If you are in need of a new car battery, but you are not sure if you can install it yourself, rest assured that learning how to change a car battery is not terribly difficult. Hopefully, you are replacing your battery before it dies, but if you have a car with a dead battery that can’t be recharged in your driveway, you will not be able to drive to get a replacement and you might not want to pay to have your car towed somewhere to get a new one installed. So knowing how to change a battery yourself can make your life easier. You might also be able to save a few bucks by changing the battery yourself. While most service centers and auto parts stores do offer installation when you buy a new battery, if you are on a budget, they might not have the lowest prices.
Changing a car battery is one of the easier auto repair jobs you can do on your own as long as you buy the right battery, can lift a full battery, and make it a point to be careful. That said, there are a few reasons not to install a new car battery yourself.
Reasons Not to Replace a Car Battery Yourself
Though changing a car battery is not overly complicated, there are some scenarios where doing it yourself would result in little or no benefit. For example, if your car is still under warranty and your battery is covered, take your car to a dealership and have the battery changed there. If your car has a heat shield over the battery that looks like it might be a nightmare to remove and reattach, have the new battery installed for you. Car batteries can also be difficult for some people to lift. Most standard batteries tend to weigh somewhere between 40 and 60 pounds when full. Even though most have a handle or strap to make lifting the battery a little easier, if you are unable to lift it without difficulty, have the installation done for you.
Tools Needed to Change a Car Battery
Learn How to Change a Car Battery Yourself
Once you have decided that you are going to change the battery yourself, you need to gather up the tools for the job. You probably already have most of what you need, but while you are out buying your new battery, pick up a battery brush and a can of battery protector. The battery brush is used to get rid of corrosion around the clamps and terminals as well as scuffing the terminals on the new battery so the clamps connect better. You can use a thin wire brush instead if you already have one. Battery protector is an anti-corrosion spray you can apply to your new battery terminals to prevent deposits and poor cable connectivity.
Mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water to create a paste. You will use it with your brush to clean the battery terminals on the old battery which will make it easier to remove the nuts and bolts. If the shelf the battery rests on is covered in sulfate deposits, you can use the baking soda and water mixture to clean it as well.
Grab an adjustable wrench. A pair of pliers, vise grips, or another wrench is needed for holding the bolt heads in place while you remove the nuts. A hammer may be useful as well. A light tap with a hammer can help loosen caked on deposits or stubborn clamps. Protective eyewear and work gloves are a must. Car batteries are filled with sulfuric acid, which is highly corrosive, so do not skip eye protection or gloves. Remove any rings, watches, bracelets or other jewelry before you begin.
How to Change a Car Battery
To replace a car battery:
- Park your car on level ground, apply the parking brake, and shut the engine off. You should remove the keys from the ignition as well to ensure that the vehicle’s electrical system is completely off.
- Pop the hood and locate the battery. Apply your baking soda paste and clean the terminals with your battery brush. Tough deposits can be loosened with a light tap from the hammer. Getting rid of the sulfate deposits will make it much easier to remove the nuts and bolts that secure the clamps to the terminals.
- Next, you will remove the cables from the battery terminals. The red cable is positive while the black is negative. Most vehicles have a negative ground, but check your owner’s manual to be sure. Assuming it does, turn the nut on the clamp that secures the cable to the negative terminal counterclockwise with one wrench while holding the bolt steady with another wrench or pliers. Once sufficiently loosened, place your tools on the ground to prevent an electrical charge and carefully remove the cable. Once the first cable has been removed and placed out of the way, repeat the process with the second. Removing the cables from the battery terminals is the most dangerous part of replacing a car battery so be cautious.
- Your battery is seated on a tray and typically held in place by a plate or clamps. Remove whatever is securing the battery in place.
- Lift the old battery straight up and out. The battery may have a handle you can use or you may have to grip it by its sides. Place it on the ground out of your way.
- If the battery shelf is rusty or has deposits on it, you can clean it with the baking soda paste and your brush. Dry the tray completely with a rag before replacing your battery. Brush any lingering deposits off of your cable clamps as well. Spray the clamps with your battery protector to prevent deposits from forming going forward.
- Put the new battery onto the tray facing the same way as the old one. Secure the battery by reattaching the plates or whatever was holding the battery in place. Test to make sure the battery is in tight.
- If your battery came with plastic end caps covering the terminals, remove them. Brush the terminals lightly with your battery brush to score the terminals, which will allow the cable clamps to grip better. Spray the terminals with your anti-corrosion spray.
- Replace the cables in reverse order, meaning replace the positive cable first if your car has a negative ground. Make sure the clamps are tight.
- Try the ignition. Your car should start right up without issue.
Recycling Your Old Battery
Car batteries are filled with acid and lead making them both dangerous and hazardous to the environment. It is illegal in most jurisdictions to dispose of a car battery with your household trash and states have mandatory recycling laws for lead-acid batteries. Many retailers will take your old battery when you buy a new one. You can also take the battery to a recycling center that accepts car batteries.
Changing a Car Battery
Even though you know how to change a car battery, hopefully you won’t have to do it too often. If you buy a quality, name brand battery from a reputable retailer, you should get years of hassle free use out of it. All car batteries eventually die, however. So if you do find yourself having to replace a car battery yourself, you can do it. All it takes is a few simple tools, some common sense safety precautions, and a little bit of your time.
