2020 - 2024 Specialized Turbo Levo TCU Battery Change

This is a simple video showing you how to change the battery in the TCU to stop this particular sequence of red and blue fashing lights.
A google of the flashing lights will show there different meanings of the lights depending on their location. This video relates to the TCU battery lights only.
No special tools or techniques are needed and with a little care could be undertaken by most people.
This video is provided for information only and no responsibility is taken if things don't go well for you! I'm reporting my single expereince at changing the battery.

[@bungi101a]

Very useful - followed your tip with the small screwdriver and whole job took 2 minutes. Thanks!

[@michaelroper6976]

Thanks for this! Really helpful. I inserted the jewellers flat driver under the safety lip to get a purchase on the battery and it came straight out. Easier than fiddling around the sides.

[@lazurm]

Four suggestions: 1.-After removing the 10 torx screw, if you don't have a magnetic tray, remove the TCU and then replace the screw into its position on the top tube so that you vastly reduce the odds of losing it if it falls somewhere. 2.-To remove the battery easily without a tool, disconnect the two thick cables from the TCU (don't worry, they can't be mixed up when reconnecting them because they have a different pattern for the pins, not to mention that one is color coded) and then place the TCU in a cupped hand in such a way that no part of the TCU can be hit when you slap your hands together. Doing it this way will have the battery fly out of the TCU. 3.-I'd strongly suggest using plastic, sharp pointed tweezers to push the new battery in as using a metal shanked mini-screwdriver or anything that causes metal to enter the battery compartment runs the real risk of shorting the TCU and blowing its board. 4.-This last suggestion is a seemingly minor one but, based on my experience, the CR1620 batteries don't have a long enough shelf life that one can assume that the "new" one you put into the TCU is in new condition. Thankfully I own a MBT-1 pulse load battery tester which tests many batteries, the CR1620 being one of them. Today, the bicycle shop put one in (no charge so, why not?) and by evening I couldn't even turn my TCU on. Thankfully I had a new battery on hand and so I tested the one the shop put in and it read out at 40%. The one I put in was at 100% and, sure enough, my TCU turned on easily after I made the switch.

[@migueljuarez6217]

So thankful sir! You just helped me save quite a good money by not taking it to the dealer to diagnose the error and change the battery. Regards from Monterrey, Mexico!

[@andymack9208]

Thanks for video! For removing battery I bent the end of a large paper clip and it was a snap.

[@999columbo]

Brilliant, looked for vids a few weeks ago on this but didn’t find much. Just tried replacing battery and was totally stumped on how to get it out! You would think with all the Specialized R&D that they could come up with a sliding plastic tab that battery sits in, that you can actually grab hold of to remove the battery! Thanks for the video, it’s back off to the garage to try again.

[@lazurm]

To remove the battery easily without a tool, disconnect the two thick cables from the TCU (don't worry, they can't be mixed up when reconnecting them because they have a different pattern for the pins, not to mention that one is color coded) and then place the TCU in a cupped hand in such a way that no part of the TCU can be hit when you slap your hands together. Doing it this way will have the battery fly out of the TCU.

[@MikeBarbarossa]

The plastic piece on the bottom comes off with some careful prying. This makes it easier to get the battery out

[@steveburge9745]

Great video. Saved me heaps in doing it myself. I share your frustration with the battery mechanism. Very fiddly.

[@BryanMcGlade]

Glad it helped

[@luclebel6265]

Very useful. And great job with the montage 👍

[@BryanMcGlade]

thanks!

[@rogerblank5280]

Thank you for the vid! My 2020 Levo is the best Trail ebike I've ridden. Cheers 🍻

[@BryanMcGlade]

You're welcome. I love mine, its just amazing ;-)

[@BryanMcGlade]

Glad to be of some help. I agree its one of the worst battery designs I've ever seen! Its a pity this error code is not in the manual that come with the bike too...

[@robertaharper1265]

I have a Turbo Vado sl. My manual does not explain how to get the battery out so thank you for this. I just want to mention my manual does state that using metallic tweezers to re-insert the battery will lead to the battery short circuiting. I noticed you used a small metal screwdriver in your video 😊.

[@BryanMcGlade]

The screw driver only touches one side and it's the flat battery coming out so it's all good!

[@lazurm]

To remove the battery easily without a tool, disconnect the two thick cables from the TCU (don't worry, they can't be mixed up when reconnecting them because they have a different pattern for the pins, not to mention that one is color coded) and then place the TCU in a cupped hand in such a way that no part of the TCU can be hit when you slap your hands together. Doing it this way will have the battery fly out of the TCU.

[@Justin-iw7pl]

Thanks man, your a life saver.chapeau 👌👍

[@mikeloeser6239]

I had trouble getting that battery out. Finally pushed down on the battery tab with a tiny flathead, while pushing the battery upwards and it wiggled loose.

[@BryanMcGlade]

its a bit tricky. very poor battery design i think!

[@lazurm]

To remove the battery easily without a tool, disconnect the two thick cables from the TCU (don't worry, they can't be mixed up when reconnecting them because they have a different pattern for the pins, not to mention that one is color coded) and then place the TCU in a cupped hand in such a way that no part of the TCU can be hit when you slap your hands together. Doing it this way will have the battery fly out of the TCU.

[@charlesvickery]

Thank you!!

[@richardgenz7406]

My '21 Turbo Vado SL has the same TCU and poorly-designed coin battery holder. The manual got my attention about risk of a short-circuit so I hesitated to use metal tools. Disconnecting TCU is easy using the two color-coded barrel connectors located on the bicycle side, away from TCU. The cupped-hands method got me nowhere. Clip holds battery in place. Careful tapping also failed to budge it. I pried open the case w/ a razor blade and thin screwdriver. Then used a wooden pointed skewer (like a toothpick) to push battery forward while holding metal clip out of the way with needle-nose pliers. Quite a PITA.

[@BryanMcGlade]

quite the ordeal! Glad you were sucessful.

[@RobertAnema]

SOLUTION: I found it frustrating to pry the battery out of the TCU. Eventually what worked very easily was using a thin narrow piece scotch tape, and slip it down along the battery on the opposite side of the clip. Then use a small eyeglass screwdriver to press the tape against the battery. Then use eyeglass screwdriver to push away the clip. Then pull the battery out with the tape.

[@villepallari3189]

I found much easier way to remove old battery. Disconnet tcu two wire-push battery clip down a little. Then knock it against something(wood) very easy knock and its out

[@davidfrederick-y1i]

Great tip. No prying or tools required worked great. Thx

[@lazurm]

Yes, this works but rather than knocking it against wood (not a good idea for sensitive electronics) just cup the TCU in one hand and bang that hand against your other hand. The TCU doesn't get directly hit and the G forces, though gentler, are enough.

[@BikingBadwithTC]

If your bike has the TCU screen, it does not have a dedicated internal battery.

[@scottea100]

This video could by 20 seconds long.

[@Dwyeb73]

To get the battery out super easy. Push the little tab down and simply pull out with a magnet. 🧲 Tip of Gorilla tape can work to. Super aggravating. Bad design.

[@BryanMcGlade]

I tried a few magnets but I was not sucessful - perhaps I didn't have the right kind of magnet. The tape idea sounds good!

[@Dwyeb73]

@@BryanMcGladeI use the little telescopic antenna magnet like mechanics use to retrieve dropped bolts etc. If you press that little clip down that’s right before the battery it literally almost pops out onto the magnet.

[@lazurm]

To remove the battery easily without a tool, disconnect the two thick cables from the TCU (don't worry, they can't be mixed up when reconnecting them because they have a different pattern for the pins, not to mention that one is color coded) and then place the TCU in a cupped hand in such a way that no part of the TCU can be hit when you slap your hands together. Doing it this way will have the battery fly out of the TCU.