Advice on Disconnecting Battery
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 5
From: Middle Tennessee
Advice on Disconnecting Battery
I am planning to disconnect the battery in my 97 this afternoon when I return home from work. I have been getting the dreaded "Pull Key and Wait 10 Seconds" DIC message since buying the car about two weeks ago. I have purchased the CLB from Houston Vettes and plan to install it this weekend. I think that both of the recalls on the column lock issue have been performed on the car. Are there any issues to be addressed when disconnecting the battery and leaving it disconnected overnight. The car has the dual climate control feature and we have been experiencing the problem of cold air on the passenger side and heat on the driver's side and I'm hoping that leaving the battery disconnected overnight will clear up that problem. Thanks in advance for any help/advice. 
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Make sure the anti-theft code for the radio is available to you ... assuming it has that feature and it is turned on .... After you pull the battery the radio won't work if anti-theft is on and you don't have the code.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Originally Posted by Guro305
That's interesting Black. How do you get the code? Is there a way to see it from the radio's display or something like that?
1) There is a red LED near the volume control ... when the car's ignition is OFF, the LED will flash. If it ain't flashing, TheftLock is off
2) With TheftLock ON, should the radio experience a loss of power (you disconnect the battery, battery goes flat, or thief steals your radio and then later installs it in another car) the first time you turn it on it will ask for the 3 digit code. If you don't have it ... radio/CD/tape player won't work.
As far as I know, there is no way to display the code once it has been entered.
I believe the dealer's have some "secret" way/tool to unlock the radio if you have lost the code, so your radio isn't completely gone forever. But, of course, dear old dealer gonna charge you $$$ to do this.
Just wanted to alert proracr to this, as his post seemed to indicate he'd bought the car from someone else, and they MAY have turned on TheftLock.
Hope this helps,
Steve
Last edited by BlackZ06; Sep 8, 2006 at 04:49 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: DFW tx
I just went through the cold air on passenger side, hot on drivers side. It would not do it all the time, but often.
Had the freon charged up (it was low about 40%), and for the past 6 months it has worked perfect. It had never been charged since new (98).
I would suggest having it recharged if you battery trick does not work. My guess is you are low on freon. Only costs about $75 to have it evacuated and filled.
The shop I took it to tried to screw me big time, until the mgr. realized I work on cars quite often. I went from a $1000+ estimate for a/c repairs to "we will fill it back up for you and come back if you still have problems". Be careful.
Had the freon charged up (it was low about 40%), and for the past 6 months it has worked perfect. It had never been charged since new (98).
I would suggest having it recharged if you battery trick does not work. My guess is you are low on freon. Only costs about $75 to have it evacuated and filled.
The shop I took it to tried to screw me big time, until the mgr. realized I work on cars quite often. I went from a $1000+ estimate for a/c repairs to "we will fill it back up for you and come back if you still have problems". Be careful.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Originally Posted by FFR-Z06
The only thing that will be affected when you disconnect the battery is the clock will need to be reset.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 5
From: Middle Tennessee
When I lifted the battery out (it was replaced for the previous owner on 7/6/2006), there was wet battery acid in the tray. The NTB store that replaced the battery apparently just lifted out the old battery and dropped the new one in without being concerned about the battery acid left behind. I guess they figured the battery acid might generate a future repair for them. I am so glad that I am able to do some of my own auto repairs as 99% of the shops merely want to steal from their customers.
I made up a mixture of baking soda and water and poured it over everything that may have been touched by the acid and followed-up with a fresh water rinse. Won't be able to look under the battery tray until I receive the fixture for my floor jack so I can jack up the right front remove the wheel and access panel(s) to see the area under the battery tray.
I made up a mixture of baking soda and water and poured it over everything that may have been touched by the acid and followed-up with a fresh water rinse. Won't be able to look under the battery tray until I receive the fixture for my floor jack so I can jack up the right front remove the wheel and access panel(s) to see the area under the battery tray.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 4
From: West Palm Beach Fl
Update!
I tried it and it didn't do s#!t. I put the gauge to the low side of the A/C and it seemed fine. Once I started up the car and ran the A/C however, it was obvious what the problem was.
I can of freon later and once again, ice cold A/C!
I can of freon later and once again, ice cold A/C!
Last edited by Guro305; Sep 9, 2006 at 08:17 PM.