Change a car battery without losing settings using a memory saver

Learn how to change a car battery without losing any settings

Each engine control module (ECM), powertrain control module (PCM), electronic control module (ECU)  and transmission control module (TCM) and other accessory modules are loaded with factory programming during its initial build. As you drive the vehicle and the engine and transmission wear, the modules make adjustments to the factory programming to account for the wear. Those changes are referred to as adaptive memory. When you chance a car battery without providing any backup power, the computers lose all the adapative memory. That can cause a no start, or a start with rough idle.

How to use a memory saver when you change a car battery

What you need:

Jumper pack
Clore ESA30 OBDII memory saver cable
Roll of electrician’s tape

Step by step guide

It’s easy to maintain all memory and completely eliminate the need to perform a throttle body relearn simply by providing 12-volt backup power to the computers using an OBDII memory saver cable and a jumper pack

1) Key out of the ignition and all electrical accessories turned off
2) Using a fully charged jumper pack, connect the cable to the jumper pack’s power port. Connect the other end to the OBDII port on your vehicle.
3) Turn on the jumper pack
4) Remove the negative cable from the car battery and set it aside.
5) Remove the positive battery cable from the battery and immediately wrap it in electrican’s tape. This is important because the positive cable has power from the jumper pack. If it touches any metal component, it will blow the fuse powering the OBDII port.
6) Change the car battery
7) Unwrap the positive terminal and connect to the battery positive post
8) Reconnect the negative battery terminal
9) Turn off the jumper pack and remove the cable from the OBDII port.

Here’s what you save by using a memory saver when changing a battery

No need to perform a throttle body relearn
No need to re calibrate your power windows’ anti-pinch features
No need to reprogram the radio presets
No need to reprogram memory seats
No need to relearn all the lost adaptive memory adjustments so

What happens if you don’t provide backup power when replacing a battery?

1) The vehicle may not start because the throttle body home position has been lost. This usually requires a throttle body relearn procedure. In some vehicles, the relearn procedure requires the use of a high end scan tool.

2) Even if the vehicle starts, the loss of adaptive memory means the modules will revert to factory programming and the vehicle may run poorly until it relearns all new settings. This can take as long as 10 cold start drives.

3) Auto up, auto down windows and power seat settings will have to be relearned.

How to retain adaptive memory

Purchase an OBDII memory saver cable and a jumper pack

Clore ESA30 cable. Connect to OBDII port in vehicle. Connect other end to a jumper pack. Key OFF. Then swap battery while protecting the positive cable from touching metal

This ES5000 jumper pack from Clore Automotive is rated at 400 cold cranking amps