The battery in my 02 5.4 crapped out the other day, so I replaced it, obviously re-setting the computer. Before I finally got the new battery in permanantly, I had the old one connected and disconnected several times. I have always read that when re-setting the computer you should initially drive a little harder than you normally do. Don't know why, but I've heard it a couple of times before and figured it couldn't hurt. I have been getting consistently worse mileage since then. I have been able to baby it enough to get 14.7mpg in-town before, but since the new battery haven't seen better than 12.6mpg. Does this have anything to do with the way the computer re-learned my driving habits? SHould I disconnect the battery again and drive normally? What gives?

 

I would reset the computer and have it re-learn an easier driving method....

couldn't hurt (it's free)!!!

 

I can take almost 30 days to settle down.
Driving cycle running time etc.

 

drive typically and reset the computer instead.

 

The people who say to drive hard after a reset, are the ones who want the computer to learn the aggressive driving as the way it drives, which will make your gas mileage suck, if you're more concerned with gas mileage, reset the computer again and have it learn an easier driving pattern, like sam_x20 suggested.

 

Yep, that drivin hard makes me laugh.
What do they think will happen to gas milage drivin like a rabbit.
Make the fuel tables rich then expect mileage, give me a break!