Problems Jump Starting with the Venture

With the cold snap I had to take the Venture out to rescue my wife when her car failed to start in a parking lot. This was my first time to try and connect jumper cables with this van and since the battery is buried you cannot connect directly to it.

I found the remote positive post and just barely was able to get a good connection there since this connection point is too small for my standard cable ends. But the main problem is how do you find a good ground connection. I tried several bolts, the radiator cap, the motor mount arm and all seem to have high resistance.

I eventually got the other car started but it took much longer than it should if one was able to connect directly to the battery post.

The next day I did see one ground connection on the fender but it is half way under the wiper covering and very small so I don't think the cable end will grip it very well.

Anyone else noticed this or where did you end up connecting your ground when jumping?

I am new owner of a 99 Venture and tried to jump start the vehicle as well. According to Venture's Owner's Manual, the negative should be connected to an engine part. However, I wasn't able to jump-start it after a few tries and did not persist.

I used to own an 92 Oldsmibile 88 Royale and remember that jumping-starting that as well was next to impossible. I found that recharging its own battery, and having clean battery connections was the best way to start it.