How the *&?!# do you get to this? Do I have to take off the chrome batt cover? I want to remove the battery. Why is this such a pain in the butt?

never, I repeat, never take the positive terminal off 1st.  One chance short to ground and you're wearing a battery.



Just in case you need someone to tell you that twice to believe it, believe it. Very bad idea to pull the hot side first.

In case you wonder why, this it it. By removing the negative connection first, you are removing the connection that already goes to where an accidental short will touch. Since the connection is already made, no spark will result. Once the negative cable is removed, and placed where it cannot touch the negative battery terminal, a short from positive to ground will not result in a spark because there is no longer a complete circuit. When you reinstall the battery, connect positive first, then negative.

To be really picky about it, the important part is disconnecting the grounded terminal first. Some vehicles were produced with positive ground systems. As far as I know there have been none in the last fifty years or so.

 I never worried about which one came off first,or with jumper cables which one went on first,just didn't touch any metal with either one.