How to Replace or Change a Car Battery Without Getting Shocked

What if I told you that you don’t need a degree in automotive engineering to change a car battery? Yes, it is true! All you need to do is follow a few steps the right way and you will be able to change a car battery easily and without getting shocked or without any mechanic assistance.

The battery in your car will eventually fail as it gets older. While there are many reasons for premature battery failure, once the battery goes flat or fails to hold a charge, it needs to be permanently replaced. Your only option would be to change or replace the battery so your car can get back on the road.

When it comes to replacing the car battery, you should do it like a pro. Here are the simple steps on how to change or replace the battery in your vehicle.

Materials Required

A new battery.
Basic socket set.
Protective gear like eye goggles and hand gloves.
Old terry cloth or microfiber towel.
A small cup of water mixed with a teaspoon of baking soda.
Old toothbrush.

Step 1: Safety First

Before you begin changing the car battery, park the car in a safe and secluded garage. Remove the key from the ignition and put the gear lever in Park or Neutral. It is also good practice to fully engage the parking brake.

Smoking cigarettes is not allowed whenever you’re working near batteries and electrical equipment. Car batteries contain sulfuric acid and can be harmful to skin and mucous membranes, so you should wear safety gloves and eye goggles for added safety.

Click here to buy a pair of safety gloves that are durable and affordable.

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Once all the safety checks are fulfilled, you can go ahead and pop open the hood. Secure the hood with the hood prop.

Step 2: Find the Battery and Remove the Battery Holder

It is not tough to find the car battery nestled under the hood. It is usually located on either the left or right side of the frame. If you’re still unsure what the car battery looks like, it is a plastic rectangular box usually located near the fuse box. You can’t miss it since the battery has two large cables attached to the top.

Are you still unsure where the battery is? Consult the owner’s manual to get all the details.

In some cars, the battery is held in place with a battery holder. Now is the perfect time to loosen the bolts or screws to remove the bars on top of the battery. Are there traces of acidified corrosion on the battery terminals? You can easily remove it using an old toothbrush and some water mixed with baking soda. Wipe and dry the terminals using an old towel or cloth.

Step 3: Loosen and Remove the Battery Cables from the Battery Terminals

This is very important, so read carefully. The car battery has two terminals: the negative terminal (black) and the positive terminal (red).
Disconnect the negative terminal first before the positive terminal.
Use a socket set (8mm or 10mm) to loosen the nut and bolt on the negative terminal. Carefully lift the negative clamp and set aside.
Next, you can proceed to loosen and remove the positive terminal. Carefully lift up the clamp and set aside.

Step 4: Remove the Battery

At this point, all you have to do is to lift out the car battery. It is quite heavy! Lift it out carefully.

Step 5: Install the New Battery

Grab the new car battery and carefully set it down in the factory location. Make sure to orient the terminals in the same way as the old battery.
Connect the positive clamp to the positive terminal. Use a socket set to tighten the nut and bolt on the clamp.
Next, attach the negative clamp to the negative terminal and tighten sufficiently.
Reattach the battery holder and tighten all screws or nuts.
The important thing to remember is to avoid switching the positive and negative terminals to prevent catastrophic electrical failure.

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