question about changing battery
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: N.J.
question about changing battery
Would hooking up a battery charger alligator clips to the pos & neg cables keep enough amps so as not to disturb any settings?
What setting would flow enough amps? i have a charger that has 2, 10, & 55 amp start mode. ( i know not to use the 55amp setting)
TIA
What setting would flow enough amps? i have a charger that has 2, 10, & 55 amp start mode. ( i know not to use the 55amp setting)
TIA
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: N.J.
It did on my 02' truck and i had to do 40 so called 'drive cycles' to get the comp to ok the emissions sensors, and three trips the the MV station to get a pass sticker. What a PITA.
They asked me if i had any work done to my vehicle that required the batt to be disconnected i told them i just installed a new batt,
so wondering if the vette will be the same
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 257
From: Lake Tapps WA.
Also resets HUD to default. Search 9V battery, there is a plug that goes in the lighter with a 9V battery that is suposed to save your stuff. Probably still lose the emission settings though, not sure. I think the middle setting on the charger might be enough, just make sure to insulate the + side well.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs Fl
Hang on, what you are telling him is that it's ok to put 2 amps on the car wiring while he changes the battery? That's not right. The battery cable connections will have the same live two amps on them when he disconnects & connects the battery to the car. Especially when the cables are hanging free from the battery. No one mentioned that the positive cable is hot and if touched to ground will spark. If left touching ground, it'll weld itself to whatever metal it's touching. Anytime a car battery is changed there is always a risk of accidently shorting the battery but adding live 2 amps into the equation increases the risk of having something bad happen to either the battery, the car or even your safety. Car batteries should never be changed with a current on the wiring.
Last edited by Florida99; Feb 4, 2011 at 05:27 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I agree with Florida99 and I'd say just don't do it. With electrics as complex as the C5 it's just not worth leaving power on the car when you're playing with battery leads.
If you're still not convinced this is the advice from the Manual about leaving power on the ignition circuit:
Ignition OFF When Disconnecting Battery Notice
Notice
Always turn the ignition OFF when connecting or disconnecting battery cables, battery chargers, or jumper cables. Failing to do so may damage the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) or other electronic components.
If you're that worried, invest in one of the "memory saver" devices that plugs into the power socket as suggested.
You'll lose the DIC settings and memory settings but they are easily reset. The issue with the radio is that if the security feature is turned on, you'll have to input the security code on start up.
If you're still not convinced this is the advice from the Manual about leaving power on the ignition circuit:
Ignition OFF When Disconnecting Battery Notice
Notice
Always turn the ignition OFF when connecting or disconnecting battery cables, battery chargers, or jumper cables. Failing to do so may damage the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) or other electronic components.
If you're that worried, invest in one of the "memory saver" devices that plugs into the power socket as suggested.
You'll lose the DIC settings and memory settings but they are easily reset. The issue with the radio is that if the security feature is turned on, you'll have to input the security code on start up.
Last edited by DeeGee; Feb 4, 2011 at 05:55 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,472
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
Hang on, what you are telling him is that it's ok to put 2 amps on the car wiring while he changes the battery? That's not right. The battery cable connections will have the same live two amps on them when he disconnects & connects the battery to the car. Especially when the cables are hanging free from the battery. No one mentioned that the positive cable is hot and if touched to ground will spark. If left touching ground, it'll weld itself to whatever metal it's touching. Anytime a car battery is changed there is always a risk of accidently shorting the battery but adding live 2 amps into the equation increases the risk of having something bad happen to either the battery, the car or even your safety.
Finally a voice of reason in this thread.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,192
Likes: 4,180
From: Kannapolis NC
First off, nobody said leave the ignition switch on. Second, you obviously don't want the positive terminal to touch ground. It would short across your charger terminals and possible kick the breaker or damage the charger. Third, two amps will not "flow" through the wiring just because you have the charger on. If it did, the full available current the battery could produce would flow all the time you have it connected. The charger will apply 12 volts to the same connections that the battery would if connected. Current would only flow based on demand, not availability. Fourth, two amps won't weld the cable to anything. The best thing to do is just disconnect the battery and reconnect the new one, but he asked a question if it can be done and yes it can. I have done it and nothing sparks or causes problems. However, the only memory lost is the seat, mirror memory so it's not really worth the effort. I used the charger connected method on a friend's Grand Prix that lost idle memory every time the battery was disconnected and that also worked fine. I stand by my "yes, you can do it".
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If a problem can occur it will; so why risk blowing electronic components when it's easier just to reset the memory functions?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs Fl
First off, nobody said leave the ignition switch on. Second, you obviously don't want the positive terminal to touch ground. It would short across your charger terminals and possible kick the breaker or damage the charger. Third, two amps will not "flow" through the wiring just because you have the charger on. If it did, the full available current the battery could produce would flow all the time you have it connected. The charger will apply 12 volts to the same connections that the battery would if connected. Current would only flow based on demand, not availability. Fourth, two amps won't weld the cable to anything. The best thing to do is just disconnect the battery and reconnect the new one, but he asked a question if it can be done and yes it can. I have done it and nothing sparks or causes problems. However, the only memory lost is the seat, mirror memory so it's not really worth the effort. I used the charger connected method on a friend's Grand Prix that lost idle memory every time the battery was disconnected and that also worked fine. I stand by my "yes, you can do it".
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Less than $10 at most automotive supply sources. Just make sure you use a fresh 9v battery with use. I used mine when I changed my battery. There was no other power supplied for approx. one hour and I lost none of the settings...
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,192
Likes: 4,180
From: Kannapolis NC
Your answers are based on your experience and knowledge which is fine for you. However, you don't know the skill set, battery knowledge & understanding, tools being used, condition of charger &/or circuit breakers and anything else about the OP and whoever reads the post in the future and accidently shorts their battery and gets an engine compartment or worse, a face full of battery acid because they didn't understand the risks to what they were doing. I stand by my answer, don't do it.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Port Orange Florida
I have a jumper box with a cig lighter plug on it, It came with a cable that has a male light plug on both ends. I just plugged the jump box to the cig lighter in the car and lost nothing..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,683
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From: Memphis Tennessee