Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery issue

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Hell Razor5543
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Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery issue

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I drive a 59reg Partner company van. Today I visited a private client to collect an item. While I was there she mentioned her car battery had gone flat (perfectly good reasons, interior lights on overnight). As she had jump leads, but only one vehicle (her husband was out), I offered to help jump start her car. I popped open the bonnets, and connected the black cable between the terminals under the black battery covers of both vehicles, and then connected the red cable between the terminals under the red battery covers of both vehicles, and then waited.

After 10 minutes we tried to start her car. Not only would it not start, but all of her dashboard light failed to come on. I wondered what I had done wrong, so I checked the leads. On her car (a Honda CRV) I had got them connected correctly (red being positive, black being negative). I then checked my van, and was horrified to find that on my van the positive terminal was under the BLACK cover, and the negative was under the RED cover (which also had a circuit board and fuses). I very quickly disconnected the cables, and swapped them over. Fortunately it would appear no damage was caused.

I know that people would suggest that I should have checked the terminals more carefully, and I would not disagree with this. However, who could say that they would not have made the same mistake by believing that RED meant positive and BLACK meant negative. The black cover had no markings on it, but the red one had both the Peugeot and Citroen logos.
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Re: Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery is

Post by myglaren »

Can't check now as my car is AWOL but I believe that on mine the positive is black and the neg is green.
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Re: Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery is

Post by Ben82 »

*tongue in cheek comment* Haven't you learnt that with Cit/pug, nothing is how you expect it? :)

I remember reading a thread about them being in the +/- configuration rather than -/+ so was always careful initially the ensure I knew which was which.

I've noticed the mechanics over here religiously double check which one is which (even the citroen ones!) With good reason really... mine doesn't have colour covers though just the "styling cover" which just has a big + and - on.

Steve, that sounds like the lever colours on my c5, so would say you're correct :)
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Re: Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery is

Post by Northern_Mike »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: However, who could say that they would not have made the same mistake by believing that RED meant positive and BLACK meant negative. The black cover had no markings on it, but the red one had both the Peugeot and Citroen logos.
It's French, I'd check, check and check again :P I have taken this approach after owning a 2cv where no two wires appeared to match any convential wisdom. It appeared that that it was built near a bin full of discarded wiring that was used at random. I've had others like this. My R plate 306 wasn't great either!

My Berlingo has a big red cover on the quick-release positive terminal.

I'm glad no damage was caused!
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Re: Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery is

Post by CitroJim »

Gosh, remarkable. I'm quite shocked it's not hard to make such an error...
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Re: Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery is

Post by Old-Guy »

On my 95 Xantia, the positive lead has a clip-on cover (black but with a big + moulded into the bit that covers the cable) and the negative has no cover. It would be entirely possible for some Helpful Harry to put a red cover on the negative!
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Re: Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery is

Post by myglaren »

My son's 306 has a - possibly aftermarket - threaded connector on the positive battery post and corresponding connector on the lead so it is not possible to fit the leads in any other manner than the correct one.

Would have been better if battery manufacturers had made batteries with posts designed to accept different connectors on each post, thus eliminating any confusion as to which goes where.

I haven't experienced it but have heard of batteries exploding when connected in reverse.
An acquaintance did it and was showered with electrolyte, fortunately causing very little damage to his face but ruined his clothes.
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Re: Peugeot Partner and probably Citroen Berlingo battery is

Post by spider »

I'll admit I did this once to a Toyota although it survived. I would guess the same as you,ie: lucky. There is a risk of frying electronics with reverse voltage although I guess given they are automotive they should have basic protection at least (a diode in the power feed)

I've since sort of forced myself to not connect the negative to the battery but to the block / engine lift bracket / something convenient instead, so you only have to worry about the positive cable. :)

At least its not like 30+ (40?) years ago where there were some positive earth vehicles floating around, well before my time but I guess even more to think about, then again back then there were no electronics to speak of (points only no electronic ignition) so I guess this comment is a moot point. :oops:
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