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What happens if I disconnect my battery?

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Old 12-14-2018, 09:01 PM
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Tom M'Guinn

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Default What happens if I disconnect my battery?

I want to permanently install battery tender connectors on the terminals, but on the negative side I'd need to lift the terminal off the post to get the spade connector on the nut. If I lose power, will I need to call NASA/Porsche/Bosch/MicroSoft to restart the car, or will it sort itself out on its own like nothing happened? I could probably rig up some wire to keep the car powered when I pull up the terminal, if really needed?
Old 12-14-2018, 09:39 PM
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Elliott991TS
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good question, I'd like to know as well, subscribed!
Old 12-15-2018, 12:00 AM
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aft86
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From my experience, nothing happens, I didn't even lose my radio stations or seat position.

One piece of advice, before you disconnect the battery, bring your windows down a smidge so you are able to open the doors without any issues. Also, I put a small piece of wood on the latch, just in case the frunk slams down it won't close.
Old 12-15-2018, 09:06 AM
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Jim M.
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I've done it and nothing changed. Everything worked as before.
Old 12-15-2018, 09:50 AM
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Randyc151
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Yep, I swap out my lithium battery on occasion, and the computers sort everything out. As Aft86 said, lower your windows and DO NOT LET THE FRUNK CLOSE. If you really want, you can get an OBD connector that keeps power to that stuff while you do your work. If you unexpectedly do find yourself with a closed frunk and no power, you have to get power to the car from the fuse panel on the drivers' side. You pull out the positive post that's buried within that fuse box, and you have to connect the negative to either the door hinge if it's unpainted, or some cars have a little unpainted stud way inside the door front edge that you've probably never noticed. If your hinges are all painted, you have one of those studs. Battery tender is a good idea.

Last edited by Randyc151; 12-19-2018 at 08:49 PM.
Old 12-15-2018, 11:42 AM
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neil.schneider
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I changed the battery in my last car and had no issues.
Old 12-15-2018, 11:55 AM
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abiazis
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No issues...
Old 12-15-2018, 12:25 PM
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Tom M'Guinn

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Thanks all. I've read there is some ECU programming to do when replacing the battery. Does that not apply when you just briefly disconnect and reconnect your existing battery?
Old 12-15-2018, 12:32 PM
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worf928
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Originally Posted by Tom M'Guinn
Does that not apply when you just briefly disconnect and reconnect your existing battery?
Does not apply. Applies only when the battery is replaced.
Old 12-17-2018, 10:46 AM
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tallers
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Originally Posted by Jim M.
I've done it and nothing changed. Everything worked as before.
I just did mine this weekend, no issues.
Old 12-17-2018, 12:00 PM
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Pmorritt
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I wired up my battery ( Ctek) few years ago. I just loosened up the nuts on both terminals without actually disconnecting them so no disruption in power to car. I trimed the rings of the tender terminals and just slipped them under the nuts of the terminals and tightened them back down. fyi, The negative terminal
of the charger does not have to be attached to the negative side of your battery. Just attach it up to an unpainted ( bare metal) body nut near there.
Old 12-17-2018, 03:03 PM
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Tom M'Guinn

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Originally Posted by Pmorritt
I wired up my battery ( Ctek) few years ago. I just loosened up the nuts on both terminals without actually disconnecting them so no disruption in power to car. I trimed the rings of the tender terminals and just slipped them under the nuts of the terminals and tightened them back down. fyi, The negative terminal
of the charger does not have to be attached to the negative side of your battery. Just attach it up to an unpainted ( bare metal) body nut near there.
Yeah, that's what I'll likely do. The neg terminal has a little cage around the nut that prevents it from loosening enough to get a spade under. There's also a neg post away from the battery for jumper cables. I guess they really don't want people hooking up to the battery. I looked around for a chassis ground point that would allow for tidy wiring, and didn't see one I liked, but I'll dive back in soon enough. Thanks all!
Old 12-19-2018, 07:39 AM
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the_buch
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Originally Posted by worf928

Does not apply. Applies only when the battery is replaced.
Weird that somehow the car can detect the difference between reconnecting the old battery and connecting a new one?.
Old 12-19-2018, 08:14 PM
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Need4S
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Originally Posted by Randyc151
Yep, I swap out my lithium battery on occasion, and the computers sort everything out. As Aft86 said, lower your windows and DO NOT LET THE FRUNK CLOSE. If you really want, you can get an OBD connector that keeps power to that stuff while you do your work. If you unexpectedly do find yourself with a closed frunk and now power, you have to get power to the car from the fuse panel on the drivers' side. You pull out the negative post that's buried within that fuse box, and you have to connect the negative to either the door hinge if it's unpainted, or some cars have a little unpainted stud way inside the door front edge that you've probably never noticed. If your hinges are all painted, you have one of those studs. Battery tender is a good idea.
Here is a device that keeps the computers powered during battery swaps. You plug it into another car or 12 power socket on a jump starter and plug the other end into your Porsche's OBD port. https://www.batterychargers.com/en/p...ry-saver-cable
Old 12-19-2018, 09:03 PM
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Tom M'Guinn

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Originally Posted by the_buch


Weird that somehow the car can detect the difference between reconnecting the old battery and connecting a new one?.
I'm not sure it knows the difference until you tell it there's a new one in there. Here's something I found re BMWs that presumably is similar on the Porsches...
https://bimmertips.com/bmw-battery-r...ing-explained/


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