The negative terminal on a Honda Passport is the black-clad post on the 12-volt battery located in the engine bay, on the driver's side. This is the ground connection for the vehicle’s electrical system.
Battery location in the Passport
In most Passport models, the 12-volt battery is housed in the engine compartment on the driver’s side near the fender and shock tower. Many trims have a plastic cover over the battery; removing the cover reveals two terminals: a red-covered positive post and a black negative post.
How to identify the negative terminal
The negative terminal is the black post/socket attached to a black cable. It is typically located on the outer side of the battery (closer to the driver’s side fender). The terminal will usually be marked with a minus sign (−) or a black clamp, while the positive terminal will have a red cover or red clamp.
Safety and jump-start steps
If you need to jump-start or disconnect the battery, follow these steps carefully to avoid sparks or damage.
Important safety precautions before handling the battery:
- Wear eye protection and gloves; tie back long hair and remove any loose jewelry.
- Make sure the engine is off, the parking brake is engaged, and the area is well-ventilated.
- Avoid smoking or creating sparks near the battery; do not place metal tools on the battery terminals.
- Inspect the battery for cracks, leaks, or swelling. Do not use a damaged battery.
Before beginning any connection, confirm you are working with the correct terminals and that the vehicle is in a safe state.
To jump-start the Passport, you can follow these steps:
- Park on a level surface and turn off both vehicles. Engage the parking brakes and open the hoods on both vehicles.
- Locate the Passport’s battery on the driver’s side of the engine bay and identify the positive (+) and negative (−) terminals.
- Connect the red jumper cable clamp to the positive terminal of the Passport’s battery.
- Connect the other end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of the donor vehicle’s battery.
- Connect the black jumper cable clamp to the negative terminal of the donor vehicle’s battery.
- Connect the other end of the black jumper cable to a clean, unpainted metal ground point on the Passport (engine block or chassis), away from the battery.
- Start the donor vehicle and then attempt to start the Passport. If it doesn’t start after a few attempts, wait a few minutes and try again or check connections.
- Once the Passport runs, remove the cables in reverse order: black from the Passport’s ground, black from the donor, red from the donor, then red from the Passport’s positive terminal.
For safety and proper procedure, always consult the owner’s manual for model-year-specific guidance, and consider professional assistance if you’re unsure.
Additional notes
While the above describes the common setup for most Honda Passport models, some very early or special editions could have variations. If you cannot locate the battery or terminals easily, or if the battery is located in an alternate area, refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual or contact a Honda service center for confirmation.
Summary
The negative terminal on a Honda Passport is the black post on the 12-volt battery located in the engine bay on the driver’s side. It is the ground connection and is identified by a minus sign and a black clamp. For jump-starts, connect red to the positive terminals first and black to a ground on the engine block, then reverse the process when removing cables. Always follow safety precautions and model-year guidance from the manual.