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Jim Grant Tech Tips Jim Grant Tech Tips
A collection of helpful articles based on reader submissions
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  Jim Grant's Tech TipsJim Grant's Tech Tips
Below is a collection of Jim Grant's Tech Tips sorted by Vehicle Make. These Tech Tips were answers to questions submitted to Jim by ALLDATAdiy.com users over the course of many years.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.
 
 

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  Jim Grant's Tech Tips

Computer Dumping

Q: I would like to know if you have any opinions on dumping the computer by taking the negative terminal off and touching it to the positive for 20 seconds to clear the computer of any stored codes. If so, will a vehicle that’s equipped with air bags, possibly deploy the air bag?

A: Actually it’s a common practice to disconnect both battery terminals and not only hold them together but to connect them for the duration of the service being performed. For example when servicing the air bags some vehicles require the battery cables being joined for 15 minutes to a half hour before performing service or repairs that involve the air bag system. It is not uncommon for today’s vehicles to have several computers on-board. Inside the computers there are capacitors that will hold/store electrical energy. Connecting the battery cables provides a means of dissipating this stored energy without causing any harm. In most cases (not all vehicles) the software to operate the systems is not volatile and will be safely retained in the computer/s. If you have an anti-theft radio be sure you have the radio code so it can be reactivated.

 
     
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