batsonaMaryland
join:2004-04-17
Ellicott City, MD |
[Battery] Most basic question: how to replace battery....I thought I'd ask this question, because [electrically], the cars of today do not at all resemble the cars of yester-year.
I have a new Nissan Sentra 2021 model year. I'm sure there are more computers in this car, than in the building I work in. I just upgraded from a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Question: How do I replace the battery? Car does NOT have the auto start/stop. Do I just disconnect + and -, and swap it out? Or is there anything that has to be done afterwards, to "reset" any of the electronics..?
I'm sure it has an AGM battery; I'll stay with AGM, but was looking at trying to get as high an amperage battery that will fit in its place. Currently has 500A battery. |
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 davidgGood Bye My Friend
MVM
join:2002-06-15
Leland, MS |
davidg
MVM
2021-Jul-17 7:00 pm
if you are worried about glitching any electronics then leave the battery disconnected at least 10 to 15 minutes when you switch them. start by removing the negative(-) cable then the positive(+) cable next. remove the bar/brace holding the old battery down and lift it out. when you install the new battery renistall the bar/brace then hook up positive first, then once it is tight hook up negative and tighten it. |
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to batsona
My car has a 'blanket' around the battery.
Some cars have radio or navigation codes that need to be reentered. They would have given you the codes when you bought the car.
Why do you feel you need a different battery? |
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fixrman
Premium Member
join:2003-02-10
Hatboro, PA |
to batsona
Do you need to replace the battery, or you want a bigger battery? I'm asking because there is no way a 2021 Sentra should require battery replacement. Even if you drove it all the time, it should still be a warranty consideration. |
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to batsona
An 810 amp CCA AGM battery will run you $240.00 give or take. I don't know why you would need that many on a little 4 cylinder. Unless you have a big subwoofer in the trunk with a 1500 watt amp. If you got a lemon battery from the dealer take it back its under warranty. |
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batsonaMaryland
join:2004-04-17
Ellicott City, MD |
to Bobcat00
OP here: The battery is actually working just fine. I've always over-sized the batteries in my cars; I never have slow-crank issues in winter, and my a/c fan does not spin slower when at a traffic light, then spins faster when I take off. (correlated to how fast the alternator is spinning). Just recently, with the fan on med-hi, I noticed that when I stop at a light, the fan spins slower because the alternator is spinning slower. --That means I got a slight DC voltage drop when the alternator spins down to idle-speed. ---therefore, I put in a high amperage battery to ensure I don't get any voltage drops.
I've got some sort of insulation blanket around the battery too.
No Nav system on-board; just a 3-month sample subscription to XMradio.
Also, written on the batter is "EFB" (Enhanced Flooded Battery) --I thought it was an AGM, but maybe it's not. Written on the battery is:
24410-5RB0A 12v L2 EFB 60Ah 510A mfgr date of Jan 13, 2021. |
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You could wait till winter and see how you like driving it daily in snow. Be a bummer to spend $240 on a battery then change cars because you want a 4wd truck or SUV. We always oversized our battery in WV. When its 0 at 5a.m. you want it to start. Another nice thing when you clean the car out the battery don't die. I got the radio on doors open windex,leather wipes, 303, vacumn, etc. I go at for about hour still starts. |
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fixrman
Premium Member
join:2003-02-10
Hatboro, PA  ·Verizon FiOS
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to batsona
There is no reason to replace that battery, it is certainly up to the the task. If you want it to last longer, put it on a trickle charger for 4-6 hours; it won't hurt and can only help. You do realise, don't you, that a bigger battery will not change the issue you are describing. A 12V battery is 12v; actually, a fully charged battery should read 12.7 on a voltmeter (about 2.1V per cell). All you are doing by installing a bigger battery is increasing the Amp-hour or Cold Cranking Amps available. All that means is that you will be able to crank it longer than you would with the battery you have now. If the vehicle is operating properly, I'd venture a guess that you are only cranking for about three seconds at most anyway. You have nothing to gain and only money to lose by installing a bigger battery. » www.popularmechanics.com ··· -how-to/ |
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davidgGood Bye My Friend
MVM
join:2002-06-15
Leland, MS |
davidg
MVM
2021-Jul-18 9:50 pm
no a bigger battery will stay up around the charging voltage level(13.6-13.8) longer before dropping down to the "normal" fully charged level after the alternator current and voltage drops lower. yes the alternator "should" keep a constant charge output at idle the same as at speed, but we all know they do drop a little. it ain't much but obviously the fan speed difference is enough to bother the OP. remember he is not saying the alternator stops outputting but that it lowers its output voltage, the battery will help out by carrying some of the load and keep the voltage from falling as much. at least for the few minutes he would be idling at a light, though it won't help if he gets stuck in traffic for much longer than that.
Wait until he has to turn his AC compressor off to make it up a hill without losing more than 10 mph, those little 4 bangers are bad about that. lol |
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said by davidg:Wait until he has to turn his AC compressor off to make it up a hill without losing more than 10 mph, those little 4 bangers are bad about that. lol The car has 149 hp. Shouldn't be a problem. Even my 65 hp Datsun could get up hills (and it got 40 mpg on the highway). |
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to davidg
said by davidg:no a bigger battery will stay up around the charging voltage level(13.6-13.8) longer before dropping down to the "normal" fully charged level after the alternator current and voltage drops lower. yes the alternator "should" keep a constant charge output at idle the same as at speed, but we all know they do drop a little. it ain't much but obviously the fan speed difference is enough to bother the OP. remember he is not saying the alternator stops outputting but that it lowers its output voltage, the battery will help out by carrying some of the load and keep the voltage from falling as much. at least for the few minutes he would be idling at a light, though it won't help if he gets stuck in traffic for much longer than that. The alternator isn't 'lowering' its output voltage. At idle, the power output of the alternator is insufficient to support the charging voltage. As such, it drops down to battery voltage. A larger battery isn't going to magically support the voltage at above battery voltage. All a larger battery is going to do at idle is support that lower alternator power output for a longer time. |
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2 edits |
said by Cho Baka:said by davidg:no a bigger battery will stay up around the charging voltage level(13.6-13.8) longer before dropping down to the "normal" fully charged level after the alternator current and voltage drops lower. yes the alternator "should" keep a constant charge output at idle the same as at speed, but we all know they do drop a little. it ain't much but obviously the fan speed difference is enough to bother the OP. remember he is not saying the alternator stops outputting but that it lowers its output voltage, the battery will help out by carrying some of the load and keep the voltage from falling as much. at least for the few minutes he would be idling at a light, though it won't help if he gets stuck in traffic for much longer than that. The alternator isn't 'lowering' its output voltage. At idle, the power output of the alternator is insufficient to support the charging voltage. As such, it drops down to battery voltage. A larger battery isn't going to magically support the voltage at above battery voltage. All a larger battery is going to do at idle is support that lower alternator power output for a longer time. nvm.. Too many factors now to make a generalization. |
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| LittleBill |
to davidg
said by davidg:Wait until he has to turn his AC compressor off to make it up a hill without losing more than 10 mph, those little 4 bangers are bad about that. lol Do you live in the 80's? i have driven 4 cylinders over some of the highest grades in the country, i have never come close to needing to turn off the ac on any of them, with any vehicle made in the past 20 years. most 4 cyl's today have more horsepower then some 90's v8, this comment is so ridiculous. i use to tow with 4 cyl cars, I'm not even going down this path. |
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to LittleBill
said by LittleBill:Um what, do people just make shit up on here? half the posts on here are complete crap I typed up a response that was dripping with as much respect as you've shown, but changed my mind. I decided not to be a d**khead. My post is based on training, experience and knowledge. I am qualified in the field. You may choose to disbelieve if you like, but that doesn't make me wrong. TTFN! |
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said by Cho Baka:said by LittleBill:Um what, do people just make shit up on here? half the posts on here are complete crap I typed up a response that was dripping with as much respect as you've shown, but changed my mind. I decided not to be a d**khead. My post is based on training, experience and knowledge. I am qualified in the field. You may choose to disbelieve if you like, but that doesn't make me wrong. TTFN! » imgflip.com/i/5gxdor |
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fixrman
Premium Member
join:2003-02-10
Hatboro, PA |
to davidg
False. |
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to batsona
said by batsona:I noticed that when I stop at a light, the fan spins slower Sounds like you're trying to solve a non-existant problem. |
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fixrman
Premium Member
join:2003-02-10
Hatboro, PA ·Verizon FiOS
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to LittleBill
said by LittleBill:Um what, do people just make shit up on here? half the posts on here are complete crap So your assertion that half the posts are complete crap includes all of yours? Let me assure you that the guys here who currently are or have been certificated automotive repair technicians certainly do not have anything to gain by posting FUD, incorrect advise or information. It makes our industry look bad if we do that. I know that Cho Baka is a current or former technician, as I also am. It may be convenient to believe fantastical claims about things, or to believe things that one thinks are intuitive - but the truth remains that there happen to be things that people think make sense about automobiles that actually do not make technological sense. One thing that thankfully has not appeared as advice here in a while, is that Seafoam actually "fixes" misfires on cars. It so rarely is able to do that; might as well say almost never, but then some clever chap will bring up an anecdotal situation from his buddy Chuck... Deriding people who actually do know the difference between fantasy and fallacy is silly. |
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to batsona
The car manual you have in the glovebox will do the trick and tell you everything you need to know... HOWEVER It is a new car - there should be 0 need to replace the battery for at least 5 years and if it does "need" to be replaced then it should be done under warranty. quote:
Just recently, with the fan on med-hi, I noticed that when I stop at a light, the fan spins slower because the alternator is spinning slower. --That means I got a slight DC voltage drop when the alternator spins down to idle-speed. ---therefore, I put in a high amperage battery to ensure I don't get any voltage drops.
This is nothing - the car engineers know how to size a battery correctly given the electronics need and alternator. They should work together for many years and miles before even thinking about replacing either. When the original battery goes out then you can replace the battery but before then it is a waste - IMHO. |
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to fixrman
said by fixrman:said by LittleBill:Um what, do people just make shit up on here? half the posts on here are complete crap So your assertion that half the posts are complete crap includes all of yours? Let me assure you that the guys here who currently are or have been certificated automotive repair technicians certainly do not have anything to gain by posting FUD, incorrect advise or information. It makes our industry look bad if we do that. I know that Cho Baka is a current or former technician, as I also am. It may be convenient to believe fantastical claims about things, or to believe things that one thinks are intuitive - but the truth remains that there happen to be things that people think make sense about automobiles that actually do not make technological sense. One thing that thankfully has not appeared as advice here in a while, is that Seafoam actually "fixes" misfires on cars. It so rarely is able to do that; might as well say almost never, but then some clever chap will bring up an anecdotal situation from his buddy Chuck... Deriding people who actually do know the difference between fantasy and fallacy is silly. lol, you didn't even read the comment, where i pretty much agreed with you, but i decided to delete it, as going down the smart charging path wasn't worth my energy and comments were potentially slightly off. because of it. |
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RogerD
join:2008-07-15
Fort Lauderdale, FL |
to batsona
Heaven only knows how many devices may not like having the power interrupted. Last time I had AAA out to replace an almost dead battery, they plugged in a power supply into the OBD II port to back feed power before disconnecting the battery. Kept all the radio programs and security codes. There are jumpstart devices that will plug into a DC port that could do the same thing. |
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fixrman
Premium Member
join:2003-02-10
Hatboro, PA |
to LittleBill
No, I didn't see it, only the comment that was quoted prior to your edit. The bottom line here is, a bigger battery is just that - bigger. It won't change a thing for the OP. |
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batsonaMaryland
join:2004-04-17
Ellicott City, MD |
to RogerD
OP here... That was part of my concern -- will I erase some sort of security codes, and 'brick' the car if I remove the battery? ---Funny.. I work in the IT field by trade, and I always think to myself, "if something has tons of computers in it - it's always a bad thing..."
Also, I agree with the guy you noted that when the alternator is spinning slower at idle, it won't be able to output as much voltage, no matter how much the Voltage Regulator screams. Therefore, a battery capable of a higher amp-hour / amperage rating could help 'hold' things at a higher voltage until the RPMs get up around 2k. |
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your moderator at work
hidden : Personal attacks
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davidgGood Bye My Friend
MVM
join:2002-06-15
Leland, MS |
to Cho Baka
Re: [Battery] Most basic question: how to replace battery....yes i should have left "voltage" off the part of the "lowers its output" other than that we are saying the exact same thing. the more capacity the battery has the longer before voltage drops off. but again, we are talking about only a few minutes, not for an extended time so not something i would personally do for the reason the OP gave. i run larger batteries because i run larger loads with inverters, lights, etc and need the extra power when my vehicle is not running. |
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We aren't saying the same thing. |
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 tagman
join:2015-02-20
Indiana, PA |
to batsona
A lot of what was said here was false. I agree, OP is wasting his time replacing the battery on a 4cyl Sentra. It will start and run just fine with even a motorcycle battery. However, the idea that the alternator is not outputting enough current at idle is incorrect. Since about the year 2000, most cars have switched to a "smart" charging system. They run the battery chronically discharged at around 80-90 percent. Under low electrical loads, you may see around 12.5-12.8 volts at the most. It won't rise to the 13.5-14v charging voltage until you turn the headlights on, fan on high, the heated seats, etc. This helps increase the lifespan of the battery and improve fuel economy. Some german cars you have to program the characteristics of the battery and tell it that it's a new battery, as it optimizes the charging curve based on battery age. Nissan doesn't require that, but the battery that is specified is more than sufficient and all OP is doing is burning money. Believe it or not, they actually test the car in all weather conditions and situations, the battery is not going to go dead even if you let the car idle at -40 with the headlights on, blower on high, interior lights on, heated seats, etc. |
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said by tagman:. Some german cars you have to program the characteristics of the battery and tell it that it's a new battery, as it optimizes the charging curve based on battery age. I wonder if you will get crapped on, like I did, when I posted the same thing several months ago in another thread.... |
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 Gordo74
Premium Member
join:2003-10-28
Pittsburgh, PA |
to batsona
It's a 2021 car. If you need a new battery, get it under warranty. Else, the owners manual will tell you how to change it. I don't think anything you posted so far in this thread warrants a new battery though. |
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 Vchat20Landing is the REAL challenge
Premium Member
join:2003-09-16
Columbus, OH |
to batsona
Also with newer vehicles you shouldn't be 'upgrading' the battery to a different chemistry or capacity. Nowadays most will have intelligent battery monitoring systems that rely on a known capacity and chemistry to properly manage the charge and discharge and keep the battery happy over its usable life. In addition, this means that they will often have an (unfortunately often unpublished or dealer required) 'age counter' reset procedure when a new battery is installed so it is treating it as a fresh battery and not assuming it is an aging and worn battery that it has to baby. |
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