How To Install A New Car Battery In Vehicle

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Automotive batteries don't last forever, fifty-fifty if they're taken intendance of properly. If you notice your headlights dimming, if your car needs a leap-start due to a dead battery, or if your battery is more than than three years old, information technology's time to supercede it. Fortunately, this is a quick and easy projection yous can tackle at home with but a few basic tools.

1. 1

   Park on a level surface in a secure area and turn off your vehicle. Avert irresolute your battery on the side of the route when at all possible. Discover a safe place to work that's well abroad from traffic, sparks, open up flames, or water. Engage your parking brake and turn your vehicle off. Remove the keys from the ignition to ensure no power is going to the battery.^[1]

   • A garage or driveway is a good place to change your bombardment. Just brand sure the area is well-ventilated (i.eastward. keep the garage door open).
   • Disconnecting the bombardment will reset the clock, radio, navigation, and alert settings so make sure you know your alarm code before you get started. If you don't remember it, check your owner'southward manual.

2. 

   2

   Put on safety gear and pop your hood. Batteries comprise a sulfuric acid electrolyte solution, which is highly corrosive, can burn down your skin, and produces flammable hydrogen gas. Put on insulated piece of work gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself. Then, open up your hood and prop it up with a rod, if necessary.^[ii]

   • Take off any metal jewelry you're wearing, like a scout or band, to protect yourself from electric shock.
   • Wear old dress that you don't listen getting greasy.

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3. iii

   Locate the bombardment. Await for the bombardment in one corner of the engine bay, either most the windshield or the front bumper on either side of the car. Find the rectangular battery box which has ii cables fastened to information technology. If you accept a newer car, the battery might exist underneath a plastic cover, and so remove the cover if necessary.^[3]

   • Refer to your owner's manual if y'all aren't able to find the battery.
   • Note that on some vehicles, the battery is located in the body rather than under the hood.

4. 

   4

   Disconnect the negative cable commencement and secure information technology with a cable tie. E'er remove the negative cable before the positive cable to preclude electrical shorts. The negative bombardment terminal is commonly black and may have a minus sign (-) near it. Remove the plastic cover, if applicable, then loosen the negative cable clamp with a wrench and slide the cable off the terminal.^[4]

   • Use a cable necktie to secure the negative cable to the engine bay, making certain information technology doesn't come into contact with annihilation metal.
   • Depending on the vehicle, you may demand a seven-mm, viii-mm, x-mm, or thirteen-mm wrench to remove the cables. However, if your bombardment terminals take quick-release clamps, you won't need any tools to remove the cables.

5. 

   v

   Disconnect the positive cable adjacent and secure it with a cable tie. The positive last is typically red and might be marked with a plus sign (+). Remove the plastic cover over the terminal, if your vehicle has one, then employ a wrench to loosen the positive cablevision clamp and take the cable off of the terminal. Secure the cable to the engine bay with a cable clench.^[v]

   Warning: Make certain the positive and negative cables do not bear upon each other and practice non let them to touch anything made of metal as this tin can crusade a dangerous electrical short.

6. 

   vi

   Remove the battery from the vehicle. Inspect the bracket that secures the bombardment in place and remove any connectors that hold the battery to the bracket. Yous may need a socket wrench, the right-size socket, and an extension bar. Once you've removed all the fasteners, lift the battery out of the engine bay and set up it bated on a physical surface, if possible.^{[half dozen]}

   • The battery may weigh more than 20 pounds (nine.ane kg), so inquire a friend for assist if you lot can't elevator information technology yourself.

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1. 

   1

   Clean the bombardment terminals to remove corrosion. Cheque the terminals for powdery buildup, which may be green, bluish, grey, or white. Utilize an emery cloth or 100-dust sandpaper to advisedly make clean the corrosion off of the terminals until they're shiny.^[7]

   • Remember that battery acid is corrosive, then avoid getting information technology on your skin or apparel.

2. 2

   Buy the correct replacement battery. Take a picture of or write downward any information on the former battery, such equally the size, dimensions, and office number. Head to an auto parts store and give the clerk this information as well as the yr, make, model, and engine size of your vehicle. They will be able to find y'all the appropriate replacement.^[8]

   • Automotive batteries vary in size and electrical chapters so make sure yous purchase ane designed for your specific vehicle. If information technology's not the right size, the battery might not fit correctly in the cavity where information technology'south supposed to sit.^[9]
   • If y'all live in the U.S., you may desire to bring the erstwhile battery with you. Some auto parts stores will let you trade in the former battery so you don't take to pay a "cadre fee" for the new one.
   • If the automobile parts shop won't take the old battery off your easily, take information technology to a service or recycling middle for disposal. Do not throw information technology away because it contains corrosive material.

3. 

   iii

   Secure the new bombardment to the subclass and grease the terminals. Place the new battery in the battery tray and secure it to the bracket. Merely reverse the process you lot used to remove the battery from the bracket. Then, coat each of the terminals in a sparse layer of lithium grease to prevent corrosion.^[x]

   • Make sure the battery is oriented the aforementioned way as the erstwhile i.^[11]
   • Check that all the fasteners on the bracket are secure and so the battery doesn't vibrate or move effectually while you're driving.^[12]
   • Do non spray the lithium grease on any other parts of the engine cake other than the positive and negative terminals.

4. 

   4

   Reconnect the positive cable first. Undo the cable tie securing the positive cablevision to the engine bay, being conscientious not to touch the end of it to anything metal. Put the cable over the terminal and tighten it down with a wrench. Put the cover over the concluding, if the battery has i.^[13]

   Warning: When you're reconnecting the battery, always secure the positive terminal before the negative terminal so as non to inadvertently complete the electrical circuit earlier everything is connected.

5. 

   5

   Reconnect the negative cablevision next. Repeat the process to remove the cable tie and reattach the negative cablevision to the negative concluding. Tighten the clamp with a wrench and make sure neither the wrench nor the negative cable come into contact with anything metal, as this could crusade a dangerous electrical discharge.^[xiv]

   • If your battery has a plastic cover, replace information technology at this fourth dimension.

6. 6

   Close the hood and start your vehicle. Bank check that you removed all tools from under the hood, then close it. If you lot've washed everything correctly—and the battery truly was the crusade of any power problems y'all were having—your motorcar should outset right up. If necessary, enter the alarm lawmaking.^[15]

   • Make certain all of your electronic devices are working properly, and so reset your clock, radio, and navigation system.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  What if you buy the wrong size car battery?

  

  Hovig Manouchekian is an Auto Repair and Pattern Specialist and the Manager of Funk Brothers Motorcar, a family-endemic business operated since 1925. With over thirty years of experience in the automotive industry, Hovig specializes in the process of auto repair and maintenance. He is also very knowledgeable in common automotive problems and needs including engine repair, battery replacement, and windshield accessory and maintenance. Hovig's knowledge and hard piece of work take contributed to Funk Brothers Auto winning Angie's Listing Super Service Award for five consecutive years.

  

  Car Repair & Design Specialist

  Expert Answer

  If the battery isn't the correct size, the dimensions could be off. If it's also large, it won't fit into the space for the battery, and if it's likewise small, it will simply move around when the auto is being driven.

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• Wearable former dress that y'all don't heed ruining.

• Some batteries may be found in the trunk rather than nether the hood.

• Some large vehicles have more than than i battery, sometimes in unlike locations.

• Many automobile parts stores and some repair shops will exam your auto battery for free.^[16]

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• Practice not allow whatsoever automotive battery to turn on its side or upside down.

• Avoid working in moisture conditions.

• Don't leave any metal objects on the battery as the two terminals might be connected, making a excursion.

• Take off any metal jewelry before changing your battery.

• Wear condom goggles and insulated work gloves.

• Never connect the two battery terminals directly.

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Things You'll Need

• Insulated work gloves
• Prophylactic goggles
• 7-mm, viii-mm, x-mm, or xiii-mm wrench
• Cablevision ties
• Socket wrench and sockets
• Extension bar
• Emery cloth or 100-grit sandpaper
• New battery
• Lithium grease

About This Commodity

Article Summary X

To alter a automobile battery, pop the hood of your car and locate the battery, which will be kept on either side of the car'southward frame. Disconnect the negative terminal, which is labeled with a minus sign, before disconnecting the positive last to keep it from short-circuiting. Side by side, remove the battery and clean the terminal clamps with baking soda and a wire brush. Then, insert the new battery, and connect the positive and negative terminals. Finally, tighten the terminal clamps with a wrench and spray them with lithium grease to forestall corrosion. To learn how to properly dispose of an old motorcar battery, go along scrolling!

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