Main battery removal/replacement

[Max Headroom]

A quick question for those of you far more knowledgeable than me with modern cars  ...
I've had a quick look around the forum but couldn't satisfactorily find the answer to this; although I'm sure the answers will be here somewhere, so I'll ask again anyway...

I'm going to have to replace the car's battery (2006 93TDi convertible). What 'side-effects' might I encounter when carrying out this job?
Am I going to lose radio-codes or find the car loses recognition of other things such as the key fob/blip etc?

My battery is noticeably becoming slower (sometimes struggling) in the colder weather to turn the engine over particularly if the car has been left for periods of four or five days (which it regularly is due to my shift pattern).
With daily usage it doesn't seem so bad, so I'm pointing the finger at the battery which is now some 6.5 years old.

I intend to replace it with an 'extra-heavy-duty' battery of the correct type.

Any pointers/advice gratefully received

[collywobble]

I have replaced the battery on our 9-5 twice now with no problems. I can thoroughly recommend Tayna Batteries as the cheapest place to buy a new battery - next day delivery, fully charged and properly packed -www.tayna.co.uk.

[phoenix]

Here's what WIS says...

Procedures after disconnecting the battery
1. Clear diagnostic trouble codes in all systems.

Important
Some diagnostic trouble codes can be generated if there is a voltage drop. These diagnostic trouble codes can be ignored and will not be regenerated after deletion.

2. Set the clock as follows:
2.a. Turn the ignition key to the ON position.
2.b. Press CUSTOMIZE on SIDC (SID control panel).
2.c. Turn the INFO knob until the displays shows "Clock/Alarm". Press to confirm "OK".
2.d. Turn the INFO knob to "Set Clock". Press "OK".
2.e. Turn the INFO knob to "Manual" or "RDS adjust" and set the correct time. Press "OK".

3. Set the date as follows:
3.a. Turn the ignition key to the ON position.
3.b. Turn the INFO knob to "DATE".
3.c. Press the INFO knob until the display shows "YEAR 2000".
3.d. Turn the INFO knob to the correct year. Press to confirm "OK".
3.e. Turn the INFO knob to the correct month. Press "OK".
3.f. Turn the INFO knob to the correct date. Press "OK".

Important
Draw the customer's attention to the fact that all remote controls must be synchronised by placing the key/keys in the ignition lock. If this is not done, the remote control will not work.

4. Synchronise the remote control's code by inserting the key in the ignition switch.

Warning
The trap protection is not active until the window lifters have been calibrated after a power failure.

5. Cars with pinch protection: Program the pinch protection, see Programming pinch protection .

Calibration of pinch protection
Note
First ensure the car is equipped with pinch protection. Lift up the window lift button.
Cars with pinch protection: the button has two positions.
Cars without pinch protection: the button has one position.

The end positions and travel must be calibrated following mechanical work affecting the end position of the window, the replacement of the motor, door control module, work on the window lift system components - including the window's rails and weatherstrips, as well as following a loss of power such as when the battery is replaced. Calibration must be carried out after all work involving the removal of the door trim. Before the end positions have been
calibrated, express closing will be disabled, which also means that the comfort closing (certain markets) and pinch protection functions will be inoperative.

Warning

The trap protection is not active until the window lifters have been calibrated after a power failure.

Procedure
Note
Only one control module may be calibrated at a time owing to voltage variations.

1. Close the window. CV: Close the door and soft top.
2. Reset the pinch protection by removing and fitting fuse F5 from the instrument panel electrical centre (IPEC). The pinch protection for both door modules is now reset and both front windows can be programmed.
3. Start the car.
4. Lower the window fully. Hold the button depressed during the entire operation.
5. Raise the window fully. Hold the button up during the entire operation. Wait for at least 1 second when the window is in the top position.
6. Lower the window fully. Hold the button depressed during the entire operation.
7. Raise the window fully. Hold the button up during the entire operation. Wait for at least 1 second when the window is in the top position.
8. When calibration has been completed an audible confirmation is heard. In the event that there is no audible confirmation, repeat the procedure.

[Max Headroom]

Hello

A massive thanks for the replies here.

Collywobble, I get a Halfrauds trade discount on parts and consumables so have gone there for the battery out of sheer convenience, but thank you for the info on Tayna Batts; I've duly made a note of this for future reference and anyone else I know at work etc that might need it.

Thank you Phoenix for the sequence of resetting everything - nothing there too daunting for me other than finding codes generated as a result of the battery being disco'd. I don't have the tool for finding those codes, but so long as they aren't SAAB-specific I know a man that does. 

I mentioned radio codes in my original question because the car I had prior to the 93 was a Peugeot 306 and it lost the radio codes when I cx'd the the battery, and I had a bit of a nightmare until I found out what they were and how to reinstate them. (I can't be without my music!)

[Max Headroom]

Well after fiddling about in the cold today dismantling the front left wheel arch to get at the leaking windscreen washer tank in order to replace stupid 'O' rings on the elbow off the pump (whose silly design idea was that!),  I finally got round to fitting the new battery...

All went very smoothly with no problems encountered either removing it or installing the new one; and setting up the clock, keys etc all went as advertised.
However I was a bit gobsmacked at the amount of detritus that had found its way under the cover and into the battery compartment; dead leaves; spiders; twigs; bits of old cardboard from somewhere. No dead pedestrians or road-kill though.
So for anyone venturing into the darkest depths of their battery compartment, arm yourself with a vacuum cleaner 

The engine now spins on the starter seriously faster with the new battery installed, so hopefully the problem of struggling starts is completely solved.