As a driver, knowing how to change a car battery is just as important as knowing how to drive. It could help you in a difficult situation, not mentioning the money you get to save that would have gone to a mechanic to do the job for you.
Before proceeding, safety should always be a priority. But, is it dangerous to change a car battery? Yes, it can be! Since the battery may have some charge in it, you need to be careful not to allow your wrench to touch the positive terminal and the body simultaneously. Also, be cautious not to allow metal objects to touch both the battery posts at the same time.
Check this out if you don’t want to lose your car infotainment and other computer customizations when changing the battery.
Others, you will need the following tools, items, and supplies for the job:
- Fully charged battery
- Battery terminal puller
- Battery post and terminal cleaning tool
- Open or box end wrenches or sockets
- Battery terminal protector
- Battery terminal and post grease
- Safety glasses, gloves, and shop towels
Removing a Car Battery
To remove the car battery;
- First, locate where your car battery is positioned. You can check your vehicle’s manual if you are not sure.
- Identify the positive and negative posts and the respective attached cables. Identify positive from the red plastic cover or red-colored cable attached to it, and “+” sign.
- Use the wrench to loosen the bolt or nut that secures the negative terminal and cable to the negative battery post.
- First remove the cable and terminal from the negative battery post using the terminal puller, before doing the same with the positive terminal.
- Remove the clamp holding battery in place. Take care not to misplace the parts and fasteners.
- Lift the battery carefully without jostling it too much. Use a battery carrying strap if the posts are located on the top of the battery.
Check this too: How Long Does It Take to Charge a Car Battery While Driving?
Installing a Car Battery
Once you are done removing your old battery, you can then proceed to install the new battery by following these steps:
- Check the terminals attached to the end of the battery cables to make sure they are clean and not corroded. To clean them, use the terminal cleaning tool.
- Position the battery in such a way that the red positive post matches up to the positive terminal and location of the cable.
- Insert the new battery and secure it with the clamp.
- Remove plastic caps covering the battery posts and install anti-corrosion washes over them.
- Take the grease and apply a thin layer to the battery terminals and posts before connecting the positive terminal to the positive post first.
- Check if the battery wiggles. Tighten the clam if it moves.
There you have it! Changing a car battery is that simple. There is no reason to be stranded because of a dead battery when you can easily replace it yourself. Just remember to observe safety when doing it and you should be done within a short time.