Starter battery replacement

[flyfisher]

After almost 7 years I'm going to be proactive and replace the starter batteries. All the vehicles I've owned the batteries seem to be programmed to fail at 5 years, so I guess I've been lucky. My concern is having to reprogram my radio / CD player. When the batteries are disconnected all is lost, and I have to start from scratch. The radio / CD player is so freaking complicated, that it seems to take the better part of a day to get it straight again.

If I turn the "radio" switch on, will the house battery keep current to the radio while I disconnect the starter batteries? Or, is there a way to disconnect one of the two starter batteries and just replace one at a time to keep current to the radio?

I'm just a real techo-phobe when it comes to fancy electronics and don't want to have to reprogram the damn radio.

thanks..

Tom

[Pntyrmvr]

Hi Tom;

Go find a lighter socket adapter that accepts a 9 volt battery. You plug it in to the lighter socket with the 9 volt connected and it provides enough power to keep the radio memory going while you swap out starting batteries.

No idea where to buy one, but I have seen them at dealership service departments.

Start with Google and go from there.

Regards,

Gavin

[flyfisher]

Great idea, thanks Gavin.

[geoffff]

A quick Google search turns up ...

"12V Automotive Settings Keeper w/9V Battery - Keep Your Personal Settings When Replacing Your Car Battery!"

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=GK504&cat=GDT

-- Geoff

[Pntyrmvr]

Hi;

Geoff that is the piece I saw. For $8 it should help prevent a lot of grief while swapping out a battery or two.

Regards,

Gavin