Knowing how to change a car battery can save you the expense of a tow truck or trip to the repair shop as long as you take some safety precautions changing a the battery is an easy DIY project. You can look out for some of the symptoms of a faulty battery here before changing it. Here’s a list of the supplies you’ll need.
Materials & Tools
- New car Battery
- Work Gloves
- Cleaning Cloth
- Battery Cleaning and Anti-Corrosive Solution
- Socket Wrench
- Socket Extension
- Wire Brush
Step 1 – Prepare Vehicle
Park the vehicle, turn off the engine, apply the emergency brake, and remove the keys. Open the bonnet of the car, but wait until the engine is completely cooled before getting started.
Step 2 – Locate Car Battery
Next, locate the battery, remove the cover if necessary, and identify the two terminals. The negative terminal may have a minus sign near the post and a black cable. The positive terminal will have a plus sign and a red plastic cover.
Step 3 – Detach Cables
Wear gloves and use a wrench to remove the nut on the battery’s black or negative terminal. Then, disconnect the cable and lay it aside far from the battery. After that, unfasten the nut on the cable’s positive end and disconnect it.
Tip: Always remove the negative(black) connector cable first then the positive(red)
Step 4 – Remove old battery
Remove any clamps or brackets holding the battery in place, then set it aside. You can now carefully remove the battery from the tray.
Step 5 – Cleaning Connector Cables
Using a wire brush and battery cleaning solution, scrub the connectors and the battery tray and then completely dry them.
Tip: Do not connect the new battery if there is moisture present
Step 6 – Install New Battery
Insert the new battery in the tray, making sure the positive terminals are near the red cable, and the negative terminals are near the black cable.
Step 7 – Attach and secure new car battery
Finally, secure the positive cable to the positive terminal, then repeat the process with the negative cable and terminal. Close the hood and start the engine after fastening the batteries and cables.
Tip: Reverse the order from step 4 by securing the positive(red) connector cable first then the negative(black)
Conclusion
In conclusion, changing the battery on your own can be an easy process with the appropriate tools and precautions. If in doubt, it is always best to refer to the vehicles’ owners manual before performing the change on your own, especially when purchasing the correct battery and size. Some cars can handle larger size of battery. As for the old battery, you may dispose/recycle them at any repair shop or retail store which sells batteries.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us or leave a comment on this post.
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