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How to keep car LIVE while changing battery

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Old Sep 12, 2010 | 10:16 PM
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Default How to keep car LIVE while changing battery

My battery is 5+ years old and I'm going to change it before it fails on me. I'd like to keep all the electrical systems live while I swap out the old battery for a new one so I don't have to reset everything and I can get power from my other car .

I can connect the ground (neg) to any metal part on the engine, but where should I connect the Positive to? Any reason not to do this?

Thanks
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Old Sep 12, 2010 | 10:25 PM
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Connect a battery charger to points other then the battery connections. Use a heavy duty ziplock back to insulate the battery cables from touching anything.
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Old Sep 12, 2010 | 10:35 PM
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This will work for you

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=GK504&cat=GDT

Bill aka ET
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Old Sep 12, 2010 | 10:56 PM
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Unnecessary, unless you have locked the radio.
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Old Sep 12, 2010 | 11:24 PM
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I wouldn't sweat it, I've changed out batteries many times with nary a problem.

Dope
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 01:07 AM
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Do it with the engine running. If the car won't run when you pull the battery, then you also need an alternator.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 03:51 AM
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Originally Posted by ztheusa
Unnecessary, unless you have locked the radio.
... the only thing I lose when I pull the battery (even for weeks at a time), are the MPG and RANGE data on the DIC. My radio stations even stay as they were set, which is amazing.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by ztheusa
Unnecessary, unless you have locked the radio.
Well, MAYBE. I've seen several GM's that had weird things happen when the system came live again (in older cars mind you). The worst I've seen is the AC blend door actuators freak out when the power is reapplied. It's RARE but can happen.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
Now there's a good idea. That can easily be created if you have an old cell phone charger you no longer use.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by PEERPSI
Now there's a good idea. That can easily be created if you have an old cell phone charger you no longer use.
I agree. That price of $4.69 is crazy.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
I agree. That price of $4.69 is crazy.
I hope you mean that price is crazy low...but with the insertion of the I think you thought the price was high. the battery and the connector cost that much to buy anywhere.. for those who dont have a cigarette adaptor lying around.. they sell these things for under 5 bucks at harbor frieght... 5 dollars is a lunch time tip to the waitress.
That price is crazy????? really. Pretty sad comment at best

Last edited by Evil-Twin; Sep 13, 2010 at 09:09 AM.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
I hope you mean that price is crazy low... the battery and the connector cost that much.. for those who dont have a cigarette adaptor lying around.. they sell these things for under 5 bucks at harbor frieght... 5 dollars is a lunch time tip to the waitress.
That price is crazy????? really
Yeah ET.....I'm joking. I just think it's funny that someone who owns a $50,000 sports car, would not spend $5 for such a useful little gadget.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
Yeah ET.....I'm joking. I just think it's funny that someone who owns a $50,000 sports car, would not spend $5 for such a useful little gadget.
I apologize if I read your statement the wrong way... The OP asked how to keep the car live, while changing the battery ... for whatever the reason..
I offered him a very simple solution to his query. You have to remember that Newbies, and some of us old timers may not get the humor, that others seem to feel is obvious... Ive been around the block a few times and here for a very long time , and I didn't get it...
Bill aka ET
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 11:59 AM
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Whenever I unhook and reconnect the battery in my '03, I get a terrifying series of pops, clicks, snaps from the car, plus the clank-clank-clank of the CD changer activating. It also often, as the forum member above mentioned, seems to set codes for my Dual-zone HVAC actuators. This last particularly concerns me, as those codes sometimes seem reluctant to clear and I am afraid one day the battery changing/unhooking might mess the actuators up permanently. Do you nice people think the use of that 9V tool would keep all that quiet, or would it only save your radio and etc. settings? In other words, is 9 volts enough to retain power to all these things that are causing me worry, or will some of them require the full 12 volts? Would appreciate some input from those of you less ignorant concerning electricity than I am. Regards, Ralph Boineau in central South Carolina
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 12:28 PM
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I've used the 9v battery device shown above on two or three battery swaps of electronics laden late models. None of the settings were lost. It's simpler than trying to use a jumper from another car.

Just keep in mind that the 9v battery won't last for hours and hours.

Last edited by hotwheels57; Sep 13, 2010 at 12:30 PM.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 04:12 PM
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ORDERED!!! Cool gadget to have around......and one day I WILL need it!
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Old Sep 15, 2010 | 04:29 PM
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Hi There,
I saw that 9v device in auto zone last week. Next time I get in there I will buy it.
robsc501
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Old Sep 15, 2010 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by hotwheels57
I've used the 9v battery device shown above on two or three battery swaps of electronics laden late models. None of the settings were lost. It's simpler than trying to use a jumper from another car.

Just keep in mind that the 9v battery won't last for hours and hours.
Does that 9 volt power gadget prevent all the relays from going bonkers when the battery is being hooked up?
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Old Sep 15, 2010 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
I just picked up the same thing at Walmart for under $5 also. Seems like a good thing to have around.
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by T-TOP TOM
I just picked up the same thing at Walmart for under $5 also. Seems like a good thing to have around.
Looks like that's the best way to go --- I'll go get one and also order a new battery before it leaves me stranded
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