Accessory Setting saver

MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
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I have to replace my batteries in my truck and would like to know if anyone has any experience with those gadgets that save your settings. I guess you plug it into your cig lighter and when you disconnect your batteries it saves all your settings.

What I'd like to do is save all my settings on my stereo. You know the sound settings that you spend hours adjusting to get your stereo sounding the way you like it.

They're cheap enough. Anyone?
 

MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
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Has anyone bought one that can recommend one? I'm sure a Snap-on one is expensive.If I could even get one
 

Vrabel

TOYAHOLIC
May 22, 2008
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Hewitt, NJ
I know thexton used to make one. that also works. We accidentally left in a car, and it never came back. all it is is a lighter plug with a 9v battery hooked to it. nothing Hi-Tech. The fresher the battery the better.
 

darkness

Well-known member
Jul 15, 2009
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i dont think youre going to have to worry about the radio losing its settings. ive had my batteries and my dads batteries out to change and never lost anything on the radio. even kept the time up to date. my trucks is an 04 and pops is an 06. of course your experience could be totally different but thats how mine was.
 

MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
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I definitely lose my settings on a aftermarket radio. I'm gonna keep searching the web and see what I can find. If anyone has a link please post

AThankayouverymuch
 

darkness

Well-known member
Jul 15, 2009
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ah yes...aftermarket lol. bummer...maybe radio shack would have the 9v battery backup deal youre looking for.
 

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
Staff member
Vendor/Sponsor
Feb 14, 2007
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This is what Snap-on sells for $20. Looks like about $5 worth of parts from Radio Shack could duplicate it. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1453&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

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MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
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Hey thanks Josh that isn't bad . I've found them from $5 bucks to $20 bucks. Ya I'm sure you can make one but for $20 bucks or less? Not worth the trouble IMO
 

White Knight

Member
Jul 20, 2009
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Thompson,MB.
Am I missing something here? Couldn't you just disconnect one battery at a time, being careful not to short out the possitive cable, thereby leaving the second battery hooked up and presto 12 volts!
 

Darius6t9

I'm the Floater. Lurking.
Aug 23, 2008
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Rusk, Tx. Again
I actually did make one of these using radio shack parts. About $5 for the plug. and another $5 for the pack of 9v terminal ends. They come in a pack of 4 or 5. Works fine if your stuff is turned off before you plug it up and disconnect the battery. Otherwise it will drain your 9v quick. Happened to me the other day working on a Nissan. I'm Nissan's Express lube tech here in Anchorage.
 

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
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Boise, ID, USA
Nope doesn't work that way
Yes, it does work that way. How would it not?

The 2 batteries are connected together, and they both will feed the electrical system in the truck. I've changed out my batteries this way (one at a time) many times, and you can even leave the stereo playing.

If you can't start your truck with one battery disconnected (either one), than something is wrong with your electrical system.
 

MACKIN

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Aug 14, 2006
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If you say so ,so be it but I recall when I disconnected the ground lead off one battery ,I don't recall which one the under hood light went out. That tells me no juice

It's been awhile since I've disconnected batteries so perhaps I'm missing something. So In addition why is it when individuals delete a battery why do they have to tie in the other one? Or something like that
 

MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
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You should drive Princess more often so your batteries would get some recharges.

Wait until the snow flies and then take her out on that fresh powder.

;)



Um negative. This is the time and spring weather permitting (dry conditions) I drive it more. You forgat how old my truck is. I lost my AC Delco's due to the passenger side one leaking in 04 ish. I then bought 7 year Interstate batteries.

You never will get 7 years out of them they know it I know it ,if you get 5 years your lucky then they pro-rate the warranty and you buy new ones and they win win,bastards!

So they've been in the truck for almost 6 years, do the math.

Actually one is still good and one wont hold a deep charge. Also the cold cranking amps are down. So I have to replace them with two branddee new Interstates.

God Bless, buy American products, (Please boycott China) your future depends on it. :thumb:
 

DAVe3283

Heavy & Slow
Sep 3, 2009
3,727
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Boise, ID, USA
If you say so ,so be it but I recall when I disconnected the ground lead off one battery ,I don't recall which one the under hood light went out. That tells me no juice

It's been awhile since I've disconnected batteries so perhaps I'm missing something. So In addition why is it when individuals delete a battery why do they have to tie in the other one? Or something like that
Aah, if that is the case, it is possible you have one battery that is completely toast (broke an internal connection or something). If that is the case, and you disconnect the good one first, you could loose power.

If you are worried about it, and don't want to spend any money, do what I'd do: I'd grab my jumper cables and hook them to the junction block (by the power steering pump) and then to another vehicle. Then feel free to replace both batteries without worrying about loss of power.

The reason people need to leave the battery wires connected when they remove one battery is because some power feeds off one battery, and some off another. They are normally connected in the junction block, so one battery will run the truck so long as the cables are there. But cut the cables, and some things could stop working. This was more true on the older trucks (like my '82). I don't think there would be any problem cutting off the passenger battery cables on an '03-'07 truck, but I'd have to look closer before I did it.

Good luck with your swap. Personally, I'd feel better with my accessories getting a full 12 volts from the jumper cables than the 9V from the "setting saver". Just my $0.02.
 

MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
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Connecticut
Josh worked very well.No fumbling with the radio after to fresh right of the truck Interstate batteries install. :thumb:


Got lucky to receive fresh batteries with NO prior shelf life! Paid $109 each for MTP78's. If I get 5 years out of these I guess I can't bitch although they are 84 month. IMO I lost one so I suppose I could have gotten that one pro rated but would have bought two anyway. Me thinks it's a scam. :mad:

Or maybe if I drove it normally instead of it sitting for months and the batteries being charged constantly (driving) I would have gotten 7 years out of them.Instead I charged them when they were dead and the truck wouldn't start! :D
 
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