2019 Dodge Charger Battery Replacement — Group 48, Trunk-Mounted (TIPM Note)

I replaced the battery on my 2019 Dodge Charger last fall and it's a straightforward job once you know the quirks — the biggest one being that the battery is in the trunk, not under the hood. There's a jump-start terminal under the hood, which throws a lot of people off when they pop the hood looking for a dead battery and find nothing. The correct battery is a Group 48 (H6), it lives behind the left rear trunk panel, and the job takes about 20 minutes. Dealer quote for this swap: $200–$250. My cost: $120–$140 in parts.

Why the Charger Battery Is in the Trunk

Dodge moved the battery to the trunk on the Charger and Challenger to improve front/rear weight distribution and to free up hood space for the HEMI engines. The trade-off is that battery access requires opening the trunk and removing a small access panel — but it's actually easier to work on than a typical underhood battery because there's no tight space, no alternator in the way, and no heat issues.

The TIPM — What You Need to Know

The 2019 Charger uses a Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) — the fuse and relay box that controls virtually every electrical function in the car. When you disconnect and reconnect the battery, the TIPM goes through a relearn cycle. You may experience:

• Power windows that won't auto-up/down (require manual recalibration)
• Radio presets cleared
• Throttle position sensor relearn needed (slight hesitation for 1–2 drive cycles)
• Clock reset

These are all normal and resolve themselves within 1–3 drive cycles. The TIPM does not need to be programmed by a dealer after a normal battery swap.

Important: If your Charger had any TIPM-related electrical gremlins before the battery replacement (fuel pump relay issues, random module power-on/off behavior), those are pre-existing TIPM problems unrelated to the battery. Battery replacement does not fix or worsen TIPM hardware failures.

Tools and Parts

• Group 48 (H6) AGM or flooded battery: Interstate MTZ-H6 AGM, Optima RedTop 35 (Group 35/H6), or equivalent 750+ CCA
• 10mm socket and ratchet for terminal clamps
• Trim panel removal tool or flathead with tape for trunk liner
• Battery terminal anti-corrosion spray
• Memory saver (optional — preserves radio presets and window positions during swap)

Spec Sheet

Item	Spec
Battery group size	Group 48 / H6
Cold cranking amps (min)	700 CCA (OEM) / 750+ CCA recommended
Battery location	Trunk, driver's side rear, behind trim panel
Terminal layout	Standard (negative left, positive right)
Jump-start location	Under hood, driver's side (red covered terminal)

Step-by-Step: 2019 Charger Battery Replacement

Access the Battery

1. Open the trunk fully.

2. On the left (driver's) side of the trunk, you'll see a carpeted trim panel secured by plastic push-clips or a single trim clip at the bottom. Use a trim removal tool to pop it off — don't pry hard, they release easily with the right angle.

3. The battery sits in a tray behind the panel. You'll see the positive (+) and negative (−) terminals clearly labeled.

Disconnect the Old Battery

4. Disconnect negative (−) first. Loosen the 10mm clamp bolt and slide the cable off the terminal. Tuck it away from the terminal post so it can't accidentally recontact.

5. Disconnect positive (+) next. Same process — loosen, slide off, secure away from the post.

6. Remove the battery hold-down bracket — typically a small J-shaped bracket with a 10mm bolt at the base of the battery tray.

7. Lift the old battery straight up and out. Group 48 batteries weigh 40–45 lbs — use two hands or a battery strap.

Install the New Battery

8. Lower the new battery into the tray. Ensure it's seated fully — the tray has alignment lips that the battery should drop into cleanly.

9. Reinstall the hold-down bracket and tighten the bolt snugly. Don't overtighten — just enough to prevent battery movement.

10. Reconnect positive (+) first, then negative (−). Tighten both 10mm clamp bolts until the cables don't wiggle on the posts.

11. Spray both terminals with anti-corrosion spray.

TIPM Relearn Procedure

12. Turn the ignition to ON (engine off). Wait 30 seconds. Turn OFF.

13. Start the engine normally. Let it idle for 2 minutes.

14. Take a short drive (10–15 minutes with mixed city/highway if possible). The throttle body relearn and TIPM initialization complete during the first drive cycle.

Recalibrate Power Windows

15. For each window: lower fully, then raise fully and hold the switch up for 3 additional seconds after the window reaches the top. This resets the auto-up position memory.

Reinstall Trunk Panel

16. Snap the trim panel back into place. Verify all push-clips seat.

Jump-Start Terminal Under the Hood

If you ever need to jump-start the Charger (or jump-start another vehicle using yours), use the red covered terminal under the hood on the driver's side near the strut tower. This connects directly to the battery via a heavy cable. Do not connect jumper cables directly to the alternator or anywhere else — only the hood terminal or the trunk battery terminals.

Cost Comparison: DIY vs. Dealer

	DIY	Dodge Dealer
Group 48 AGM battery	$120–$160	Included
Labor	$0	$60–$100
Total	$120–$160	$200–$280+

Savings: $80–$130 per service.

For more Dodge maintenance guides, check the OwnerDrop blog. If you're also dealing with spark plug maintenance on your Charger, see the 2017 Dodge Charger spark plug replacement guide for a complete walkthrough of the HEMI ignition service.

Want step-by-step guides for your specific car? OwnerDrop has 28+ repair guides — start your Starter plan at $29.99/mo.