For those who have hooked up one to the 4G how did you make the connection to the negative how did you run the leads outside the car?

 

During my last dealer service visit I had them connect the leads for me. I just tuck them into the small depression in the plastic covers. I will provide a pic when the chance presents itself.

 

Do you leave the hood open?

 

I follow the info inside the user's manual and clip the negative wire onto the engine hanger, located on the left side of the engine block.

Then leave the hood open just a crack to let the 2 connection wires out and not getting them crushed.

See below :

 

I close the hood but don't latch it.

 

^^^ I do the same thing, i just don't latch the hood. There is a little bolt/screw that I connect my negative terminal onto...if you need to see, let me know and I can try and post a picture.

 

i connected both leads to the battery. leave the hood closed just enough to catch the latch but not all the way closed.

 

Just curious. Whats the purpose of the battery tender?

 

Keeps the battery from draining when the car is stored or not driven for an extended period of time.

 

Oh OK. thanks. I probably wouldnt need that since I Daily my car. good to know though.

 

It's also useful for areas with extremely cold climates when it takes more output to crank the engine. You probably never need it with the bay area weather.

 

Here is my setup, for those still interested:

 

I always connect the Optimate4 to Mrs. ExGMan's 2007 5-Series BMW if it won't be driven for 4 days or more. I left my 4th-Gen TL for two weeks w/o an Optimate. No issues at all.

I have found that I can go out into the garage in the middle of the night and the BMW is making whirring noises just sitting there. The TL is dead silent.

 

The issue with with using Acura's way to hook up the "Battery Tender Leads" is the leads and or clamps does not have that much travel. I ended up using the battery terminals. I clipped the lead washers to be a C ring just sufficient to clear the 10 mm bolts. This way I did not have to remove the nuts which have a locking provision to avoid lose. The wire routed nicely out next to the rubber hood stop cutout. Seems there is a small arch near the hole perfect for the wire. The cars are garaged so I decided to leave the hood up. This way it is not as likely to be inadvertently driven away while hooked up. Figure it wont hurt hood strut life either because the pressure in the cylinder is at the lowest level and seal leakage will be lower. Further, this is how they are stored on the shelf.