This question is for my 1994 pontiac bonneville but I guess the question would pertain for a firebird as well. I need to replace my car battery (since it has been 20 degrees or below for the past 3 weeks).

My problem is how do you replace the battery without losing all the settings for the computer and the Delco radio doesn't display the dreaded "LOC" ? Somebody told me you need to provided an alternative power source while changing the battery but nobody knows how. Can anybody tell me how they do it ? I can get a battery for 54.99 if I can figure out how to do this. The dealer wants $135 to replace it with a AC delco.

Thanks. I really liked it when cars didn't have computers

 

Never heard that asked before. Since the altenator takes over the charge once the car is started, can you just start the car, then disconnect the battery and swap it out??? I don't see what the problem would be, but I could be wrong, check around.

 

As long as the little red light on the radio isn't flashing, You should be alright to just swap the batteries. Sometimes you can get away with the start it up and swap the batteries, but on certain makes and models that can be bad for the alternator..Like I said. If the little red light is not flashing. It usually means that a code was never inputted to activate the "Theft Lock". As for the computer settings, don't worry about them. It won't harm anything.

 

I have hear of peoples using a 9volt batterie or something like that and connect it into the "Cigarette Lighter".
So have I heard... cant tell you if it's true (could be on ford cars)

 

If you have top and side terminals on the new batt, connect the new batt to the car's battery cables (observing polarity of course) with jumper cables .
Disconnect, the old battery, and bolt the cables to the new batt. After it's connected, disconnect the jumper cables.

I bet the cigarette lighter thing would work too.
I'd use a 12v batt and some fairly beefy wire, like an old spotlight cord.
Forcing 12+ volts, and potentially 10+amps, into a 9v batt doesn't sound like a good idea.

You would want to verify the cigarette lighter stays powered with the key off. Most cars do, but a few don't.

You didn't mention what state the current batt is in. If the volts are abt 10 or less, there will most likely be a lot of current entering the old batt from the temporary source (whatever you choose). This will cause arcing when the old batt is disconnected.
If the batt voltage is less than 9 volts, you may have already lost the codes..

One more thing, don't stand over either batt while doing any of this. They do occasionally explode if acring occures inside the batt.
I once had a set of batt filler caps come within 6" of my face as they went skyward at abt mach 1!!
Luckily most of the acid/water mixture had already evaporated..
It still scared the hell out of me..

 

Battery safety has often been overlooked. We had a troop check a military vehicle serviceable battery under low light conditions which he decided to overcome with the use of a pocket lighter (zippo) in stead of his issued flashlight (which he failed to have properly attached to his web gear). When he lit it the other troop was just slow enough to realize what was about to happen but unable to do anything about it. The vapor caught causing a minor explosion but what made the accident really bad was the acid it blew into his face.

 

You at fort hood tx???

 

Presently at Lackland AFB. They call it the Gateway to the Air Force...

 

Thanks for all your input. Okay so the computer codes aren't a problem and yes my radio does have that flashing red light which I guess means it has the theftlock on. After thinking about it, I guess if I just turn off the theftlock I should be ok. Does anybody know how to turn off theftlock on a Delco radio ?

Thanks again for all your help...

 

You gotta have the code man. At least I am pretty sure you do. There may be a default code if you call your dealership or somethin.

 

use a 9 volt battery and the adapter that goes from the 9 volt battery to the ciggerette liter this will keep your radio allright 1mikiemike