Changing the battery in your vehicle may not sound like a big deal but it can be a little puzzling if you do not know what you are doing. Once you have done it the first time, it will be no problem to do any other time. But you have to make sure that you do it correctly, otherwise you could harm yourself if there is still power running through the battery. If your battery is dead there will be no charge but you need to be certain of that before you go reaching around in there.
Before you just assume that your car battery is dead, you should try to charge it. Sometimes all it needs is to be charged up a bit in order to recharge and again work properly. Try boosting the battery from the battery of another vehicle. If this doesn’t work, try using a battery charger, the type that must be left on for a few hours or more. If this does not work and the battery remains completely dead, then it is likely that you need a new one. It’s always a good idea to select a new battery that comes with some kind of warranty.
When it comes time to change the battery, make sure that your hood is secured and will not fall on you. You may also need to look through the manual that came with your car in order to determine the grounding system that is used in your car. Loosen the screws that are on the battery clamps. This will allow you to disconnect the terminal cables from the battery. If the system is negative then that means the negative terminal must be removed first. It is the opposite if it is positive.
There will be a strap that holds the battery in place. This is to prevent it from sliding around under the hood. There may be bolts holding this on that will have to be loosened before you can successfully take the battery out. You do not want to misplace these screws or bolts. They will be needed to put the new battery inside the car. Once you have all of these components out, you should have no problem lifting the battery and pulling it out. However, the battery can be quite heavy so always be careful when doing this. Batteries can also vary in weight so be sure you can lift it so you do not hurt yourself in any way.
Putting the new battery in is done in exactly the same way. Put it into the right spot and then secure it with the strap and the bolts that you pulled out. Reconnect the terminal cables and it is ready to go. Make sure to start the car to test it and make sure it’s in correctly. When you buy a new battery, ensure that it is compatible with your make and model of vehicle.
