car dies when battery is disconnected

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03-20-2007, 10:03 PM
whokilledhoughes

car dies when battery is disconnected

alright im having no trouble with the G at the moment...lets say im gonna work on the car for whatever reason and i disconnect the battery cables...im finished with whatever i was working on and i reconnect the battery..go to start the car and it last one second then it turns off....when my car was 100% stock i never had a problem disconnecting the battery and having my car die...but ever since i installed an intake and full exhaust...my car dies...and i have to keep cracking the car untill im able to get it on the road and drive for a while...i know everytime u disconnect the battery you reset the memory on the computer...so when you reconnect the battery and turn on the car...the computer thinks everything is normal like when it came from factory....once i drive for like 45 minutes to an hour the car starts to idle fine and works properly....but i have to step on it from light to light cause if not my car will die...and i also die at every light...im guesing the computer needs time to set itself with the upgrades put into the car...i got no check engine light on or nothing...this just happens when i disconnect the battery and reset the computer...makes me worry since i plan on going boost soon and i know you cant be stepping on it without a tune and after 500 miles of break in i think...is there any way to keep the computer from resetting itself when disconnecting a battery.???
03-20-2007, 10:06 PM
mikedela

sounds like a maf sensor problem or vacuum prob.....any check engine lights?
03-20-2007, 10:07 PM
SkylineG1

That's because the ECU has to reset itself.
03-20-2007, 10:08 PM
whokilledhoughes

yea i know it has to reset itself...but it sucks...i feel like i killed the G :(
03-20-2007, 10:08 PM
G-spot

It sounds like you just answered your own question. You are not alone, at car shows, many owners bring a battery charger to get their Civics running so place one in the G for safe keeping.
03-20-2007, 10:11 PM
whokilledhoughes

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikedela

sounds like a maf sensor problem or vacuum prob.....any check engine lights?

no lights...and i remember the first time i installed an intake my car died too...then 2-3 more cranks and alittle rev and back to normal...i guess it sucks to much air in than what it was used to so it dies until it can match the fuel with the amount of air going in...i guess it takes time for the ecu to set itself...
03-20-2007, 10:20 PM
fatal1

never had a problem w/ disconnecting my battery, i have an intake headers and full exhaust also with the auto there was never a problem and w/ my 5spd no problems either, i would check over the car in a few areas, the mas alternator sprk plugs wires et and go form there shouldnt do that
03-20-2007, 10:24 PM
SkylineG1

Every time I work on my car & I disconnect the battery I wait for about 45 min to a hour to reattach the battery cable. When I reattach the cable the factory radio will show a code ( you prolly don't have the factory radio) :lol: . Then I start the car & just let it idle for a while to get itself in check. Then I take it out & drive like a bat outta HELLL!!!!!!!! :twisted:
03-21-2007, 12:02 AM
dronesurfboards

I kinda had a problem similar to yours, everything was fine, but sometimes my car would act up like i wasnt producing enough voltage. I replaced my alternator and battery...and i still would get the problem from time to time...found out it was my ground wire to the battery...piece of crap was falling apart. Replaced it with a heavy duty one...no problems since. hopefully yours is just that.
03-21-2007, 12:44 AM
RedGalant2k1

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkylineG1

That's because the ECU has to reset itself.

Thats not the case. Something else is causing his issue, most likely as said its a problem with you MAF sensor.
03-21-2007, 03:52 AM
mindwerkz

Last time AAA had to replace my battery on a roadside the dude used a battery doodad that plugged into the cig lighter and provided the ECU with enough power as not to reset.

Don't know what it is but it can't be THAT hard to find. Let us know if you do and where. I'd like one too. :)
03-21-2007, 08:03 AM
TexasMade

i just swapped out my spark plugs and wires this weekend. My car did the same thing for the first day after i did the work. Idled funny, died on my a few times.....just give it time and it will work its self out.
03-21-2007, 10:20 AM
whokilledhoughes

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasMade

i just swapped out my spark plugs and wires this weekend. My car did the same thing for the first day after i did the work. Idled funny, died on my a few times.....just give it time and it will work its self out.

i know..im not having a problem now...its just everytime i disconnect the battery and reset the ECU...after getting it on the road for a while everything goes back to normal until the next time i take the battery off...
03-21-2007, 11:20 AM
Jeffylou87

Simple solution... Move the battery one last time to the trunk... so that you don't have to keep taking it out to do engine work.. imo
03-21-2007, 11:29 AM
polishmafia

hahahahhaha @ the topic title.

"your car dies when you disconnect the battery?"
"yep"
"amazing!"

:lol: :lol: :lol: sorry its just funny
03-21-2007, 11:58 AM
Serstylz2

is there any white buildup on the battery terminals?
03-21-2007, 12:02 PM
whokilledhoughes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serstylz2

is there any white buildup on the battery terminals?

no i have an optima, which is a gel battery, so no corrosion happens, due to that there is no acid...and the terminals are 100% clean as u can see in this pic.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...s/DSCN1089.jpg
03-21-2007, 12:04 PM
whokilledhoughes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffylou87

Simple solution... Move the battery one last time to the trunk... so that you don't have to keep taking it out to do engine work.. imo

true...but dont they say whenever u do engine work to disconnect atleast the negative???
03-21-2007, 12:53 PM
Jeffylou87

Hmmm I'd only think that it would be elctrical work.... Like hooking up screens or a system....
03-21-2007, 01:06 PM
polishmafia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffylou87

Hmmm I'd only think that it would be elctrical work.... Like hooking up screens or a system....

i unplug mine if im going anywhere near electrical stuff.

i live and die by two rules... 1) safety first, and 2) no fat chicks.
03-21-2007, 01:57 PM
Jeffylou87

I understand the first rule... but the fat chicks... come on... ok, how about chubby?? Not obese.... just big in the right places???
03-21-2007, 02:20 PM
WhiteGTZ01

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishmafia

)no fat chicks.

Fat Girls need loven to :P
03-21-2007, 02:38 PM
polishmafia

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteGTZ01

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishmafia

no fat chicks.

Fat Girls need loven to :P

they are all yours, my friend. ALL YOURS. :lol:
03-21-2007, 04:54 PM
Jeffylou87

YEY!!! :D
03-21-2007, 06:46 PM
mindwerkz

Think I found something.

Looks like you can get a cigarette accessory connector and a 9 volt battery connector from Radio Shack or wherever. Connect them to a 9 volt battery. Jam that into the lighter socket and you'll be getting enough juice to save the radio code, clock, MFA and engine ECU memory. At least for a few minutes. Just make sure to keep the dome lights, radio, etc off or it'll suck all the juice real fast. And whatever you do, make sure it's been removed before you start the engine.

Should cover it until I can find something better that we can just buy.

EDIT - found another thing from Import Auto News...

"ECU Resets When Adding Performance Parts
Thanks to Sergio P. (from friend passing along to him)

Here's an easy way for you to reprogram your computer when you add parts like headers, air intake, performance muffler, etc.

1. Look for your ECU fuse, which is usually located under the main fuse box under the hood.

2. Turn on your car until is at is normal temperature, then turn it off.

3. Take the ECU fuse out for about 5 minutes.

4. Put the fuse back and turn on your car without touching the gas pedal until it is at its normal idle then shut it down. You're ready to go and you'll get all the horsepower out of your performance parts!"

I think the important part here is not touching the gas until it's idling like it should at normal temp.
03-21-2007, 08:34 PM
pinoyesv6

its good practice to disconnect the battery when working on the car. i mean there's the obvious stuff like working on electrical. but its also for safety issues. if you're like under the hood or something you wouldn't want like a kid to just jump in the car and start it, or your wife to accidentally try to drive the car away thinking you're done fixing it but in reality, you're just taking a long time in the bathroom trying to pass that piece of poop that just doesn't want to come out.
03-21-2007, 10:02 PM
whokilledhoughes

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinoyesv6

its good practice to disconnect the battery when working on the car. i mean there's the obvious stuff like working on electrical. but its also for safety issues. if you're like under the hood or something you wouldn't want like a kid to just jump in the car and start it, or your wife to accidentally try to drive the car away thinking you're done fixing it but in reality, you're just taking a long time in the bathroom trying to pass that piece of poop that just doesn't want to come out.

:lol:

anyways i found one of those memory savers with the 9v battery at advance auto...gonna give it a try and see what happens..
03-22-2007, 04:10 AM
mindwerkz

OMG they sell them at Advance Auto??? *storms off to get one*