Dodge Journey, New Battery: Now locked out by Anti-theft

Anyone know anything about these retarded vehicles, cause I sure don't. Helping change a battery (you gotta take a wheel off to do this, seriously?!) and when you go to restart, the dash indicates that the car is now locked down by the anti-theft system.

The good news is that it is not my vehicle. The bad news is that it looks like a tow to the dealers to have the key and car re-introduced at some cost that I bet is going to hurt.

Anyone have the intel on what the hell might have happened? Is battery install a dealer only operation?

Step 1) fire

Step 2) insurance check

Step 3) ensure the owner isn't dumb enough to purchase another Journey

Did you disconnect the positive terminal before the negative?

Most modern electrically complex vehicles require you to disconnect the ground first, THEN remove the positive terminal. When the new battery goes in, you reconnect the positive terminal first, and finally the ground. I know newer BMW electrical systems will freak out if you don't do this.

pointofdeparture wrote: Did you disconnect the positive terminal before the negative? Most modern electrically complex vehicles require you to disconnect the ground first, THEN remove the positive terminal. When the new battery goes in, you reconnect the positive terminal first, and finally the ground. I know newer BMW electrical systems will freak out if you don't do this.

Well, that might well be the case since it has freaked out. Being towed to the dealers where they wanted $600 for an installed new battery. Hence the DIY attempt. Cant wait to see how it turns out. What kind of retard company requires that you pull a wheel and splash guard to replace a battery. And if the cables do need to be pulled in a certain order, it should have been noted in foot high lettering on the side of the fender.

Guess what car company just joined GM on the list of cars I will never buy or recommend that others buy. Get off my lawn!!!!!

Dodge and ford both use that battery location and have since the late 90s. Its terrible.

As opposed to putting the battery under the rear seat? My BMW has this.

Or putting the battery in the trunk?

It's a battery, what does it matter where it is located?

A tip to make things easier when changing a battery: use a battery saver (9 or 12v battery)plugged into a cigarette lighter with the key in the acc position. No loss in ECU memory should occur.

pointofdeparture wrote: Did you disconnect the positive terminal before the negative? Most modern electrically complex vehicles require you to disconnect the ground first, THEN remove the positive terminal. When the new battery goes in, you reconnect the positive terminal first, and finally the ground. I know newer BMW electrical systems will freak out if you don't do this.

Urban legend. I absolutely guarantee (as an electrical engineer) that the car can't tell the difference for which is disconnected first. My guess is that this myth got started because someone disconnected only one branch of one of the cables at the far end and shorted it to ground. Disconnecting either wire at the battery makes no never mind to the car.

The vehicle doesn't care which terminal is disconnected/connected first, but the spark and possible explosion does. Always, always, always disconnect the ground first and re-connect last.

As mentioned, in future battery swaps use a memory saver. Usually it just saves the hassle of resetting radio presets and clocks, but can save many other memory headaches.

On MKIII Vw's you would have to manually unlock the car at the driver's door to reset the alarm after battery disconnect. Might be similar need on the Journey.

It may have been as simple as locking the car with the key, walking away, let it sit for a few minutes, then unlock, climb in, close door and restart. The car wants to see all the right things done in the right order. I've confused stuff by reaching in through the open window to start a car.