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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

do u have to unhook the battery when u unhook any sensor

  • Thread starter Thread starter interex1982
  • Start date Start date Aug 26, 2004
I

interex1982

New Member
Aug 20, 2004
92
0
0
Aug 26, 2004
#1
  • Aug 26, 2004
  • #1
do have to unhook the battery? if u don't do u have to reset the the computer?
 
W

wytstang

Mustang Master
Mar 14, 2004
4,988
4
78
Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(
Aug 26, 2004
#2
  • Aug 26, 2004
  • #2
No, besides the alternator everything else is o.k. I would reset the computer if I were to put a new mass air, and anything on the throttle body.
 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 26, 2003
3,031
2
58
Tucson, AZ
Aug 27, 2004
#3
  • Aug 27, 2004
  • #3
It's a good idea, just in case spark decides to jump around when you are plugging in the new sensor.

But also, the computer needs to know it has a new sensor, so it's a good idea to reset comp.
Scott
 

MLC Stang

Founding Member
Aug 23, 2002
210
0
0
Atlanta, GA
Aug 27, 2004
#4
  • Aug 27, 2004
  • #4
The answer is absolutely YES, IF the sensor that you have disconnected is BAD. (e.g. you are replacing a known bad sensor that has stored a trouble code in the computer.)

If you are just disconnecting a good sensor to get at something else in the process of doing other work, then the answer is NO.

Here’s why:

A bad sensor will set and store a trouble code in KAM (Keep Alive Memory) in your car’s computer. If you then replace the bad sensor with a new one and drive the car, without clearing the KAM, the new sensor is IGNORED! It is ignored because the trouble code for that sensor is still set and the computer will continue to use the limp-home mode default settings for that sensor. That’s called the Failure Effects Management feature of your car’s computer.

In order to get the computer to start using the input from the NEW sensor, you MUST clear the KAM and get rid of that trouble code.

The KAM is cleared by disconnecting the negative terminal of your battery for at least 5 minutes. That will remove power from your computer and allow the KAM to decay and clear any stored trouble codes.

Keep in mind that for the first 10 miles or so of driving after you clear the KAM, your car will run a bit funky until it relearns all of the input from the sensors again.
 
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