Anything special about changing a Battery?

[PolkManiac]

I'm thinking this should be pretty straightforward, just unplug the old one and plug the new one in. Is there anything special I need to know?

Unplug one side before the other, don't let the two wires touch, anything like that?

Thanks

 

[Even Steven]

Conventional automotive wisdom:

Always disconnect the negative battery terminal first...and reconnect it last.

Don't even worry about the cables touching. If that happens, they'll either be both to POS or both to NEG, no big deal if that happens because current will not flow. The only time you need to worry about that is when you're using jumper cables and you touch the leads together, which is never a good thing to do.

 

[PolkManiac]

I'm assuming I'll lose all my radio presets. What about the car computer, don't those things learn the way you drive over time and adjust? Am I going to lose that as well?

Thanks for the clarification on which to disconnect first.

 

[dingo]

Don't know about the learned data whether it's stored in one of the ECUs somewhere. However, you may loose the radio presets and you'll have to normalize all the windows and sunroof.

 

[PolkManiac]

Don't know about the learned data whether it's stored in one of the ECUs somewhere. However, you may loose the radio presets and you'll have to normalize all the windows and sunroof.

Normalize the windows?

 

[sharp4runr]

Normalize the windows?

Auto up/down on drivers and rear window won't work.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25499&highlight=normalize+window

 

[Even Steven]

They make a small adapter that's basically just a 9-volt battery that plugs into the cigarette lighter. You plug it in before you disconnect your battery, and it will save your radio station presets and other memory stuff in your vehicle.

You can even make one yourself if you have a spare cigarette lighter adapter and an old 9v terminal connector.

 

[Even Steven]

On second thought, this might not work with the 4Runner because I believe the cigarette lighter is switched, meaning it's not hot at all times.

It would be an easy mod though...

 

[jrs2]

Couldn't you use a battery charger, connect negative to frame and positive to battery clamp before you remove it?

 

[Uneek]

Couldn't you use a battery charger, connect negative to frame and positive to battery clamp before you remove it?

You can. This is how I managed to perserve the radio stations and tripometers on my Camry when I replaced the battery. Probably more trouble than it's worth, you need another person to hold the positive and negative clamps apart.

But for the OP, the tripometer readings will be lost as well.

 

[toto]

For a 4th Gen (2003+), this thread lists everything that needs to be reset when you disconnect the battery.

 

[johnatsea]

Thanks

This post just helped me after a battery swap. but one other thing my power seems weak and the car was shuddering while i was waiting for a light any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[vostegun]

wow! I had no idea changing a battery would be so much work.......lol