Hi I have a 2013 cmax and the battery has gone flat - not completely but almost.  I went to charge it and the car is relatively new to me and there are no terminals to connect the charger cables to.

There seems to be some mention on web of some cmax’s having self maintaining batteries but I have no idea if it has this. Also my user guide mentions that the ground connection point is located to the right of the battery near the engine fuse box. Is this the earthing point to connect a negative cable to?

Very confused and don’t want to get wrong as user guide gives warning to NOT connect to the negative terminal of the flat battery.

Old cars were so much simpler! Any help appreciated as I’m stuck !

Hi,

Is there a red plastic cover over the front terminal on your battery?  If so, you will need to remove that to access the positive terminal.

And yes, the earth point next to the fusebox is the one to connect the negative clip.

If the battery is very flat, below about 8v, you may find your charger won't charge it.  There is a workaround for that if necessary.

8 minutes ago, Cmaxer123 said:

the ground connection point is located to the right of the battery near the engine fuse box. Is this the earthing point to connect a negative cable to?

 - Negative = Earth = Ground = Chassis = Black   All the same thing.

Thank you - re the red terminal the only red bit I can see is further to the left. I’ve tried adding photo but even lower resolution saying too big to add. Basically there’s the battery in top right as you look under bonnet. To the left of that is a covered unit at the top nearest windscreen then underneath is another sealed unit and on the left hand side of that there’s some kind of connector with red tab on it and wires coming out of it. Not a normal battery terminal?

41 minutes ago, Cmaxer123 said:

To the left of that is a covered unit at the top nearest windscreen then underneath is another sealed unit and on the left hand side of that there’s some kind of connector with red tab on it and wires coming out of it. Not a normal battery terminal?

You have to remove the top of the battery cover.

What engine have you got ?

31 minutes ago, Cmaxer123 said:

Thank you - re the red terminal the only red bit I can see is further to the left. I’ve tried adding photo but even lower resolution saying too big to add. Basically there’s the battery in top right as you look under bonnet. To the left of that is a covered unit at the top nearest windscreen then underneath is another sealed unit and on the left hand side of that there’s some kind of connector with red tab on it and wires coming out of it. Not a normal battery terminal?

We need to see the picture really.

If you screenshot it, then the forum should let you post the screenshot.

1.6 zetec engine but it looked like the cover was held in place with a bolt at the back which was quite out of reach so we wondered if it was not be be accessed? 

28 minutes ago, Cmaxer123 said:

1.6 zetec engine but it looked like the cover was held in place with a bolt at the back which was quite out of reach so we wondered if it was not be be accessed? 

The battery has to be easily accessible.  If it is just the black plastic cover over it then it just lifts up at the front.

There are various guides/videos on line. They all suggest "remove the battery cover" without mentioning fasteners so it may just unclip. Several different variations of engine of course so there could be differences between cars.

Actually removing the battery when necessary looks tricky though:

https://www.hypermiler.co.uk/how-to-diy/how-to-replace-a-ford-c-max-mk-2-battery-inc-tdi-2011-2019#:~:text=Under the bonnet of the C-Max you might,it as awkward as possible to get at.

I had a Mk 2 C-Max for a while but unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for me!) never needed to access the battery terminals so can't comment from experience.