Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: VA
Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE
Trying to figure out what went wrong. Purchased a red top optima battery (from recommendations on this forum) from LAPD (great people, great service). I swapped out the battery and when I started the car, noticed several options were no longer available. Couldnt toggle between light sentry on and several memory fuctions disabled.
Took the car in and had it checked. The "main body module"? had recieved some type of electrical spike and shorted. Expensive! there went my Votex (ok, only a short delay).
Thought maybe I had connected the battery in the wrong order and called LAPD. They confirmed I had done this correctly (neg off first, and on last).
Anyone have past similar problem or a possible reason this happened.
As you see, my first post, but have been reading for several weeks now. Great place, have a feeling it may get expensive reading about all the performance mods, but its only money. :)
Took the car in and had it checked. The "main body module"? had recieved some type of electrical spike and shorted. Expensive! there went my Votex (ok, only a short delay).
Thought maybe I had connected the battery in the wrong order and called LAPD. They confirmed I had done this correctly (neg off first, and on last).
Anyone have past similar problem or a possible reason this happened.
As you see, my first post, but have been reading for several weeks now. Great place, have a feeling it may get expensive reading about all the performance mods, but its only money. :)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Jonestown, TEXAS
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (Mavrick)
Welcome!! :seeya I have the Optima and have had no issues. Maybe a you had a short somewhere in your electrical. Oh well good attitude. Glad you got it fixed.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
From: Warminster PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'06-'08-'10-'11
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (dahoof)
I really have to wonder if it had something to do with the side terminal post connection process. When you first allow them touch and start screwing them in, they do not make good contact while attempting to get the threads started. I hear the sound of a few sparks and can hear electrical parts of the car start and stop for a few seconds while connecting the battery. I also think that this is what introduced fuel gauge issues for me. I never had any issue until changing the battery, otherwise it is an amazing coincidence.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (Mavrick)
Did you have everything electrical off in the car? Car doors closed , etc..?
No problem when I installed the red-top. You can hook up a 12v source to your cigarette lighter socket to keep the memory alive. I got my red-top from batteries plus and installed it in the parking lot using a small 12v battery to keep the memory instact. Worked fine and no problems.
mike
[Modified by C5~Missle, 9:25 AM 2/27/2002]
No problem when I installed the red-top. You can hook up a 12v source to your cigarette lighter socket to keep the memory alive. I got my red-top from batteries plus and installed it in the parking lot using a small 12v battery to keep the memory instact. Worked fine and no problems.
mike
[Modified by C5~Missle, 9:25 AM 2/27/2002]
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 569
Likes: 23
From: Venice Florida
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (Mavrick)
using another battery to keep system powered up is a good way to keep spikes of current from occuring. Just have to remember that the pos. cable is hot and should be covered or taped over until time to hook up to new battery.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: VA
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (JT-C5)
JT-C5,
I think you have have hit what happened. I remember attaching the side posts and you are right, the contact was lousy and until I finally get the threads half way in, there were small sparks. Oh wel, live and learn.
This delayed the Vortex intake system and now I'm leaning toward the Blackwing.
Read many threads here on both the Vortex and the Blackwing, figure I cant go wrong with either
Like to thank everyone for there responses, truly is a great site. :cheers:
I think you have have hit what happened. I remember attaching the side posts and you are right, the contact was lousy and until I finally get the threads half way in, there were small sparks. Oh wel, live and learn.
This delayed the Vortex intake system and now I'm leaning toward the Blackwing.
Read many threads here on both the Vortex and the Blackwing, figure I cant go wrong with either
Like to thank everyone for there responses, truly is a great site. :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 968
Likes: 7
From: Titusville FL
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (Mavrick)
Welcome to the Forum. Also think the sparking sent a voltage spilke.Once you touch the battery bolts to the battery you due not want to pull them away.
Bill :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 346
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (Mavrick)
I agree with the others - sparks be bad. What I did was use a short jumper cable I made to connect between the unused + post of the Optima and the + post under the fuse cover (the one the battery cable goes to). That way you can take your time conecting the + terminal without any sparks. One of the old computer jokes was to tell "the user" to turn their terminal on and off as fast and as many times as possible. Gaurenteed to destroy it (electronics don't like that :) )
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,770
Likes: 0
From: Novi MI
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
CI-X Auto-X Champ (street tires)
Cruise-In IX AutoX Winner
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (Mavrick)
Have you had the alternator checked.
A bad alternator can do a lot of damage.
A bad alternator can do a lot of damage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,516
Likes: 4,840
From: One Hour From Boston!
Re: Swapping Battery was EXPENSIVE (01Pewter)
Welcome! :seeya If you are undecided about the Vortex and the Blackwing, it seems that Forum members are split about 50/50 between them. They are both great! FWIW, I went with the Blackwing. I also ordered the $15 hood seal to keep water off the Blackwing.