Do any of you do this?

[Dugdug]

The story:

Today I did an F150. Everything went well apart from the battery dying somehow. After I left, I gave the guy a call because I was unsure of the person who purchased the package for him because he was a living social customer and wanted to check him off my list. He told me that after I left, the battery was dead. This could either be due to his corroded battery cables or me somehow hitting a button or headlights and draining it. He said it happens from time to time with this vehicle. Although I'm pretty sure I would have noticed the headlights being on, to give him the benefit of the doubt, I could have somehow done something to drain it.

Apart from all that, he was happy with my work and will refer me to others. He also recommended I disconnect the battery cable from any future vehicles before I do any work on them. I thought about it, and it may be a decent Idea. It would at least rule out any mistakes on my part if something like this happens in the future.

Do any of you do this as a common practice?

Also, some pics for your viewing pleasure.

 

[Kristopher1129]

I've never done it. I always keep a jump pack either at the shop, or in my mobile unit. I've had too many batteries die on me, ha.

But yeah, probably not a bad idea...especially if you're doing an interior that's gonna take a while. I find that anytime a battery does die, that's usually the case. Some interiors insist on keeping some sort of light on inside the vehicle. I usually just try to beat the clock, haha.

Truck came out nice, man. Did you sell an "in and out" package through LS?

 

[Dr Oldz]

Truck looks great!

I always do interiors first. When I am done, I always crank the engine to make sure I didn't drain the battery. Rarely have I drained a battery, but if I do, I just put the battery on the charger untill I am completed with the exterior and then all is well.

 

[Dugdug]

I've never done it. I always keep a jump pack either at the shop, or in my mobile unit. I've had too many batteries die on me, ha.

But yeah, probably not a bad idea...especially if you're doing an interior that's gonna take a while. I find that anytime a battery does die, that's usually the case. Some interiors insist on keeping some sort of light on inside the vehicle. I usually just try to beat the clock, haha.

Truck came out nice, man. Did you sell an "in and out" package through LS?

LOL I sold 2 packages, 1 wash/wax. Other with shampoo and polishing. In retrospect, I should have sold just the wash n wax so I can upsell them on the polishing and shampoo. Good thing only about 4 bought the second package. Most bought the wasn n wax. This one in particular was a wash n wax that I upsold.

 

[Rsurfer]

Great job on that 150. If you disconnect the battery wouldn't you lose all the pre-sets on the radio, power seats and clock? Your customer might not be happy.

 

[Dugdug]

Truck looks great!

I always do interiors first. When I am done, I always crank the engine to make sure I didn't drain the battery. Rarely have I drained a battery, but if I do, I just put the battery on the charger untill I am completed with the exterior and then all is well.

Yeah sometimes if the exterior is not too dirty I do the interior first wile my energy is the highest. Interiors can really drain you sometimes lol

Most of the time I wash/clay/wheels/interior/polish/wax.

 

[Dugdug]

Great job on that 150. If you disconnect the battery wouldn't you lose all the pre-sets on the radio, power seats and clock? Your customer might not be happy.

I don't know... I think I'll just be more cautious and run the car every so often instead of disconnecting the battery.

 

[Rsurfer]

I don't know... I think I'll just be more cautious and run the car every so often instead of disconnecting the battery.

Good idea. Be your luck that the battery terminal breaks off. LOL!rops:

 

[tw33k2514]

Great job on that 150. If you disconnect the battery wouldn't you lose all the pre-sets on the radio, power seats and clock? Your customer might not be happy.

Correct. Not on all cars, but enough not to do it.

I suggest you invest in a jump box,

 

[Dugdug]

Good idea. Be your luck that the battery terminal breaks off. LOL!rops:

It may cause more trouble than just a drained battery lol And you're right, losing power seats/windows/radio/clock isn't a good idea.

 

[Dugdug]

Correct. Not on all cars, but enough not to do it.

I suggest you invest in a jump box,

:iagree:

 

[Vegas Transplant]

Not on a paying job, but once drained my batts at a shipper while doing an interior detail on a W900 (4 hrs).Luckily was able to jump off using my reefer unit. Not a good idea to wrench on a customer vehicle imo.

 

[Bacon]

Sorry, I didnt read your post, but arent you the guy who had your chick make you an apron? I think you even posted pictures of yourself wearing it! if so, do you like it?

If it wasnt you...my bad

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

I would be VERY leery of messing with battery cables unless you absolutely have to. Make sure if you use a charger it is an electronic "smart charger" especially if you're working on a German. It's way too easy to fry expensive components of the electrical system if you jump or charge a battery the wrong way.

 

[Dugdug]

Sorry, I didnt read your post, but arent you the guy who had your chick make you an apron? I think you even posted pictures of yourself wearing it! if so, do you like it?

If it wasnt you...my bad

Yes, it was me lol I do like it but I've found I don't get much use out of it. I wanted to be able to hold stuff and keep my hands free and pants clean. But a hoodie holds plenty and my pants? Well... who cares lol

 

[Mobile detail]

Never disconnect the battery bud. On cars with CAN technology (most 2008 and new) and especially on Chevy's if you disconnect the battery you have to reprogram the heater doors, window motors, radio goes into theft mode and locks out (very common on Honda & Chevy & some Fords and BMW Mercades) The radio lockout happens on older vehicles as well & varies from system to system. It ranges from $75-$200 to reprogram. Best thing to do is to carry a trickle charger with you and hook it up to the battery. The reason I know about this is my shop fixes and unlocks the radios/heater doors/ect. Its a lot easier to keep it charging while you work. Good luck Dug Dug truck came out great btw!

 

[Rix6]

Not a good idea for a lot of cars. At the least you'll wipe out radio presets. The newer and more options the car has, the more memorized "convenience" features you might wipe out. On my car, disconnecting the battery will also wipe out my seat memory presets (and the linked side view mirrors/steering wheel tilt relationship). For what my car cost you would expect these settings to be stored in non-volatile memory. They aren't. The way to disconnect the battery and preserve presets is to connect a small, fully charged 12 volt battery to the cables and then disconnect the cables from the car battery.

A short story. I had my battery replaced by my dealer under warranty last summer. My dealer could have done the above trick, but no. I lost my seat memories, which I had painstakingly adjusted to not hit the baby seat while allowing me a good compromise on my seat, and good safety on my mirrors, which are in turn linked to seat position. Now, everybody at this dealer is either shorter or taller than I am, and they will adjust the seat accordingly. At the least, the mechanic should have put my seat to the #1 memory before disconnecting the battery, and after reconnecting the battery should have saved the seat position back to memory one. That would still leave memory #2, my wife's, and my radio presets wiped, but at least I'd be able to drive safely and comfortably, without the back of my leather seat getting scuffed on the baby seat. Nope. It's one thing when you start from nothing and then get the settings the way you like them. It's another when you have them set up the way you like them and then have them taken away...and you currently have a busy, stressed schedule...and a baby seat, etc.

My advice, leave the battery connections alone, and find a way to safely keep it charged.

Ha! The button at the bottom says "Post Quick Reply" and mine is anything but. Once again, I write much to say very little. Sorry about that.

 

[Rix6]

Never disconnect the battery bud. On cars with CAD technology (most 2008 and new) and especially on Chevy's if you disconnect the battery you have to reprogram the heater doors, window motors, radio goes into theft mode and locks out (very common on Honda & Chevy & some Fords and BMW Mercades) The radio lockout happens on older vehicles as well & varies from system to system. It ranges from $75-$200 to reprogram. Best thing to do is to carry a trickle charger with you and hook it up to the battery. The reason I know about this is my shop fixes and unlocks the radios/heater doors/ect. Its a lot easier to keep it charging while you work. Good luck Dug Dug truck came out great btw!

Haha! We were both typing up the same thing at the same time! :xyxthumbs:

 

[keywestwillie]

Battery Tender. Works for me.

 

[DetailedByPrecision]

Great job on that 150. If you disconnect the battery wouldn't you lose all the pre-sets on the radio, power seats and clock? Your customer might not be happy.

+1 on this. At the body shop where I work at from time to time I see cars that require a radio code, and if it's not in the glove box it won't be fun.

Correct. Not on all cars, but enough not to do it.

I suggest you invest in a jump box,

+1 as well. Or a charger that is able to keep it steadily charged without overcharging it to cause damage.