How to change a car battery
Like any component of your vehicle, car batteries don’t last forever. Proper maintenance and responsible driving practices can help to extend your car battery’s lifespan, but nevertheless it will need to be replaced in the end. Knowing how to do this yourself can be handy in case the need ever arises – so how exactly do you replace a car battery?
How to replace a car battery
Removing and replacing car batteries is a relatively simple maintenance procedure, but there are a few things you need to check before you get started. The first thing is to ensure that the new battery is right for your car. If it isn’t it might not work – or worse, it might cause damage to your car’s electrical systems that you can’t repair yourself.
The simplest way to do this is to find out what battery your car currently uses and buy an identical model. You may be able to find this information in the vehicle handbook, or you can open the bonnet and check the battery itself. Alternatively, you can consult a trained mechanic, who can also perform the battery replacement for you if you prefer.
Once you’ve got your new battery lined up, it’s time to remove the old one. Start by turning the engine off and taking the keys out. Then open up the bonnet and locate the battery.
In order to retrieve the battery from the engine compartment, you’ll need to disconnect the terminals. It’s vitally important that you do this in the correct order, otherwise you could get a shock from the battery. Always disconnect the negative terminal first. This is usually black and marked ‘negative’, ‘neg’ or ‘-’.
Disconnecting the terminal should be as simple as loosening the nut or bolt connecting the cable to the terminal, then moving the cable away. Be careful not to touch any metal components with the cable, as this can also cause electrical shocks.
Next, you’ll need to disconnect the second terminal, the positive terminal. This is often red, and may be labelled ‘positive’, ‘pos’ or ‘+’. Again, loosen the bolt and carefully move the cable away from the terminal.
Some cars also feature a battery hold-down bracket which aims to reduce vibrations around the battery while driving. If this is the case, you’ll need to remove the bracket(s) in order to take the battery out. When lifting the battery, it’s important to do so slowly and carefully, without tipping it or spilling any acid. You’ve now removed the car battery.
Before you set about inserting the new battery, it’s a good idea to clean out the battery tray, removing any residue or corrosion that has built up. This can help the new battery to be more efficient. You can rinse the battery tray with clean water, but make sure to dry it completely before inserting the new battery or making any electrical connections. If in doubt, leave it for a few hours or overnight to make sure the battery tray is dry.
When it’s time to do so, you’ll find that re-connecting a car battery is fairly simple. All you need to do is reverse the steps you took to remove the old battery. So, place the new battery carefully into the clean battery tray, making sure not to knock or tip it in any way. Then you can begin connecting the terminals – but remember, you’re reversing the previous steps, so this time it’s positive first, negative last.
Once you’ve made the connections, double check them to make sure you’ve connected the right cables to the right terminals and that they’re secure. If you’re happy, you can go ahead and start the engine to test it.
If all that sounds too technical or dangerous for you, then don’t worry. All you need to do is bring your vehicle into your local autocentre, and a trained, capable mechanic will take care of the process for you. And if you have installed a new battery yourself, it’s a good idea to take your car in sooner rather than later to have it checked over by a professional, just to make sure that everything is as it should be. When it comes to vehicle maintenance, it really is better to be safe than sorry.
How to dispose of car batteries
Once your car battery has been replaced and you’ve established that all is well within your engine, all that’s left to do is to dispose of the old battery you’ve got left over. Batteries are classed as hazardous waste, so unfortunately it’s not quite as simple as putting it out on the kerb for your next household waste collection.
However, you should be able to find places nearby that will collect and recycle old car batteries for you. A good port of call is your local recycling centre, as these take care of lots of things that can’t be put out with household waste. Rather than showing up at the recycling centre with your battery in hand, try contacting them first, just to check that they offer this service. They may give you instructions on what to do with your battery if they don’t recycle them themselves, such as trying a local scrap metal centre, if your area has one. You can find out more by visiting the Recycle Now website.
Alternatively, it’s worth checking in with your local garage. When you choose a car battery replacement service at a garage or autocentre, it’s their responsibility to dispose of the battery, not yours. Therefore, it may be easier and less stressful to let your local autocentre change your car battery for you instead!
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