...
The reason one shouldn't connect that last jumper cable connection to the unsealed lead acid "dead" battery's negative terminal is to avoid any connection sparking from setting off a hydrogen explosion in or around the "dead" battery. (The same reason one should only charge unsealed lead acid batteries in well ventilated areas.)
While there's now some more sophisticated unsealed lead acid battery jumping/boosting devices with built-in features to prevent such connection sparking, the simple, (hopefully) idiot proof rule is still used. Deities know, it is near impossible to get people to read and heed even the most simplest of safety measures let alone multipoint circumstances based decision tree type of a safety rule.
The reason one shouldn't connect that last jumper cable connection to the unsealed lead acid "dead" battery's negative terminal is to avoid any connection sparking from setting off a hydrogen explosion in or around the "dead" battery. (The same reason one should only charge unsealed lead acid batteries in well ventilated areas.)
This is right up there with not using mobile phones on an airplane
I have read for years not to use the NEG post on the battery for a ground when jump starting a car. Since there are lots of bolts under the hood that are grounds, this is never a problem.
Here are my thoughts after 30 years of dealing with lots of battery problems from time to time.
1. Get an electrical tester. They are not expensive and come in handy all the time to test for the presence of voltage and for continuity. With this, it's easy to find a nice big bolt under the hood for a ground. Label it with a piece of tape or a marker so you don't forget.
2. Forget about jumper cables. They are often hard to deal with, are seldom long enough, and require a second car pulled up right next to yours. Get one of the new little batteries that will start your car 6 or 8 times on a single charge. They are, I think, called portable jump starters, and there are lots of them out there. They are very small. I charge mine up once a year or so, and keep it in the trunk all the time. Easier and faster jump starting. Excellent insurance for the rare but disaster of a dead battery.
This is right up there with not using mobile phones on an airplane
Or not being allowed to keep your car running when filling up. Uhh, what about the cars behind and next to you pulling up (with engines running)... BS...
Not really on point, with this discussion but I have been jump starting cars for over 60 years and did have one battery explode - and it was quite an experience. It wasn't just a spark from connecting the cable but rather it was on a friend's Fiat. It seemed like a simple task but but I did not notice that the negative cable on the Fiat was the red cable - it blew the battery caps on my new Ford into the garage ceiling. Lucky for me, I wasn't hurt and my Ford dealer warrantied the battery. I suspect that on a modern car the damage would have been much more extensive. After that experience I always lay a shop towel over the top of the battery when jump starting and never jumped another Fiat. Nor will I use anyone else's jumper cables and I also decline to jump cars with messy engine compartments. I have carried jump packs for years and now carry a Noco lithium ion jump pack which has much safer circuitry. In fact when I was still working I didn't allow jumper cables in any LE cars and got booster packs for all of them.
Get one of the new little batteries that will start your car 6 or 8 times on a single charge. They are, I think, called portable jump starters, and there are lots of them out there. They are very small. I charge mine up once a year or so, and keep it in the trunk all the time.
Anyone have a recommendation? I have a portable jump starter in my trunk, but it's 3 or 4 years old and not rechargeable.
NOCO GB40 - Amazon, Autozone, O'riely etc - around $100. I have one in each car I drive and one in my garage. Not likely that you need anything larger unless you are starting a F350 Diesel..
I've had this one for several years. I have used it on friends' cars a few times and it's very nice. As I recall, the reviews were very good which I why I got this one, and it has a nice case, but as noted, there are a lot of them out there now. From the pic of the amazon page, it's $58.00 right now, which is a pretty good price for a product of this power and quality.
