How to disconnect a car battery
First of all, it's important to remember that working on and even just disconnecting a car battery can be dangerous. Always exercise caution when handling any electrically charged component. Assuming the necessary safety precautions are taken as a given, in this OneHowTo.com article we'll explain how to disconnect a car battery.
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Wrench
First, consult the vehicle manual to ensure that the battery doesn't require special treatment.
In addition to containing electricity, batteries can produce gases so ideally you should disconnect it outdoors.
As an added measure to protect yourself before handling the battery, remove items such as rings, earrings and belts which contain metal elements.
Another recommended safety measure is to wear goggles and gloves.
You need to locate the positive and negative terminals on the battery. The positive terminal is easy to identify since it's red with a positive sign (+); the negative is black and has a negative sign (-).
First, you must disconnect the negative terminal, loosening the nut with the correct wrench.
Then disconnect the positive terminal of the battery. Once you have done this, be careful not to let the nut come into contact with the engine, since the nut still carries a residual charge of electricity that can damage the engine circuit systems.
If you want to read similar articles to How to disconnect a car battery , we recommend you visit our Car Maintenance and Repair category.
