Is there any reason that I (myself) shouldn' replace the battery in my 2013 RDX? I can get a Interstate battery from Costco for $85 dollars. Acura dealership wants $185 for battery and labor. Is there anything I need to do to the RDX before I disconnect the battery, or after the battery is installed? I know that my settings will be lost.

 

nope go ahead and do it yourself!

 

A lot of places will do this for you when you buy the battery. Whether someone does it for you or if you do it yourself be sure to do the cables in the correct order or it could fry some of your electronics. Removed negative cable first, then the positive cable. When replacing the battery put the positive cable on first, then the negative cable. I'd also suggest spraying some lithium grease (or wd-40 or just plain grease) on the positive post/cable once the battery is in.

 

if you can fill your own tank, you can change your own battery!

 

On the piece of shit 2008 BMW X5 I owned for 3 days you had to take the car to the dealer to reprogram the new battery. Yes you heard that right people. To change your battery you had to pay the dealer $185 to program it to your car? Wtf? Why?

Never EVER buying a BMW again.

 

I usually replace OEM with Interstate batteries on each vehicle. I go to the actual Interstate battery shop, not an Interstate re-seller. Sometimes they have a dongle they plug into the 12v to save all the memory stuff, run a quick test of the electrical system, and do the battery exchange in a few minutes. If you do it at home, you might have to reset your memory seats and put in the radio/navi code afterwards.

 

I bought a new RX-7 mazda in 1979 and I thought that every time I took the car to mazda I should have worn a pair of pants with the zipper in the back as I knew I was going to get screwed and this would have cut out one step of the process. Mazda's "policy" was that if you had anything done to the car at a non-mazda dealer they would void your warranty. I was unaware of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act at that time. At that time, I could have my oil/filter changed for $6, but it was $30 at the mazda dealer.

 

Car dealers. Gotta love 'em.

 

BMW's are so over-engineered that the charging system adjusts based upon the age of the battery. If the system isn't re-programmed then the new battery will be overcharged and will die an early death.

 

Use one of these to save all your settings in the computer's memory before disconnecting your battery. It will save you a lot of headaches.

It probably is a small motorcycle battery inside, but it back-feeds 12 volts to the car's computer through the OBD-II port while your battery is being changed.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...AOBD/N2156.oap

 

FWIW, I just changed the battery in our RDX and the only thing it lost was the seat settings, no problems with the radio/nav. Hardest part was removing the front hold-down clamp nut. It's recessed and really needs a deep 10mm socket which I didn't have. It was also a bit difficult lifting the battery out because it didn't have a carrying strap, at least ours didn't. It's a tight fit and hard to get a grip on the battery.

Disconnecting the negative first is a safety issue. If you try to disconnect the positive first and accidentally touch the wrench to ground you have a massive short that could cause burns, fires, etc.

 

Haha I wasn't sure where you were going with those pants at first. I would kill for a $30 oil change at the dealer right now.

I feel like all BMW car systems are a case of "the straw that broke the camels back". They engineer and re-engineer until something is good, then complicate it and it becomes a bloody nightmare to repair. I have literally sworn off of the brand. Beyond over it.

 

Correct. I'll never buy a BMW outside of German speaking countries.

 

By recessed nut, do you mean the ones that are at the front and back of the battery holding it in? I can get my adjustable wrench to turn those (pre-checked this) when I change it tomorrow. But about lifting, how do you do this? The replacement is really heavy and I can't see anything to help with the old one. What's the trick? I can't find a video for this.
Thanks,
Mike Todd

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/E-Z-Red-S...ifter/16902260