We’ll quickly walk you through how to change a car battery, but remember to be careful and you should be fine going about your day. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of replacing your car battery, and do it safely and efficiently.
Step 1: Know When to Replace the Battery
Before replacing the battery, you need to find out whether your car calls for a replacement. Common signs include:
Difficulty starting your vehicle.
Dim headlights or interior lights.
Larger than average battery casing, bloated or leaking.
Warning lights on your dashboard.
Repairs beyond repairing your rapped trunk and frequent jump starts to get your car started.
Here’s when you should replace the battery: if you see any of these.
Step 2: First you have to gather necessary tools and safety gear.
To replace your car battery safely, you’ll need the following items:
A wrench or socket set (usually 10mm).
Protective gloves and safety glasses.
A battery terminal cleaner or wire brush.
A new, compatible car battery.
Anti-corrosion grease.
Important: wearing gloves, safety glasses as battery acid is harmful for skin and eyes.
Step 3: If you find a space, pull in, park your vehicle and turn it off.
For safety reasons:
Position the car in a flat, unchanging place and put the parking brake on.
Stop the engine and get the keys out.
If, for example, you charge your cellphones, disconnect any other charging cables before removing the charger.
Step 4: Locate the Battery
Hood it open and look for the battery. In many vehicles the battery typically sits near the front of the engine bay, but others may see it in the trunk or under a seat. If you don’t know where your owner’s manual is, refer to it.
Step 5: Disconnect the Battery Terminals
First begin disconnecting the negative terminal (-). Cables and a minus mark (-) is usually a black cover signifying this.
Loosen the nut holding the terminal clamp by use of a wrench.
Remove the terminal from the battery post, a little at a time, to gently wiggle and pull it off.
Go back and repeat the same process with the positive terminal (+), covered in red and marked with a (plus) (+) symbol on a cable or a red cover.
In fact, disconnecting the negative terminal first prevents accidental short circuits.
Step 6: Remove the Old Battery
Look for a bracket or strap that’s holding the battery in place. It has to be removed using the right tools.
Have the built in handles then carefully lift the battery out of the tray. Proper lifting techniques will prevent battery injury.
If you have an old battery, dispose of it the responsibly way, either at a recycling center or at a battery shop.
Step 7: The second thing is to clean the battery tray and terminals.
Look into the battery tray to see if it’s dirty, corroded, or damaged. Tightly brushes or terminal cleaner are used to clear slightly in order of a solid connection.
If you notice the terminal cleaners corroding then lightly scrub with the cleaner.
Step 8: Install the New Battery
Sit the new battery into the tray making sure the terminals are put in the correct place (negative to negative and positive to positive).
However, to guard the battery from moving during travel, secure the battery with either the bracket or strap.
Step 9: Reconnect the Terminals
The clamp needs to be tightened very securely and you want to connect the positive terminal (+) first.
Connect then the negative terminal (-), then.
Terminal corrosion can be prevented by the applications of anti-corrosion grease to prevent rust and provide a longer lasting connection.
Step 10: Test the New Battery
Boot up the vehicle to see if that new battery is working.
You can check the dashboard for warning lights and then make sure the headlights and other electronics are working right.
Step 11: Dispose of the Old Battery Properly
These include hazardous materials which must be discarded in an authorized recycling facility or battery shop. On purchasing a new battery from many shops like Ozzy Power, you can get recycling services.
Safety Tips for Replacing a Car Battery
Always dispose batteries properly, they have corrosive acid that can decay metals and creating gases that burn.
Never smoke or spark near the battery.
Do not touch both terminals with a tool or you hand at the same time.
If you do your replacing of your car battery in the right way these steps ensure that there is nothing to worry. But if you aren’t sure or feel uncomfortable about the process, then for sure you should call Ozzy Power. They are experts dealing with car battery replacement Liverpool, truck battery replacement, and battery roadside assistance to guarantee your battery replacement is safe and efficient.