⬇️Things used in this video: 1. Power Supply Cable Memory Saver: amzn.to/2nxoD9e 2. 12V battery supply (Jump Start Pack): amzn.to/2GFDyH6 3. Disposable Gloves: amzn.to/2z4TygG 4. Common Sense 5. 4k Camera: amzn.to/2C2uTMU 6. Mini Microphone: amzn.to/2newgV9 7. My computer for editing / uploading: amzn.to/2i2sKYz 8. Video editing software: amzn.to/2jv5Fhf 9. Thumbnail software: amzn.to/2k7tz6C 🛠Check out my Garage to see what I use every day and highly recommend: www.amazon.com/shop/scottykilmer Consider subscribing and press the bell 🛎 icon to be notified of all new videos. 👉Follow me on Instagram for the latest news, funnies, and exclusive info / pics: goo.gl/ohy2cA
What do you think of side seat air bags. I have a 2028 Pacifica with front seat air bags. Been told from dealer I can't use seat covers on my vehicle. I was thinking of buying them cheap china made covers to use . Knowing they fall apart on the seams. Ha ha your show has helped me a lot. Thank you. Charles from new mexico
Danny: 12v battery jump starter: amzn.to/2Ez4mYU you can use this for a lot more than battery changes and the products are also in my Amazon store: www.amazon.com/shop/scottykilmer
A friend called the other day because her car was giving her trouble. I went over: car starts but only stay running for a second then dies, power windows would not work, radio works, horn works, wipers not working, interior lights were on and wound not shut off. I disconnected the battery for a few seconds and then reattached......Everything fixed! I'm guessing the computer was at fault and the disconnect reset it.
So funny right before I was about to. Change my battery i decided to watch a this quick video and I didn’t use a bolt power and I put the new battery in car started up fine but it turned off. 5 seconds later ok start it back up now it was idling super weird so I hung out in the parking lot for a minute and it seemed to be ok when I finally drive away !! Thank god and it’s a Scion car!! Scotty knows his stuff!!👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Scotty should have also mentioned that when removing the battery cables, remove the negative cable frist, then remove the positive one. When re-attaching the cables to the new battery, put the positive on first, then the negative one.
Scotty is the best mechanic on UA-cam. He uploads lots of videos, do live car talks, answer questions on his website and gives away tools. He's the easiest mechanic on UA-cam to get a hold of to ask questions. I look forward to your car talk tomorrw morning. Keep up the good work:)
Yes, newer vehicles do have big problems when you disconnect the battery, which is actually a very poor design, especially for an expensive car like a Benz. There's no reason why the computer shouldn't have a supercapacitor inside them to keep voltage applied in the event a battery goes open circuit or if you need to swap out the battery. I usually use 2 jumper wires connected to the battery clamps, apply 12.5V to 14V, then remove the clamps from the battery.
Most all Mercedes have a smaller auxiliary battery for exactly this reason. This is only an issue if you disconnect both of them at the same time and even then the car will self learn over time. The Main battery is in the trunk and the auxiliary is usually under hood.
I had a 2008 Toyota Tundra and I just sold it this past summer with the original battery still in it. Had enough other problems with it while it was under warranty and those problems were starting to resurface again after the warranty had expired so I dumped it before that stuff needed fixed, and just told the buyer they may want to think about putting a battery in it. Told them about the issues that were starting to surface again but the buyer was a mechanic and said he didn't care...also didn't bat an eye at the $18k price I had on it, handed over the cash and away he went.
damn. idk i was told that tundra is just a "luxury large truck" no actual work truck or under powered. i was told that tacoma (minus the rust) is the way to go. i was looking to get a v6 4x4 but i was told that the 4L 4x4 is awesome. im not sure, my current 4L is issues, but im dealing american atm lol. what issues were returning?
When Toyota released the 2nd generation Tundra in 2007, they were boasting about its competitiveness towards the 3/4 ton market...its anything but. The IFS is what limits it to a point, but the rear axle bearings are another problem along with the front differential bearings....both were Toyota Service Bulletins (TSBs). Both should have been recalls, a bearing freezes up on the highway locking up 1 wheel could cause loss of control, injury or death. Both those issues were covered under my factory extended warranty, however they resurfaced about 2 months before I sold the truck. I told the buyer what was going on and that they possibly could get some help through the dealer since those issues were originally reported and covered under warranty the first time, and obviously the replacement parts weren't any better, and the truck was used for far lighter duties since those repairs were done. I went back to my 1988 F250 460 4x4 super cab long bed pickup...older, higher mileage, but have never had axle bearings or differential bearings fail and its about 29k shy of the 500k mark and have never had any engine or transmission trouble.
I thank you endlessly for this video. You are a professor sir and you have many many students. Here is one who appreciates your labor. From Puerto Rico.
I work at an auto parts store and we never use that device. My manager is too cheap to take one off the sales floor for store use. Many times I've changed a battery just to have poor idle. Sometimes the car will have NO idle. It just shuts off if you take your foot off the peddle. So if you take your car to a store that offers free replacement, ask them to use the memory keeper.
That's a shame. The typical customer doesn't need to use a memory keeper on a monthly basis, but an auto parts store that sells batteries would. Plus, it could be a teachable moment to customers when they decide to swap their own battery next time. Who knows, customers may even be interested in buying one once they know what it is used for. I personally do not need a memory keeper for my 1990 Thunderbird (it doesn't have an OBD2 port), but I may buy one for my relatives that drive newer cars.
We do it at my work just because we don't want to deal with the problem that could arise. Why no do it and avoid all potential issues? The only cars I've had that have messed up are Kias and Fords... Both have throttle body recalls.
So why, with all this "great" technology we have in cars these days, the system does NOT have a back up battery installed so the computer does not loose memory? Even home PC's have a battery on the main board so memory is kept when it is turned off.
LifeOfAnEnglishman My car does keep it's memory right down to the clock and stereo setting when the battery is removed for a few hours. It's not a Mercedes/Audi/Lexus... it's a 2016 Fiat.
Just one more thing to fail I guess. All batteries wear out eventually, so it's another battery to replace one day. Just like those stupid TPMS's, they eventually die too and then your stuck with the error code on your dash unless you want to pay hundreds to get it fixed, and it's something you don't even need.
Same here, did the same to my Mazda3. All I had to do after replacing was to reset the power windows. Everything was working fine. No memory loss. I guess that depends on the manufacturer and what do they equip their systems with.
You can also save the 15 dollars by just connecting the battery leads to any 11-14V power supply (like a series of small batteries or any charger with the right voltage) while changing the battery. I am sure DIY car guys all have a 12V power supply laying around somewhere.
I have also heard about the 9V battery in the cigarette lighter slot. I am sure it can work for some cars but I woudlnt risk it if I knew my car is likely to have these problems.
A 9V battery is a very stupid thing to do for many reasons. The main one, the moment to connect the 9V battery, current will start to flow from the car to the 9V, trying to charge it at 12V.
You forgot to mention to turn off the interior accessories/close the doors to turn off the lights because now all the current is going through the obd port and could pop the fuse causing the KAM to be reset anyway.
i agree, it should be, however, the first time I used one of these memory retainers I had to consciously remind myself not to short out the positive terminal as it was now 'live', I ended up insulating it while replacing the battery, the memory saver, however, is a great tool
forgot to mention, excellent point that you mentioned about turning of all accessories and closing the doors! I still think the memory saver is a great idea
wow! thanks, scotty! my sister and i both have problems w our cars from recent battery changes. we couldn't get any straight answers. and then the answer showed up tonite in my email box from you thru youtube! thanks again!
Like Scotty, I'm old-school and would have replaced batteries in any car the traditional way so this is totally FYI educational - kudos! As others have indicated below; save the $15 and before disconnecting the old battery, just hook up another 12V source in parallel with some jumper connectors (even small gauge will do). You have to connect that $15 device with jumpers inside the car anyway so why not do it where the battery is.
ray bee That is why I said "12v source", meaning a jumper pack or an old-style charger, not another battery. Yes the new battery in parallel would be awkward to work with.
Before I go ahead and do something stupid to my car, I check with Scotty first just to see if has the facts I am looking for. Thanks to Scotty, I have avoided a ton of frustration.
Thank you. After listening to this I decided to just pay the darn $150 at the dealership to change my battery. “Ain’t nobody got time for that!!!” You’ve successfully scared the 💩 outta me!!!
I'm really glad it wasn't this complicated when replacing the battery in my 2010 Honda Civic. The only thing that happened was that the stereo unit locked up, but I was gonna replace that with an aftermarket unit anyway so it didn't really matter. The engine and all of the other electronics worked normally when I connected the new battery and I didn't notice any abnormalities at all. I guess Honda's engineers think a bit more practical than Mercedes' engineers.
Very informative video Scotty. I checked my owner manual and got zero information on battery change. Many other people have posted information on battery changes, but the ones I looked at never mentioned keeping the computer supplied when changing the battery. Thanks again!
thanks Scotty! I wanted to say if you can't get this device, I managed to change them on my Toyota without interrupting power, using just jumper cables (did require some dexterity, though!)
Could you not attach one of those jumpers that have their own battery to the connector terminals to keep the power while you disconnect and replace the battery? Or maybe one of these battery maintainers that plug into the cig lighter?
I had a 2001 Olds Alero. first time i changed the battery, the immobilzer kicked in. I had to have it towed to the dealer. from then on, i always had a charger on the car anytime i had to do anything that needed the battery to be removed. I had a lot of fun replacing the starter in that car!! sparky sparky!!
Like your videos Scotty! But to be fair Mercedes is one of very few cars where to this day you can simply swap out the battery without any issues as the car relearns everything by itself. The only thing you have to do is move the power windows up and down once so they do so automatically. Also it is a good idea to leave the ignition on for a few seconds before starting as the ecu will relearn the throttle, but even though I always forget to do that the car starts without any issues. The only thing that is annoying about the Mercedes battery change in my car, is that the new oem Mercedes 100 Ah battery costs almost 200 dollars!
I always wonder, how many car dealer and mechanic shop not happy with you.. Your video and your knowledge helping people . from those rip off car dealer and bad mechanic
Scotty Kilmer What if I need to change a component in my vehicle that requires the battery to be disconnected? For example, say I need to replace an airbag, would it be safe to use one of these OBD KAM tools with 12 volts running through the vehicle systems, while attempting to replace such components? Thanks!
I currently drive a car that is so old, it doesn't even have an OBD2 port. I still found this video helpful because I have friends and relatives with newer cars and I could pass this info onto them and save them a lot of headache.
Great idea, Scotty. For less cables I recommend the Settings Keeper. Stick a 9v battery to one end and plug the stem into the cigarette/accessory outlet. I've heard people pay at least $65 to get a code from a dealer to unlock their car's radio. Screw that.
Hi Scotty! You are amazing! After watching so many videos, I bought some cars at an auction to flip. I checked your videos for engines, SUVs, cars... and I cannot wait to see if I can fix and flip. (Chevy 1998 Lumina, 42,000 $775, no keys, Chevy Tahoe, 2001, drivers door doesn't open from inside -common issue in this make & model, $1750 and then in a last spontaneous moment at the auction, a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo for $795. ) I did not watch any videos on battery replacement until I was getting ready to pick up the Laredo Monday. So here is my question: What happens if the car has been sitting without a battery for 6 months? When I replace the battery, am I going to have endless repercussions because of this computer system? Thank you for serving the public,... not the large corporations.
Once my 4wd when out on my 99 ranger, I looked up the code online and it told me to disconnect the battery for 20 minutes or so. After that it worked just fine. It's crazy how far the car computers have come.
I think this is a great suggestion - however Scotty I recently replaced the battery on my 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 and the only negative seen was a check engine that went away after 2 or 3 restarts. But what we noticed was no lost radio stations and the big screen now has color accents and now shows the album covers of the songs being played in color! 👍 I thinking the computer did a reset to upgraded down load change - it just needed a power off / reset to initialize that upgrade! Love the video!
Yeah it’s a pain in the arse when you have to take the car to the dealer just to change the battery in the car. One of the reasons it was an easy decision to trade in my wife’s 2014 VW CC. Loved the car, but if something as simple as a battery change needs to be done at the dealer so they can stick a scan tool on it so it has to be told to relearn window positions, idle and whatever else to run right because it can’t do it on its own, I asked myself what happens if I’m traveling to Vegas and there’s no freaking VW dealer for hundreds of miles and I have a problem?
Scam central. The fact the computer can't learn window position screams scam. A motor opens and closes the windows why it needs to learn a position. Maybe something to do with the lazy person who wants it to go up and down automatically by their voice will need a computer to do it.
Great video. Scotty, this is why I subscribe! What did we do before your UA-cam channel? I don't know how we got along without it. Great video as always!!!
Thanks Scotty!! Such amazing and simple advice! My question is... WHO ARE THE 4 PEOPLE THAT REALLY FOUND THIS VIDEO SO DISLIKABLE THAT THEY HAD TO GIVE IT A THUMBS DOWN?!??! SERIOUSLY??? WHO ARE YOU!?!? SHOW YOURSELVES!!!
Interesting, I've done lots of battery swaps with no issues, so I have never thought to do this. Makes a lot of sense though. One thing I'm wondering is, how come the OBD2 port can accept power? I thought it would only go one way lest a fuse pop. Not trolling, I'm actually curious about it
Great advice as always Scotty! Question, I'm a retired mechanic now selling Auto Parts and handing out repair advice. I've been doing this for years! However, on some cars (especially German cars) our computer database clearly reads "Do not use a memory saver on this vehicle" and we have to call a mobile tech to install our battery. Any suggestions?
I learned something new Scotty, thank you, I never new modern cars can’t keep it’s memory on the ECU, my car’s battery is disconnected right now to prevent theft, but it’s from the 90’s, the ECU doesn’t lose it’s memory. Thanks for the useful upload!
Like a PC/tablet, you'd think that modern car ECU/CPUs would come NVRam for the really important stuff, backed up by a different rechargeable/easily replaceable battery, and/or the equivalent of a memory stick, which doesn't need power to hold its data. Yet another 'mistake' by car manufacturers that just so happens to earn them lots of £££ (or $$$) by owners having to get things reset at the dealership.
Mercedes says it has to reprogram the computers and stuff, and it takes hours, and they charge for hours of work. But in reality, they probably use the same keep alive tool that you use when they change the battery.
UrABoxxyBox also, there is the procedures on the forums. I got my procedure for my CLK430. It takes about 5 minutes to do everything. But ill get this tool instead, super useful!
1986 m1009. No computer, no radio, no spark plugs, mechanical fuel pump, mechanical fuel injection, rollem up windows. The only thing my truck needs to run besides the starter is 12 volts to the fuel solenoid in the Roosa Master injection pump. It is absurd that modern vehicles are so poorly designed.
I have a 1965 Mustang with a Retro Radio and the only thing lost when the battery goes open circuit is the radio station. Youd probably lose presets too but I never bothered to program them. In fact, I dont even need to reprogram the blue tooth module. Mechanical fuel pump, 2 barrel carb, throttle arm, cable operated heater controls, simple switches and buttons.
they've been making cars since 1886 and have survived where hundreds of other car companies have failed. they're probably not going any where any time soon.
Scotty, you the man! I had a van towed into my job with a parasitic draw. They didn't want anything fixed. Gets towed in the next day saying it doesn't even start with a battery jumper box. This is my theory: Turns out the battery went so low in power for so long it kicked the key out of its system. Reprogrammed the key and off it went. Have you ever heard of this before Scotty Kilmer ?
Jonny DIY I've got an Optima yellow-top in my Tacoma that I bought in October of 2011 and it still works great. This year I made it my auxiliary battery and installed another AGM battery as a primary starting battery with an isolator between them both. $300 for the Optima back in 2011, and worth that price.
+Kockford Ali. Ive had bad luck with those types of batteries before. The 1 or 2 year warranty ones that are somewhat cheaper than top brands have lasted me, well just 1 or 2 years. I usually just bite the bullet and get a Duralast Gold at Autozone. Usually get 5+years out of it. 3 year free replacement warranty, and prorated replacement up to 5 years.
Okay Scotty so what do we do when we have to perform a job that requires disconnecting the battery won't this memory saver gadget interfere and act like a battery itself and cause problems? I really appreciate if someone here can give some clarity on this Scotty is probably too busy to reply to my comment but maybe someone else can help me because seriously there's jobs where you are instructed to disconnect the battery what are you supposed to do connect this memory saver and disconnect the battery and perform the job at hand am I going to be okay I wonder how many people have the same concern as I have.
I'm really glad that my car is old enough to not have these issues. The only thing I need to do after changing the battery is to reset the immobilizer, and that's done by locking and unlocking the doors once, then it'll start again.
I don't know about other mordern cars but in Toyota models like 2010-2016 if you remove the battery the computer reset everything in its factory condition. This helps to remove any virus or any abnormal codes. Virus enter the computer for different reasons. At that time u unplug the battery and reset the computer into its factory condition.
But most times you replace the battery, your battery is already dead, this will only work if the battery still has enough voltage for the computer to operate properly.
That's why you need to pay attention to how your vehicle is behaving and replace your battery preemptively BEFORE it completely dies. If you have several mornings where the vehicle is especially hard to start, then get your battery tested and/or replaced right away. Simple. For a bit more complexity, you can get a voltmeter and ammeter gauge installed in your dash, or an aftermarket scantool mounted on your dash, to actively monitor the status of your electrical system. You'll be able to see that your battery isn't holding as much of a charge as it used to, or that your system is experiencing more of a current drain than it used to, or whatever.
Texas BEAST Are you kidding. Most people today don’t even know what an ammeter gauge is or how to read it. They go to their car one morning and find the battery is dead. Your analogy just ain’t accurate. Just saying.
@@texasbeast239 I wish I would have done research on why my car was starting with difficulty. So if my car won't start now, is it completely dead and the computer isn't working properly?
@@Kshais - Can't tell over the internet. But it's best to start with the cheap, easy stuff and then work your way up. Make sure your battery posts and cable terminals are clean and not corroded. Sometimes the battery is still good, but it's just so dirty you can't get enough juice in and out of it. I use a small carpet brush like they have for cleaning out your floorboard. Tough bristles work great on battery gunk. If it's really dead, then take the battery out and have a local car parts store test it. Will probably need to buy a new one. Follow Scotty's other advice on picking a new battery with a recent born on date. While you're there, buy a basic OBD scan tool too. Replace your battery, and give it some time to reset any modules that were affected. Then hook your new scan tool up under the dash and see if there are any diagnostic codes. That's the key info you need to determine future repairs. Don't simply turn the car over to a mechanic you don't know and let them tell you what's wrong with it. Have an idea of what's wrong with it, first.
I agree with you 100%. Your comment is at least six years old, but I hope that you still have your Mercury Grand Marquis. I love Panther Platform cars, and my current daily driver is a 2002 Lincoln Town Car that I bought in 2007.
Another expensive battery to replace is for a BMW. Battery located in the back, in the trunk, and under the floor. Nobody will replace it except BMW dealer. Takes hours, or days if you need a new alternator too, and lots of money. I mean LOTS of money.
⬇️Things used in this video:
1. Power Supply Cable Memory Saver: amzn.to/2nxoD9e
2. 12V battery supply (Jump Start Pack): amzn.to/2GFDyH6
3. Disposable Gloves: amzn.to/2z4TygG
4. Common Sense
5. 4k Camera: amzn.to/2C2uTMU
6. Mini Microphone: amzn.to/2newgV9
7. My computer for editing / uploading: amzn.to/2i2sKYz
8. Video editing software: amzn.to/2jv5Fhf
9. Thumbnail software: amzn.to/2k7tz6C
🛠Check out my Garage to see what I use every day and highly recommend:
www.amazon.com/shop/scottykilmer
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Scotty Kilmer do u also have a link for a good 12 volt supply? Thanks Scotty
What do you think of side seat air bags. I have a 2028 Pacifica with front seat air bags. Been told from dealer I can't use seat covers on my vehicle. I was thinking of buying them cheap china made covers to use . Knowing they fall apart on the seams. Ha ha your show has helped me a lot. Thank you. Charles from new mexico
2018 Pacifica sorry for type po mistake
Danny:
12v battery jump starter: amzn.to/2Ez4mYU
you can use this for a lot more than battery changes and
the products are also in my Amazon store: www.amazon.com/shop/scottykilmer
A friend called the other day because her car was giving her trouble. I went over: car starts but only stay running for a second then dies, power windows would not work, radio works, horn works, wipers not working, interior lights were on and wound not shut off. I disconnected the battery for a few seconds and then reattached......Everything fixed! I'm guessing the computer was at fault and the disconnect reset it.
Was a mechanic myself for some years. (Not up to the expertise level as Scotty) He gives simple/sound advise.
So funny right before I was about to. Change my battery i decided to watch a this quick video and I didn’t use a bolt power and I put the new battery in car started up fine but it turned off. 5 seconds later ok start it back up now it was idling super weird so I hung out in the parking lot for a minute and it seemed to be ok when I finally drive away !! Thank god and it’s a Scion car!! Scotty knows his stuff!!👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
THANKS FOR 3 MIN OF NOT SHOWING HOW TO REPLACE THE CAR BATTERY!!!!! YOURE THE BEST SCOTTY BOY!!!!
Scotty should have also mentioned that when removing the battery cables, remove the negative cable frist, then remove the positive one.
When re-attaching the cables to the new battery, put the positive on first, then the negative one.
Scotty is the best mechanic on UA-cam. He uploads lots of videos, do live car talks, answer questions on his website and gives away tools. He's the easiest mechanic on UA-cam to get a hold of to ask questions. I look forward to your car talk tomorrw morning. Keep up the good work:)
Thanks!
Scotty is just awesome. Actually I doubt there is a word to properly describe his awesomeness.
Yes, newer vehicles do have big problems when you disconnect the battery, which is actually a very poor design, especially for an expensive car like a Benz. There's no reason why the computer shouldn't have a supercapacitor inside them to keep voltage applied in the event a battery goes open circuit or if you need to swap out the battery. I usually use 2 jumper wires connected to the battery clamps, apply 12.5V to 14V, then remove the clamps from the battery.
electronicsNmore or 2 battery system. At least 1 battery is required to be connected all the time.
how about flash memory? save a log after every shutdown and load it up every startup.
A flash drive is like $5 at the local box store. It's almost as if these cars are designed to cost you extra money.
They do have that, all newer Mercedes have a backup battery, most of them are located in the trunk next to the spare tire/foam
Most all Mercedes have a smaller auxiliary battery for exactly this reason. This is only an issue if you disconnect both of them at the same time and even then the car will self learn over time. The Main battery is in the trunk and the auxiliary is usually under hood.
I stayed away from battery changes but now I can do them myself with this advice. Thank you Scotty.
I always look forward to these morning uploads.
I watch these morning uploads while I do my morning download.
It's 9:37pm here in Malaysia.
that is why i enjoy the older cars. not all that electric crap to deal with. even more fun when u have to replace all that crap too lol
I had a 2008 Toyota Tundra and I just sold it this past summer with the original battery still in it. Had enough other problems with it while it was under warranty and those problems were starting to resurface again after the warranty had expired so I dumped it before that stuff needed fixed, and just told the buyer they may want to think about putting a battery in it. Told them about the issues that were starting to surface again but the buyer was a mechanic and said he didn't care...also didn't bat an eye at the $18k price I had on it, handed over the cash and away he went.
damn. idk i was told that tundra is just a "luxury large truck" no actual work truck or under powered. i was told that tacoma (minus the rust) is the way to go. i was looking to get a v6 4x4 but i was told that the 4L 4x4 is awesome. im not sure, my current 4L is issues, but im dealing american atm lol. what issues were returning?
When Toyota released the 2nd generation Tundra in 2007, they were boasting about its competitiveness towards the 3/4 ton market...its anything but. The IFS is what limits it to a point, but the rear axle bearings are another problem along with the front differential bearings....both were Toyota Service Bulletins (TSBs). Both should have been recalls, a bearing freezes up on the highway locking up 1 wheel could cause loss of control, injury or death. Both those issues were covered under my factory extended warranty, however they resurfaced about 2 months before I sold the truck. I told the buyer what was going on and that they possibly could get some help through the dealer since those issues were originally reported and covered under warranty the first time, and obviously the replacement parts weren't any better, and the truck was used for far lighter duties since those repairs were done.
I went back to my 1988 F250 460 4x4 super cab long bed pickup...older, higher mileage, but have never had axle bearings or differential bearings fail and its about 29k shy of the 500k mark and have never had any engine or transmission trouble.
I agree
Thisisbb1
I got a 52 Ford pick up easy sailing
I thank you endlessly for this video. You are a professor sir and you have many many students. Here is one who appreciates your labor. From Puerto Rico.
I work at an auto parts store and we never use that device. My manager is too cheap to take one off the sales floor for store use. Many times I've changed a battery just to have poor idle. Sometimes the car will have NO idle. It just shuts off if you take your foot off the peddle. So if you take your car to a store that offers free replacement, ask them to use the memory keeper.
That's a shame. The typical customer doesn't need to use a memory keeper on a monthly basis, but an auto parts store that sells batteries would. Plus, it could be a teachable moment to customers when they decide to swap their own battery next time. Who knows, customers may even be interested in buying one once they know what it is used for. I personally do not need a memory keeper for my 1990 Thunderbird (it doesn't have an OBD2 port), but I may buy one for my relatives that drive newer cars.
We do it at my work just because we don't want to deal with the problem that could arise. Why no do it and avoid all potential issues? The only cars I've had that have messed up are Kias and Fords... Both have throttle body recalls.
If there is one thing i really hate on modern cars, its the electronic throttle control......
Lol don’t tell me it’s ethier O”Reilly or auto zone
i would get a job somewhere else and tell people to avoid that place, you're doing damage to your reputation by working there.
Scotty sir you are the best mechanic 👨🏻🔧
Love from India ❤️
Hello, thanks for the support!
Scotty Kilmer love from newzealand
So why, with all this "great" technology we have in cars these days, the system does NOT have a back up battery installed so the computer does not loose memory? Even home PC's have a battery on the main board so memory is kept when it is turned off.
LifeOfAnEnglishman My car does keep it's memory right down to the clock and stereo setting when the battery is removed for a few hours. It's not a Mercedes/Audi/Lexus... it's a 2016 Fiat.
Just one more thing to fail I guess. All batteries wear out eventually, so it's another battery to replace one day. Just like those stupid TPMS's, they eventually die too and then your stuck with the error code on your dash unless you want to pay hundreds to get it fixed, and it's something you don't even need.
Same here, did the same to my Mazda3. All I had to do after replacing was to reset the power windows. Everything was working fine. No memory loss. I guess that depends on the manufacturer and what do they equip their systems with.
They want you to take the car to the dealer....money thing of course!
Because anything that keeps people (or their cars) in your service bay is good business.
You can also save the 15 dollars by just connecting the battery leads to any 11-14V power supply (like a series of small batteries or any charger with the right voltage) while changing the battery. I am sure DIY car guys all have a 12V power supply laying around somewhere.
9v battery will work usually as well I was told.
I have also heard about the 9V battery in the cigarette lighter slot. I am sure it can work for some cars but I woudlnt risk it if I knew my car is likely to have these problems.
+Stepside1986 - 9v battery through cigarette lighter USED to work. Not reliable solution nowadays.
A 9V battery is a very stupid thing to do for many reasons. The main one, the moment to connect the 9V battery, current will start to flow from the car to the 9V, trying to charge it at 12V.
Scottie is the best advice for cars on UA-cam.
Great information SCOTTY!!! You are one of a KIND. Great human being !!!
thanks for the support!
Thank you Scotty! You are my favorite mechanic, I wish we have more honest people like you. I love all of your informative videos!
This vid makes you appreciate the simple things of life. The simpler the better.
If there is a superhero for automotive mechanics, Scotty is it!
You forgot to mention to turn off the interior accessories/close the doors to turn off the lights because now all the current is going through the obd port and could pop the fuse causing the KAM to be reset anyway.
blankpanic Scotty should also have mentioned not to short out the positive terminal as it will have a small amount of current running through it
it should be obvious for most of people .. I guess
i agree, it should be, however, the first time I used one of these memory retainers I had to consciously remind myself not to short out the positive terminal as it was now 'live', I ended up insulating it while replacing the battery, the memory saver, however, is a great tool
another good point for people to keep in mind.
forgot to mention, excellent point that you mentioned about turning of all accessories and closing the doors! I still think the memory saver is a great idea
wow! thanks, scotty! my sister and i both have problems w our cars from recent battery changes. we couldn't get any straight answers. and then the answer showed up tonite in my email box from you thru youtube! thanks again!
Lol iv learned more from Scotty in one week then from my father ever
Now that's saying something Jesus!
Same
your father isn't a mechanic lol
I'm glad that I'm still with my 19 year ol ranger. I don't have to deal with new car defects.
Like Scotty, I'm old-school and would have replaced batteries in any car the traditional way so this is totally FYI educational - kudos! As others have indicated below; save the $15 and before disconnecting the old battery, just hook up another 12V source in parallel with some jumper connectors (even small gauge will do). You have to connect that $15 device with jumpers inside the car anyway so why not do it where the battery is.
ray bee That is why I said "12v source", meaning a jumper pack or an old-style charger, not another battery. Yes the new battery in parallel would be awkward to work with.
Before I go ahead and do something stupid to my car, I check with Scotty first just to see if has the facts I am looking for. Thanks to Scotty, I have avoided a ton of frustration.
I always learn something new from Scotty. I've never even heard of this before. I though i just had to reset my radio stations and the clock.
Ordered mine this AM as soon as I finished watching this video. Thanks Scotty!
I become more knowledgeable about cars every time I watch your videos. Thank you Scotty!
The happiest thing I see in the morning is a you tube notification from Scott's channel.
Thank you. After listening to this I decided to just pay the darn $150 at the dealership to change my battery. “Ain’t nobody got time for that!!!”
You’ve successfully scared the 💩 outta me!!!
Wow! This is really a good advice! First time I ever heard about the Power Supply Cable Memory Saver.
I'm really glad it wasn't this complicated when replacing the battery in my 2010 Honda Civic. The only thing that happened was that the stereo unit locked up, but I was gonna replace that with an aftermarket unit anyway so it didn't really matter. The engine and all of the other electronics worked normally when I connected the new battery and I didn't notice any abnormalities at all. I guess Honda's engineers think a bit more practical than Mercedes' engineers.
Very informative video Scotty. I checked my owner manual and got zero information on battery change. Many other people have posted information on battery changes, but the ones I looked at never mentioned keeping the computer supplied when changing the battery. Thanks again!
I've learned something new today. Thank you
thanks Scotty!
I wanted to say if you can't get this device, I managed to change them on my Toyota without interrupting power, using just jumper cables (did require some dexterity, though!)
Could you not attach one of those jumpers that have their own battery to the connector terminals to keep the power while you disconnect and replace the battery? Or maybe one of these battery maintainers that plug into the cig lighter?
I had a 2001 Olds Alero. first time i changed the battery, the immobilzer kicked in. I had to have it towed to the dealer. from then on, i always had a charger on the car anytime i had to do anything that needed the battery to be removed. I had a lot of fun replacing the starter in that car!! sparky sparky!!
This is me in the present time speaking for future me. Thank you! Did not know this!
Best car UA-camr ever. Love your videos Scotty
Like your videos Scotty! But to be fair Mercedes is one of very few cars where to this day you can simply swap out the battery without any issues as the car relearns everything by itself. The only thing you have to do is move the power windows up and down once so they do so automatically. Also it is a good idea to leave the ignition on for a few seconds before starting as the ecu will relearn the throttle, but even though I always forget to do that the car starts without any issues. The only thing that is annoying about the Mercedes battery change in my car, is that the new oem Mercedes 100 Ah battery costs almost 200 dollars!
I always wonder, how many car dealer and mechanic shop not happy with you..
Your video and your knowledge helping people . from those rip off car dealer and bad mechanic
Scotty Kilmer What if I need to change a component in my vehicle that requires the battery to be disconnected? For example, say I need to replace an airbag, would it be safe to use one of these OBD KAM tools with 12 volts running through the vehicle systems, while attempting to replace such components?
Thanks!
I was going to ask the same question
Sail R Wondering the same thing.
Please answer Scotty
I just remove the air bag fuses.
I currently drive a car that is so old, it doesn't even have an OBD2 port. I still found this video helpful because I have friends and relatives with newer cars and I could pass this info onto them and save them a lot of headache.
Great idea, Scotty. For less cables I recommend the Settings Keeper. Stick a 9v battery to one end and plug the stem into the cigarette/accessory outlet. I've heard people pay at least $65 to get a code from a dealer to unlock their car's radio. Screw that.
Thanks for this amazing tip! I think I might need to replace my battery so know this now is a life saver!. Thanks again!
Go Scotty go!!
Go.
Hi Scotty! You are amazing! After watching so many videos, I bought some cars at an auction to flip. I checked your videos for engines, SUVs, cars... and I cannot wait to see if I can fix and flip. (Chevy 1998 Lumina, 42,000 $775, no keys, Chevy Tahoe, 2001, drivers door doesn't open from inside -common issue in this make & model, $1750 and then in a last spontaneous moment at the auction, a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo for $795. ) I did not watch any videos on battery replacement until I was getting ready to pick up the Laredo Monday. So here is my question:
What happens if the car has been sitting without a battery for 6 months? When I replace the battery, am I going to have endless repercussions because of this computer system?
Thank you for serving the public,... not the large corporations.
I have learned some thing really useful here thanks Scotty.,
glad to hear it, thanks
Once my 4wd when out on my 99 ranger, I looked up the code online and it told me to disconnect the battery for 20 minutes or so. After that it worked just fine. It's crazy how far the car computers have come.
new cars are just getting worse and worse
I agree with Alex. Think I will hang on to my 13 yr old Forester.
Even worse than all the computer stuff is all the plastic. That's the real problem.
cars have had that "computer junk" since 1982. you drive a 40 year old car?
GRRRRR PLASTIC PARTS!!!!!!! In the heat they burst, in the cold they snap. Yes BMW i'm talking about your plastic excuse for a water pump.
This is why I miss those simple K cars were easy to fix and cheap too and dint need all this fancy crap to change a battery
Thanks Scotty! Your personality makes this more enjoyable.
Just got a Costco battery a week ago. $120 for a chevy Tahoe. Amazing prices. Just letting you guys know.
Gotta swap the battery in my old Acura MDX. I'm willing to bet money this tip just saved me a ton of confusion and frustration!
Scotty you provide the most useful information on car maintenance. Thanks for doing what you do. Just sub’d.
I think this is a great suggestion - however Scotty I recently replaced the battery on my 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 and the only negative seen was a check engine that went away after 2 or 3 restarts. But what we noticed was no lost radio stations and the big screen now has color accents and now shows the album covers of the songs being played in color! 👍 I thinking the computer did a reset to upgraded down load change - it just needed a power off / reset to initialize that upgrade! Love the video!
Yeah it’s a pain in the arse when you have to take the car to the dealer just to change the battery in the car. One of the reasons it was an easy decision to trade in my wife’s 2014 VW CC. Loved the car, but if something as simple as a battery change needs to be done at the dealer so they can stick a scan tool on it so it has to be told to relearn window positions, idle and whatever else to run right because it can’t do it on its own, I asked myself what happens if I’m traveling to Vegas and there’s no freaking VW dealer for hundreds of miles and I have a problem?
Scam central. The fact the computer can't learn window position screams scam. A motor opens and closes the windows why it needs to learn a position. Maybe something to do with the lazy person who wants it to go up and down automatically by their voice will need a computer to do it.
I'm adding your story to my long list of reasons to prefer manual crank windows.
Great video. Scotty, this is why I subscribe! What did we do before your UA-cam channel? I don't know how we got along without it. Great video as always!!!
this taught me nothing of how to replace a battery.
Your my hero
I can listen to this guy every day
Good thing im sticking to older cars.
if your car isn't older than '96 you can still have these troubles
*true. most cars after 96 had computers that controlled a lot of stuff and the 'ecu re-learning' how to operate properly is real
Thanks Scotty!! Such amazing and simple advice!
My question is...
WHO ARE THE 4 PEOPLE THAT REALLY FOUND THIS VIDEO SO DISLIKABLE THAT THEY HAD TO GIVE IT A THUMBS DOWN?!??! SERIOUSLY??? WHO ARE YOU!?!? SHOW YOURSELVES!!!
Interesting, I've done lots of battery swaps with no issues, so I have never thought to do this. Makes a lot of sense though. One thing I'm wondering is, how come the OBD2 port can accept power? I thought it would only go one way lest a fuse pop. Not trolling, I'm actually curious about it
Already bought two tire inflators from another of your videos and will be buying this too. Thank you for all you do.
Today's "smart" cars are stupid.
: )
Agreed, i disconnected the battery on my 02 ranger to work on it, and hooked it back up and it works just fine.
I thought it was nice that our Toyota can re-learn its idling speed
Everything so called smart is stupid. The more smarter the more stupid!
Wow that;s great infomation Scotty. Thank you.
Great advice as always Scotty! Question, I'm a retired mechanic now selling Auto Parts and handing out repair advice. I've been doing this for years! However, on some cars (especially German cars) our computer database clearly reads "Do not use a memory saver on this vehicle" and we have to call a mobile tech to install our battery. Any suggestions?
Hey do u know if once I connect the clamps to the 12volt battery....do I turn it on.
I learned something new Scotty, thank you, I never new modern cars can’t keep it’s memory on the ECU, my car’s battery is disconnected right now to prevent theft, but it’s from the 90’s, the ECU doesn’t lose it’s memory. Thanks for the useful upload!
Like a PC/tablet, you'd think that modern car ECU/CPUs would come NVRam for the really important stuff, backed up by a different rechargeable/easily replaceable battery, and/or the equivalent of a memory stick, which doesn't need power to hold its data. Yet another 'mistake' by car manufacturers that just so happens to earn them lots of £££ (or $$$) by owners having to get things reset at the dealership.
I've been trying to find this guy man he's so reliable
This happened to me, thanks for the info!
Great vid man. Ive shared a few of your clips to facebook including this one, and your livestreams are cool to watch 👍
Mercedes says it has to reprogram the computers and stuff, and it takes hours, and they charge for hours of work.
But in reality, they probably use the same keep alive tool that you use when they change the battery.
UrABoxxyBox also, there is the procedures on the forums. I got my procedure for my CLK430. It takes about 5 minutes to do everything. But ill get this tool instead, super useful!
Yol Yes, this tool is pretty cool, and useful. I am probably going to get one.
This is really good advice. If you have an expensive radio in your car (if it says sirius it is) you really dont want to deal with unlocking it.
1986 m1009. No computer, no radio, no spark plugs, mechanical fuel pump, mechanical fuel injection, rollem up windows.
The only thing my truck needs to run besides the starter is 12 volts to the fuel solenoid in the Roosa Master injection pump.
It is absurd that modern vehicles are so poorly designed.
I have a 1965 Mustang with a Retro Radio and the only thing lost when the battery goes open circuit is the radio station. Youd probably lose presets too but I never bothered to program them. In fact, I dont even need to reprogram the blue tooth module. Mechanical fuel pump, 2 barrel carb, throttle arm, cable operated heater controls, simple switches and buttons.
You belong on television as your a broker of information with a great persona to boot. Thank you for your informative videos.
Mercedes is pathetic. They deserve to go out of business.
they've been making cars since 1886 and have survived where hundreds of other car companies have failed. they're probably not going any where any time soon.
Gryazev-Shipunov I wouldn’t drive own a Mercedes bent even if I was rich ,😖crap cars
Lost Beetle modern Mercedes sucks, but in the 80s and 90s they're were damn good
Don't forget Bimmer. They don't even have engine oil dip sticks in some of their models. What is that saying about Bimmer's view of their clientele?
love my Mercedes belt broke on it replaced belt but my battery all the way down
Scotty, you the man! I had a van towed into my job with a parasitic draw. They didn't want anything fixed. Gets towed in the next day saying it doesn't even start with a battery jumper box. This is my theory: Turns out the battery went so low in power for so long it kicked the key out of its system. Reprogrammed the key and off it went. Have you ever heard of this before Scotty Kilmer ?
Car guru x1000
New mechanic!! I really appreciate your time/work/wisdom to help enlighten on many topics.....great channel 💫💫💫💫💫
*....and mannn are new batteries EXPENSIVE these days, let me tell you...smh*
Jonny DIY I've got an Optima yellow-top in my Tacoma that I bought in October of 2011 and it still works great. This year I made it my auxiliary battery and installed another AGM battery as a primary starting battery with an isolator between them both. $300 for the Optima back in 2011, and worth that price.
+Tim Nelson. Nice! You definitely got your moneys worth on that battery & then some!
+Kockford Ali. Ive had bad luck with those types of batteries before. The 1 or 2 year warranty ones that are somewhat cheaper than top brands have lasted me, well just 1 or 2 years. I usually just bite the bullet and get a Duralast Gold at Autozone. Usually get 5+years out of it. 3 year free replacement warranty, and prorated replacement up to 5 years.
The original battery in my 2007 Tacoma is still going strong.
Damn thats cheap my red top optima cost me $240 from orileys
Okay Scotty so what do we do when we have to perform a job that requires disconnecting the battery won't this memory saver gadget interfere and act like a battery itself and cause problems? I really appreciate if someone here can give some clarity on this Scotty is probably too busy to reply to my comment but maybe someone else can help me because seriously there's jobs where you are instructed to disconnect the battery what are you supposed to do connect this memory saver and disconnect the battery and perform the job at hand am I going to be okay I wonder how many people have the same concern as I have.
Your goggle is good. Next giveaway Monday give that as a prize.
Thanks, Scotty, I just ordered this memory saver through your link.
Who would like to party with Scotty?
Drink some of that Moonshine..
I'm really glad that my car is old enough to not have these issues. The only thing I need to do after changing the battery is to reset the immobilizer, and that's done by locking and unlocking the doors once, then it'll start again.
Ordered that sucker.
Thanks! your videos tell humanity about the "WT*beep*" moments caused by modern cars.
in my country they keep the engine running while changing battery to prevent that
Hey Scotty, thanks for the tip on Bar's radiator stop leak, worked like a charm, many thanks brother.
Glad to hear it👍
Great info.
I don't know about other mordern cars but in Toyota models like 2010-2016 if you remove the battery the computer reset everything in its factory condition. This helps to remove any virus or any abnormal codes. Virus enter the computer for different reasons. At that time u unplug the battery and reset the computer into its factory condition.
Wow. I wish I had known this years ago. It could have saved me a great deal of aggravation.
PERFECT TIME FOR THE VIDEO SCOTTY, IM CHANGING MY BATTERY THIS EVENING!!!
But most times you replace the battery, your battery is already dead, this will only work if the battery still has enough voltage for the computer to operate properly.
That's why you need to pay attention to how your vehicle is behaving and replace your battery preemptively BEFORE it completely dies. If you have several mornings where the vehicle is especially hard to start, then get your battery tested and/or replaced right away. Simple.
For a bit more complexity, you can get a voltmeter and ammeter gauge installed in your dash, or an aftermarket scantool mounted on your dash, to actively monitor the status of your electrical system. You'll be able to see that your battery isn't holding as much of a charge as it used to, or that your system is experiencing more of a current drain than it used to, or whatever.
Texas BEAST Are you kidding. Most people today don’t even know what an ammeter gauge is or how to read it. They go to their car one morning and find the battery is dead. Your analogy just ain’t accurate. Just saying.
@@texasbeast239 I wish I would have done research on why my car was starting with difficulty. So if my car won't start now, is it completely dead and the computer isn't working properly?
@@Kshais - Can't tell over the internet. But it's best to start with the cheap, easy stuff and then work your way up.
Make sure your battery posts and cable terminals are clean and not corroded. Sometimes the battery is still good, but it's just so dirty you can't get enough juice in and out of it. I use a small carpet brush like they have for cleaning out your floorboard. Tough bristles work great on battery gunk.
If it's really dead, then take the battery out and have a local car parts store test it. Will probably need to buy a new one. Follow Scotty's other advice on picking a new battery with a recent born on date.
While you're there, buy a basic OBD scan tool too. Replace your battery, and give it some time to reset any modules that were affected. Then hook your new scan tool up under the dash and see if there are any diagnostic codes. That's the key info you need to determine future repairs.
Don't simply turn the car over to a mechanic you don't know and let them tell you what's wrong with it. Have an idea of what's wrong with it, first.
Scotty you’re a legend
Rod Stewart is that you mah man!?
Newer is not always better. I love my 90's vintage Mercury Grand Marquis !!
I agree with you 100%. Your comment is at least six years old, but I hope that you still have your Mercury Grand Marquis. I love Panther Platform cars, and my current daily driver is a 2002 Lincoln Town Car that I bought in 2007.
The audio kicked in late for my browser for some reason.
And all I heard was. UP YOUR ENGINE!
Oh yeah! Well up your... oh. :P
Scotty , Dude Hands Down Your The Best Mechanic You Have Helped Me So Much & Gave Me So Much Info... Thx, Scottys A Stud!!!!!
Another expensive battery to replace is for a BMW. Battery located in the back, in the trunk, and under the floor. Nobody will replace it except BMW dealer. Takes hours, or days if you need a new alternator too, and lots of money. I mean LOTS of money.
G Scurf My 2012 Genesis has the battery in the trunk as well. Wasn't too difficult to change but the battery was huge.