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LockedBattery Problem and Replacement Questions

posted on February 04, 2010 at 05:40PM Inappropriate?

It's been freezing cold in the mornings recently where I live, and I noticed lately that my vehicle seemed to be starting a little slowly when I leave for work in the morning.  Monday I didn't think it was going to turn over at all at first, but it did start.  I figured I was about due for a new battery anyway, so I went by Sears on my way home from work.  They looked the car over and said the problem was a bad battery.  I picked a replacement and told them to go ahead and install it.  Picked it up Tuesday afternoon and it started like a champ.  But yesterday morning and this morning I had the same cold weather starting problem.  I guess I'll have them look at it again.  Will anything else other than a weak battery cause slow cold weather starts? 

Also, I'm probably just being paranoid, but I when I picked it up from Sears on Tuesday I was expecting to have to reset the clock and all of my radio presets.  I thought that once the battery was disconnected and there was no power that all of that stuff got wiped out.  Every other time I've had a battery replaced I had to go back and reset everything.  But this time the clock setting and all of the radio presets were still set.  Like I said, I'm probably just being paranoid, and I don't want to come off as accusing anyone of anything without all the facts, but what are the chances that somehow a mistake was made and the battery wasn't replaced.  It's the same type battery I had before and I couldn't really tell just by looking if it's the same or not.  Is there anything on there that would indicate whether it's new or old?  Thanks for any help on this. 

replies: 5 latest post: February 19, 2010 at 10:58PM by LongboxFiftyFive
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posted on February 04, 2010 at 06:26PM
 

The Sears Automotive folks put a "temporary" battery device on my car, while replacing an automotive battery.

It's just a little convenience service, provided to their customers.

posted on February 04, 2010 at 07:45PM
 

to ANSWER your question,  I would think you would find those little stickers that the dots get removed on that indicate the month, day and year put in service.

posted on February 13, 2010 at 03:36PM
 

I'd say it's almost impossible to change a battery without losing your clock and radio settings, doesn't matter if they put a temp battery in or not. Once either cable is removed from the old battery the current stops, and there goes the settings.

One could possibly use short jumper wires from a 12 volt source and connect that to the cables, but it would require the old cables to be disconnected and reconnected without ever causing those jumper wires to break the connection, not an easy task. Look at your battery, it should look new, also the codes on the top will tell you when it was made. you may need to look the codes up on the internet to interpret them, but the Sears store can do it as well.

posted on February 13, 2010 at 04:55PM
 

Im not exactly sure what Sears Auto does, but i do know they can hook a cable into the cigarette lighter PRIOR to disconnecting the battery to keep the system powered so that no settings are lost. PEPBOYS acually sells a portable model of this you can use while doing it yourself.

To your first question. It could be an issue with the charging system.  If you go to an Autozone or Advance Auto Parts they can test it, usually for free.

posted on February 19, 2010 at 10:58PM
 

Sounds like they didn't use the memory saver when the battery was changed. I know sometimes that gets skipped, especially on Toyotas which cannot be hooked up through the cigarette lighter (makes the airbags go off).

You're starting problem may be due to a charging system problem, but it might also be a high drain issue. Sears can diagnose both. If it's a charging issue, they can also replace the alternator as well.

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