How To Change a Car Battery Safely
Is it time to change your car battery? Does your vehicle lack power when climbing up steep hills? Is it failing to hold it's charge? If you know that the battery in your car has come to the end of it's life, then you will need to change the battery. Needless to say, there is always the possibility of handing it over to a trusted mechanic to change the battery. But if you want to save money, at OneHowTo we'll explain how to change your car's battery and safely carry out this maintenance yourself.
You'll need:
- A spanner
- Insulating products for the discarded terminals
- A new battery (can be purchased at parts shops and department shops)
- The car manufacturer's guide
Steps to follow:
Before checking the battery's appearance, turn off anything connected to the car to isolate the engine and prevent any electric shocks. Also, try to do so in a well-ventilated place to avoid getting inhaling substances released by your engine (fuel, oil, coolants etc.)
If the battery has any scratches, knocks or cracks you clearly have to change it.
If, however, it looks fine but the symptoms persist there may be a problem at the terminals or posts. These are the points with positive/negative symbols which the cables are attached to. If they are rusty, it may impede the flow of electrical current in the engine which means the car loses power. If that is the case, clean the terminals and posts and double check the engine. If the problem persists, it's time to change the battery.
You are now ready to physically disconnect and remove the car battery. Do this with a spanner by removing the negative terminal first (which is anchored to the black cable) and then the positive terminal (red). Never remove the red one first, as it can cause a small explosion! When removing them, make extra sure to keep the two apart and, if possible, cover them with some type of insulating material to completely eliminate any risk.
Once this step is complete, use the spanner to undo the battery's clamps and remove it from the vehicle. Before putting in the new one, it is advisable to clean the terminals and the tray where the battery is fitted with hot water and/or some type of degreaser.
You are now almost ready to install the new car battery, however there are a few factors to consider before choosing a car battery. if you don't want to make a mistake, carefully read the manufacturer's manual that was supplied when you bought the car. They will specify the size, compatible brands and reserve capacity of the original battery. Searching with these parameters you'll be able to buy a new one in any large auto shop that suits your vehicles requirements. Standard prices are between £50 to £150.
Now that you have found a suitable battery, it's time to install it in the vehicle. Place it in the tray where the original battery was, ensuring that each terminal is in the correct position. First, using a spanner, anchor the positive terminal to the positive post and the negative terminal to the corresponding post. Make sure that they are fastened on securely and you have finished the job. There you have your changed battery ready to go!
If you want to read similar articles to How To Change a Car Battery Safely, we recommend you visit our Car Maintenance and Repair category.
Tips
- It is very important that the car ignition is turned off at all times
- Read the manufacturer's guide carefully to choose the correct new battery
- Once installed, there are recycling centres where you can take the old part
