A battery is an important component of your car and needs attention and care. It is like the heart of the vehicle all the other parts of the car are dependent on the battery to provide them with energy. Though there are ways to prolong the life of your battery you can not stop it from wearing out. And the need to change your car’s battery is unavoidable.
Out of all the skills we strive to learn we often neglect how important it is to learn skills like changing car batteries at home yourself. It saves you the trouble of getting stranded on a lonely road with no mechanic nearby to help you with the issue. Though it might look like an arduous task, it is pretty simple if you go through the article and follow all the steps mentioned about “how to change car battery of your automobile”. You can get the project done in the comfort of your home without relying on professional help.
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Though the process is easy, you should be cautious to prevent the car from damaging. Hiring a professional to accomplish the task is always the easiest way to do the task, however, it is not an option sometimes. The car battery may die in the middle of the road, far away from your house and you may not be able to find a mechanic nearby.
Sounds pretty goofy right? But don’t you worry! acquiring the DIY skill saves you from all such headaches and makes you more confident on the road. Here is a comprehensive guide on “how to change a car battery yourself”.
A Comprehensive Guide to Change Your Car Battery
Car battery maintenance must be taken seriously and you must ask yourself often that when to replace car battery specifically when the vehicle is regularly being used. Regular use causes more fraction and the continuous monitoring may save you from dangerous consequences. Changing your vehicle’s battery is crucial when it’s leaking, damaged, or broken down. Let’s explore the guide;
Tools You Need
There are some things that you must have while changing your motor’s battery, as follows;
- A battery designed for the car’s model.
- A wrench and pliers to unfasten the battery cables from the terminal.
- A cleaning brush and cleaning solution to clear up any corrosion from the terminal.
- Gloves, goggles, and masks to protect yourself from any mishap.
Safety Precautions
Plenty of safety precautions are there so that it may not cause any hazards while replacing your car’s battery, as;
Pro Tip:
If the battery is dead, you can try jump starting your car’s battery before replacement.
- Always protect your eyes with safety glasses.
- Never touch the battery or any other metal during the procedure with your bare hands.
- Wear a shield to protect your face if possible. Always wear safety gloves. The acid in the battery can cause serious injury.
- Wear proper safety clothes.
- Carry out the project in a well-ventilated area.
- Wear a face mask to prevent dust or fume inhalation.
- Do not ever change the battery with the running engine.
- Always remove the negative cable first.
- Keep the battery straight to avoid leakage or spillover.
Related Pick: Top Signs of a Failing Car Battery | Identify Problems Early
Step-by-Step Guide
There are two crucial steps in battery replacement: removing the battery, installing a new one in it’s place. Let’s explore;
Following steps must be followed in the same order to get the work done.
1. Turn the Car Off
Turn the car off and wait for some time to let the car cool down. Start with the project only then to avoid the risk of shock or burning. Do not go close to the battery with the engine running to avoid the risk of shock. It can also cause serious burns. So, make sure to turn the ignition off and wait till it is safe to touch.
2. Find the Location of Your Batteries
The next step is to find where the batteries are located. The location varies from model to model. It rests under the bonnet mostly but could be located in the trunk too in some cars. The manual will come in handy in saving you time hunting for the location.
3. Follow All the Safety Rules
Wear your safety kit. Do not touch the batteries with bare hands or they could cause serious damage. Protect your eyes too by wearing safety glasses.
4. Unfasten the Bolt of Terminals
Now find the positive and negative terminal, you can identify them with the positive + and negative -signs respectively. Grab the wrench and pliers and unfasten the bolt of the negative terminal first. After the negative one, Unfasten the bolt of positive terminal. Turn it around a bit and it will come off.
5. Lifting the Battery
After untying the cables, bolts, or brackets that hold the battery in it’s place When the battery is free of any bondage it’s time to remove it. Now that the battery is free of all the cables and bolts. Lift the battery with both hands, in an upward direction. Keep it straight. The first part of the project is already completed by removing the dead battery.
6. Clean the Battery Terminals and Wires Thoroughly
After it is removed check out the terminal posts for any sign of corrosion. If you see sulfate build up clean it with a solution formulated to clean battery terminals. Do not forget to clean the cables too with a wire cleaning brush. The article also gives you a list of DIY solutions to clean your car batteries.
7. Grease the Battery Posts
Now that the old battery is removed and the terminal is cleaned properly. Oil the cable posts first to prevent corrosion.
8. Place the New Battery
Now that the dead battery is removed. Place the new car battery in the same position the older battery was placed in. Check if it rests properly. Though this step requires attention and care. Do not bend or tilt it, place it down while keeping it straight.
9. Fasten the Positive Cables First
Fasten the new cables to the terminal post to secure the battery. Tighten with a wrench. And keep in mind that when you change a car battery you remove the negative cable first. However, when you are installing a new battery attach the positive cables first.
10. Fasten the Negative Cable Next
When you secure it firmly it’s time to move on to the negative cable. Follow the same procedure for the negative cable too. Fasten the bolt firmly with a wrench to secure the battery.
Post Installation Monitoring
Now that the battery is installed it’s time for a quick check about whether the mission is successful or not. Make sure the cables are tight enough. Turn the car engine on, check all the electric parts like stereo, air conditioner and lights.
How to Prolong Battery Life?
No matter how much you care for your vehicle, the battery eventually needs a replacement. However, here are some tips you can follow to prolong the life of your battery.
- Keep your car protected from extreme weather to avoid damage to the battery. Try to park the car in a shaded area.
- Do not leave the lights on when the engine is off. They can shorten your battery’s life span.
- Do not drain the battery too much when the engine is off. Turn off the music and air conditioner when the engine is not on.
- Keep the battery terminals clean. Keep an eye on corrosion. And if you notice any buildup instantly clean it up.
- Always pay attention to any unusual signs or sounds.
- Keep an eye on loose wires. Tighten them to prevent mishaps.
- Brush the wires too to prolong the life of your battery.
- Never ignore the battery light sign on your dashboard.
- Always pay attention to corrosion build up.
- Take your car for a visit to a mechanic once in a while to assess your battery’s condition.
- If you see your car’s lights getting dim check your batteries first.
- Use a corrosion protection spray to avoid corrosion buildup.
When to Replace Your Car’s Battery?
Your motor battery’s condition is like a disease that shows fluctuated symptoms so you must check the car’s battery using different battery analyzers from time to time. Yet, here are some conditions in which you must check it in case of any damage, as follows;
- If you notice any signs of leakage instantly remove the batteries.
- Check the condition of the fan belt.
- Check the battery for any sign of corrosion.
- If the corrosion does not go away with cleaning it might be time to your car battery replacement.
- If you have trouble starting the engine.
- If you notice dimming lights.
- Or you find some issue with the radio.
- Or experience trouble with the air conditioner.
- Check out the Emergency Response Guide for your car by NFPA to get alerted prior to any mishap.
DIY Methods to Clean Battery Residues
There are several ways to clean the battery at home by yourself using these home-made solutions, as;
Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution
Make a DIY solution of baking soda and water to clear up any signs of corrosion.
Vinegar and Water Solution
Dilute vinegar in water and spray the solution on the battery posts to clean it up in minutes.
Lemon Juice and Water
Lemon juice diluted in water also works wonders in neutralizing the corrosion buildup.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola like the above-mentioned acidic solutions works wonders in cleaning corrosion.
FAQs
The connection of a top-post battery is usually located on the top of the battery while in the side-post battery, the connection is on the side. Though side-post batteries are out of fashion.
When the positive cable is put in a negative terminal or vice versa, it can lead to serious damage like a short circuit or an explosion. It can damage the battery and the car and even cause serious burns. It is to have proper knowledge to change a car battery or it may lead to a disaster.
To change the side-post car battery terminal to top-post you need to remove the side-post battery terminals. The first step to do so is to remove the negative cable first. Move on to the positive next. Expose the insulation of the wires on the terminals about half an inch and attach clamps. Now install post converters on the terminals. Attach the positive cable first to the post converter and the negative one later.
Touching them will not electrocute you, however, always reach the batteries carefully because they are one of the most dangerous objects when not handled properly.
You can only do this if you install a post-converter on the battery terminal first.
Always connect the positive one first and the negative one next.
Yes, oiling the posts makes them safe against corrosion.
Conclusion
An important part of your car is battery and it needs attention and care. It is like the heart of the vehicle all the other parts of the car are dependent on the battery to provide them with energy. Though there are ways to prolong the life of your battery you can not stop it from wearing out. And the need to change your car battery is unavoidable.
The process of changing your car’s battery is pretty simple, you should dive into the project only if you are well equipped with the dos and don’ts of the project. It is a wiser and pocket-friendly decision to do it yourself however, it is not worth the risk of damaging the engine if you overlook any step.
