Car Battery Replacement

Though not cent percent, the chances of tracing car starting problems all the way down to some fault with the battery do exist, and if the fault is something major, then the person is left with no option but to replace the same. Before opting to replace the car battery with a new one, one has to make sure that it really need to be replaced. After all, spending a decent amount of money and time on replacing the car battery, only to realize that the problem was not with the battery but some other component, can be utterly frustrating.

Car Battery Replacement Procedure

In case of minor problems like sulfate build-up or low charge you won't have to buy a new battery, just cleaning or charging will solve the problem associated with it. If you have to buy a new car battery, you need to make sure that you choose the right model. Ideally, you should cross check its specifications with those on the old battery. Checking for dimensions is also important, as car batteries come in various shapes and sizes today. Given below are step-by-step instructions you need to follow to replace your car battery with a new one.

Safety Gear: The most important thing when working in the hood of the vehicle is the use of safety gear, like safety goggles and gloves. Safety goggles are necessary as you are dealing with electric components which have the tendency to produce sparks. Gloves, on the other hand, are necessary as these batteries contain sulfuric acid which can be harmful for the skin.

Initial Preparation: You can start by parking the car on a leveled surface, and make sure that you use the parking brake. Open the hood and locate the battery. This won't be a difficult task as the battery is located in some easily accessible corner in the hood.

Identifying the Terminals: Before removing the old battery, identify the positive and negative terminals as you will have to attach them properly to the new battery. For the purpose of identification the positive terminal will be marked by (+) sign, while the negative terminal will be marked by (-) sign. If they are not marked, you should ideally mark them with the respective signs so that you don't get confused later on.

Removing the Terminals: Always disconnect the negative terminal first, as disconnecting positive terminal first increases the chances of short-circuit in the cars electric system. These terminals are attached to the battery with clamps. Using a wrench you can loosen these clamps, and slide the terminals off the terminal posts of the battery.

Remove the Battery: Next task is to remove the battery from the battery holder, for which you will have to remove all the screws which attach it to the holder. You should also take a note of the fact that even though the battery may seem to be quite small in size, it is considerably heavy.

New Battery Installation: Now that the old battery is removed, half the task is done. Next you have to place the new battery in the battery holder, and replace all the screws to their respective places. If required, clean the battery holder before you place the new battery.

Connect the Terminals: Next step towards car battery replacement is to put the terminals back to their respective places. Ideally, you should also clean the terminal clamps before attaching them to the battery. While attaching the terminals, attach the positive terminal first. Slide the clamp onto the terminal post and tighten it using a wrench. Repeat the same process with the negative terminal.

Use Lithium Grease: After you are done with replacing your old car battery with new, you can apply some lithium grease onto the terminal in order to prevent battery terminal corrosion. After you are done with car battery replacement, just check to make sure that all the electrical components of the car are working properly.

By replacing your car battery on your own, you can save anywhere between $30 to $150 which you would otherwise spend on getting it replaced from a professional. While this task is a lot simple than you think, an easier way out is to follow some simple maintenance tips and keep all those car battery problems at bay.