[knightfan17]

Hi Everyone,

I bought an Audew portable jump starter for our 2017 Pilot Touring. As we know, it's easy to get to the positive (red) terminal of the battery. The negative (black) is underneath a few pieces, but Honda did provide a negative grounding point to the left of the engine.

The cables for the jump starter aren't long, and only stretch to around 12-16 inches apart, so the negative won't reach the grounding point. I know my wife would have trouble if she's alone and encounters starting issues, so I was hoping to determine a solution without having her create an "extension" with another jumper cable so she can reach the grounding point

I found this video online, which is on a Ridgeline which I understand is very similar; if not idential under the hood to the Pilot.

I did try the bolt that he mentions at the 30 second mark, but it's quite flush with the frame and is not high enough for the negative jumper clamp to grip securely. Would the hole and bolt this person recommends is be appropriate for a safe grounding point? I would think Yes, but wanted to see if anyone on this forum has taken a different approach.

Thanks!

 

[Nail Grease]

Hi Everyone,

I bought an Audew portable jump starter for our 2017 Pilot Touring. As we know, it's easy to get to the positive (red) terminal of the battery. The negative (black) is underneath a few pieces, but Honda did provide a negative grounding point to the left of the engine.

The cables for the jump starter aren't long, and only stretch to around 12-16 inches apart, so the negative won't reach the grounding point. I know my wife would have trouble if she's alone and encounters starting issues, so I was hoping to determine a solution without having her create an "extension" with another jumper cable so she can reach the grounding point

I found this video online, which is on a Ridgeline which I understand is very similar; if not idential under the hood to the Pilot.

I did try the bolt that he mentions at the 30 second mark, but it's quite flush with the frame and is not high enough for the negative jumper clamp to grip securely. Would the hole and bolt this person recommends is be appropriate for a safe grounding point? I would think Yes, but wanted to see if anyone on this forum has taken a different approach.

Thanks!

Yes, this sugestion is safe to use.
I don't see the need to use such a long bolt though. Might want to use a washer so as not to scrub off the top paint coat.

 

[MtMan]

If you use the bolt described in the video, it does not go flush, it sticks up high enough to clamp onto.

 

[sequoiasoon]

There are 1-2 links I put in this thread also with that bolt, BUT that bolt will probably cheapest and easiest. Just make sure to clean the threads first well and protect the metal.

 

[BMPeter]

<deleted>

 

[sequoiasoon]

Some of your post came through before deleting.
"The engine lifting lug is what Honda recommends in the manual. I believe they and some others also say to remove the plastic engine cowling to access it, but you don't need to, it's clearly visible and accessible to clamp on to. Its near the back of the engine on the passenger side, just below... "

The problem with that far side grounding lug is that the portable jump starters won't reach that and the positive terminal. Even many nicely put together jumper cables won't unless you pull them apart. Good luck these days finding someone with jumper cables if you don't have them AND that might be willing to help you without jeopardizing their own vehicle. Then the ones that might actually ask if you need help in a parking lot with hood open that might have a mechanical clue of other things.

My daughter and her boyfriend, both 17, were stuck that way but his older Grand Cherokee blew a radiator hose. Fluid everywhere. She called me I got up from sleep working nights and grabbed some tools based on description, at the same time he called his dad who didn't answer, then his mom who didn't answer. Luckily they were close about 10 minutes away. We went to AAP and got the hose, new clamps, coolant and had it fixed. My daughter counted over 200 people coming and going from store while they were standing by open hood waiting for me. Only 1 man, with his early teen son asked if they needed a jump or anything. Politely they said thank you but it was more as they lost all the coolant. He offered to call for a tow, which they then said I was coming already, but thanked again. Others just looked and kept walking.

While driving back home in the repaired Jeep his dad called back and asked if he was going to be home for dinner, never listed to the message.

Don't count on others to be there to help you

 

[BMPeter]

Ya, I didn't read the OP's post fully and realized I was telling him stuff he already said he tried and didn't work for him, so deleted it.

OTOH, I have a CAA Gold membership. I added my wife and both my kids to my account and pay about $75 extra a year for each of them. I don't care if they never use it. It's great piece of mind and part of their Christmas present every year. That way they never have to worry if they have a dead battery, run out of gas, flat tire, or any other klind of vehicle problem. Call CAA, problem solved.

Between the 4 of us, it usually gets used once a year on average. Mostly for flat tires, but has been used to tow vehicles that had blown power steering hose, dead battery jumps, towed one of our cars that was stored over winter and had the brakes siezed, etc.

Cheers

 

[sequoiasoon]

I don’t have AAA yet, but have thought about it. My issue is that maybe I’m impatient going somewhere or the fact that usually when friends/family I know that use it often wait 30 minutes to an hour before help arrives IF they get a cell signal in some of the places we go. In the populated areas not awful but MANY wierdos around that I might not want my daughter waiting that long for a quick jump start or flat change.

 

[bamalam]

Seems like the negative ground point shown in the photo would work for a portable jump starter. This is from our 2017 Pilot Elite. This appears to be the vehicle's ground point, as a cable runs from the battery negative terminal (yellow arrow) to the body-attached bolt (red arrow.) Granted, you do have to pull up the driver-side engine cover to get to it. The short cable on my Imazing jump starter (same Chinese-made device is sold under several brand names) will attach to this terminal point and the positive battery terminal.

 

[Nail Grease]

Seems like the negative ground point shown in the photo would work for a portable jump starter. This is from our 2017 Pilot Elite. This appears to be the vehicle's ground point, as a cable runs from the battery negative terminal (yellow arrow) to the body-attached bolt (red arrow.) Granted, you do have to pull up the driver-side engine cover to get to it. The short cable on my Imazing jump starter (same Chinese-made device is sold under several brand names) will attach to this terminal point and the positive battery terminal.

By poping up 2 clips, you might can get your negative jumper cable clamp on it. The plastic tube makes it tight. Not really fond of the idea because those plastic clips under the cover are easily lost. I don't see what the problem is using the top bolt of the air filter housing.