How to Disconnect The Battery From a Car With Air Bags
Most cars today come with an air bag system designed to detect impact and deploy in order to keep you and your passengers safe. Many cars are equipped with air bags that will not be affected (other then triggering the warning light) by disconnecting the battery, but some will need to be reprogrammed. Determine the type you have before you disconnect the battery--it may not be worth it for you to do it yourself if you also have to pay a mechanic to reprogram the air bag.
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Instructions
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Park your car on a level surface and open the hood.
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2
Use a socket wrench to loosen the retaining nut on the terminal of the battery cable attached to the negative post of your battery.
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3
Pull the cable off the negative post and fold the cable out of the way so it cannot accidentally fall and come in contact with the battery post (making the battery "live").
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Tips & Warnings
Check the manual for your vehicle to determine if your car needs to have the air bag "reset" or "reprogrammed" after the battery has been disconnected. A "reset" can be performed at home using the instructions provided in the Resource link--all you are doing is during off the warning light. If your air bag must be "reprogrammed," it should be done by a professional service shop.
Some cars must have their crash data in the computer control module reprogrammed each time the battery is disconnected--this is something you cannot do on your own and must have a professional do. If this is not reprogrammed, your air bag system will not work in the event of an accident.
