An Expert Guide To Changing Your Car’s Battery

As with all automotive parts, car batteries only have a limited lifespan before they require replacement. You might need to replace your battery if it takes you longer to start your car in the morning, or if your battery warning lamp on the dashboard gets illuminated sometimes.

If you have never changed a car battery before, then the prospect of carrying out such a task might be somewhat daunting. But did you know that it’s fairly straightforward? You just need to be armed with the right tools, information, and battery! You can visit this link to get more information about it.

Here is an expert guide to changing your car battery; check it out below!

First thing’s first: confirm that you really do need a new battery

It is very important that you determine whether the battery really is at fault here, or if your starting and charging issues are related to some other component of this system.

For example, I once forked out for a new battery, starter motor and was about to replace the alternator when I discovered that my starting issues were down to a worn battery terminal connector – a simple fix which only cost me around £3!

Most batteries have a charge indicator built into them; green means that the battery is in good condition, yellow means that either the battery needs recharging or is not holding enough charge, and white means that the battery needs to be replaced.

You can also check the charge state of your battery using a multimeter if your car’s battery does not have a charge indicator.

Sometimes, the terminal posts on the battery may simply need to be cleaned up with a wire brush and copper grease applied to the tops of them to prevent corrosion.

Step 1: buy the correct replacement battery

Once you have confirmed that your car needs a replacement battery, you will need to first purchase it before you remove the old one. All motor factors and even car dealers such as Harratts Honda will be able to help you determine the right battery for your car.

Alternatively, you could check out the car battery application guide from battery manufacturers such as Bosch to help you determine what size and amp rating you need for your specific vehicle.

This is also a good time to check that you have the right tools for removing the old one and buying some if you don’t (a normal socket set will suffice).

Step 2: disconnect battery leads

Next, you will need to disconnect the negative battery lead FIRST and then the positive battery lead. It is extremely important that you disconnect them in this order! Make sure that the leads are tucked safely out of the way, and aren’t likely to accidentally come into contact with the battery terminal posts.

Step 3: Remove the old battery

There is normally a bar which holds the battery onto the tray which you will need to first remove before taking the battery out. It’s usually pretty obvious how the battery is held in place, but you might wish to consult your owner’s manual or Haynes car manual to double-check.