I started my car this morning and it started very slowly. The airbag light turned on and a warning displayed. I shut the engine off and restarted it and the light went off. Later when I went to start it and it made the dreading popping sound associated with a low battery. It started the next time but the tire pressure light came on and a warning flashed. Are these symptomatic for a bad battery? If it is indeed the battery, how hard are they to change? Do I have to have any special tools?

 

In a word, yes. Not hard to change most parts palaces will change it for you, Autozone, O'Reilly's and others , you'll need a 10mm wrench and a 13 mm wrench.

 

I agree first thing is have the battery tested.

When cranking if the battery voltage drops below 9 volts the computer modules freak out and don't know how to interpret the low voltage signals.

 

Thanks for the information. I'll get a battery tomorrow.

 

Are you going to get the battery tested as suggested, before replacing it? It is most likely a battery problem, but it may also be caused by a bad connection at the battery or elsewhere, or a problem with the alternator.

 

Of course I'll have it tested before I buy a new one.

 

Excellent bugo, excellent......

 

I took it to the parts house and they said the battery was good but needed to be charged. I disconnected the cables and put my charger on it so hopefully it will be OK at least for now. Now to find out what drained the battery.

 

Loose grounds most likely back by the battery or the transmission case down to the right of the oil filter and or the one up on the rad cradle behind the left headlamp area.

 

Also check this connection under the hood. It's known to loose up over time.