What if I disconnect the negative battery terminal?

If you remove the negative clamp and inadvertently complete a circuit to ground, there will be no current flow because the ground clamp is already grounded. Subsequent shorting of the positive terminal to ground will then produce no current flow because the current has no return path to the negative post.
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Will my battery drain if I disconnect negative terminal?

Be safe: always disconnect negative first. Disconnected either terminal will prevent drain, as stated already. A battery tender is another safe way to maintain the battery.
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Will disconnecting negative terminal reset car?

A. It depends on the car's age and type of ECU used. On some older cars, disconnecting the battery will reset the system but in most new cars it does nothing, except potentially reset the clock and radio station presets.
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Will a car battery drain if disconnected?

Car batteries will die even when the vehicle is sitting. This is because car batteries self-discharge naturally. The battery is not only used when the car is in motion. However, accessories in the vehicle tend to drain the car battery even when it is idle.
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Which battery terminal should be disconnected for storage?

If you plan on storing a vehicle for an extended period, it's advisable to disconnect at least the negative terminal from your car battery. This prevents unnecessary battery drain, as a fully charged battery can hold its charge for 6-12 months if you do this.
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Here’s Why Disconnecting Your Battery Will Destroy Your Car



Does disconnecting the battery reset the check engine light?

Disconnect the Battery

Ideally, this will clear the data, turning off the light. You can then reconnect the battery and turn the ignition on. After about a minute, the check engine light should be off.
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How do I disconnect my car battery without losing memory?

How to change a car battery without losing your radio code
  1. Changing your car battery. ...
  2. Step 1 - Find your battery. ...
  3. Step 2 - Set up your secondary power source. ...
  4. Step 3 - Remove clamp holding your battery in place. ...
  5. Step 4 - Remove your old battery. ...
  6. Step 5 - Connect your new battery. ...
  7. Step 6 - Clamp your new battery in place.
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How long do you disconnect a car battery to reset computer?

  1. You should leave your car's battery disconnected for a minimum of fifteen minutes and no longer than thirty minutes to reset an ECU. ...
  2. You do not have to disconnect both of your car battery terminals to reset an ECU.
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Can I change a car battery while engine runs?

Removing the battery with the car running is a bad idea. Rather than re-writing something which exists on the interwebz, I pulled this from Troubleshooters.com under the section called Automotive Troubleshooting: Your battery does more than just provide electricity. It also shorts AC spikes and transients to ground.
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Do you really need a memory saver when changing car battery?

“They are not effective or worth the risk. I-CAR also teaches not to use them.” Jeff Peevy, I-CAR's director of field operations, concurred. “A memory saver can complete circuits that removing the battery opens in order to protect the system, and so a memory saver could put systems at risk,” Peevy said.
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How can I temporarily disable my check engine light?

The on-off method is the equivalent fix for a vehicle's check engine light. It forces the computer to refresh its saved state through a reboot. Simply place your key into the ignition and turn it on for 1-2 seconds, then turn it off for 1-2 seconds. Repeat this step three or four times.
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Which battery cable do I disconnect to reset engine light?

Reset Your Check Engine Light Manually
  1. Turn off the ignition. ...
  2. Identify the negative battery terminal, which is usually marked by a black cap and a negative (–) symbol. ...
  3. Use a wrench to loosen the negative terminal bolt, and then take the negative cable and hold it aside.
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Will disconnecting battery reset crankshaft sensor?

To reset the check engine light you can disconnect the battery via the negative battery terminal and let the vehicle sit for an hour before reconnecting the battery. This will drain all of the power from the electronics and clear any short term memory.
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How long does it take for a car computer to reset?

The readiness monitors will remain until the car has been driven long enough for the computer to evaluate the various system and sensors. The amount of time can vary based on the vehicle. In some cases it can take up to 100 miles for all of the computer monitors to completely reset.
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What happens if you remove the positive terminal first?

It's important to disconnect the negative side of the battery first, otherwise you can cause an electrical short if the positive is removed first.
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How long does battery need to be disconnected to reset?

Because some of the electrical current is preserved in the computer for a while afterward, most sources recommend leaving the battery disconnected for at least 15 minutes to make sure the computer forgets the code before you reconnect the battery. What is this?
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Does disconnecting battery reset tune?

And removing your battery cables for safety precaution's doesn't remove the tune . It will reset everything as far as your air/fuel ratio so when you start it up again and let it do the idle adjustment .
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What is the most common reason for check engine light?

A loose fuel cap is one of the most common reasons why the check engine light turns on. The cap is a crucial part of a car's fuel delivery system. It notably prevents gasoline fumes from leaving the fuel tank, and it helps keep the whole system under the correct pressure.
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Can a blown fuse cause a check engine light?

The fuse didn't cause the check engine light. the reason they couldn't check the code is because of the dlc fuse being blown. It is commonly due to the front power point having a fault such as a coin or bad charger in it. replace the front power point fuse and the codes should be able to be checked.
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Which battery terminal must be disconnected first and why?

When removing the old battery, remember to first disconnect the cables from the negative terminal, which is usually black and has a minus (-) sign then disconnect the cables from the positive terminal, which is usually red and has a plus (+) sign.
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Can I use jumper cables as a memory saver?

When a battery jumper pack is used as a memory saver, one must be very careful to not allow the disconnected positive battery cable terminal to touch vehicle metal or the negative terminal.
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What supplies power to vehicle electronics while the battery is disconnected?

Use a battery saver, 12-volt power supply or battery charger to maintain voltage to the vehicle's electrical system when disconnecting the battery or when replacing a battery.
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