CR-V LX 4WD L4-2.4L (2002)
Battery Cable: Technical Service Bulletins
Electrical - Battery Replacement Precautions
Replacing a Battery? Don't Disconnect the Cables
With the
Engine Running
When replacing a battery, many service techs disconnect the battery cables with the engine running to keep the data alive in volatile memory. This
practice worked fine back in the day when vehicles were pretty much a box on wheels, but with so many of today's vehicles sporting a impressive array
of cool, high tech hardware, it's not recommended. Here's why:
^ The battery works as a capacitor to prevent sudden swings in voltage. With the battery cables disconnected, the alternator voltage regulator tries to
stabilize the system voltage, but it can only do so by turning the alternator on and off.
^ When solenoids or relays are turned on and of{ they produce a very high voltage spike that travels through the 12-volt system. This voltage spike can
fry sensitive solid state components or corrupt the data that's stored in volatile memory for such components as the gauge control module, the radio,
and the various control units.
The best way to keep data alive in volatile memory when replacing a battery is to hook up a Honda Computer Memory Saver to the 16P data link
connector (DLC). This portable tool works as a secondary 12-volt source. It saves you the hassle of writing down your customer's audio presets, resetting
the clock, or even doing the idle learn procedure.
