How To Change A Car Battery

There are several instances requiring you to change your car battery. The battery may be too old or it may have sprung a leak. Even extreme weather can be a culprit.

However, not all car battery problems require you to change your battery. For instance, there may be a build-up of white residue (sulfite) around the terminals. This build-up causes a faulty connection between the cables and the terminal. If sulfate is the cause of your car battery woes, you simply need to clean it with a solution of baking soda and clean water.

Also, if it is extremely cold or hot, your battery's performance will be greatly diminished.

In any case, it always is a good idea to know how to change your car's battery. You never know when the situation may arise.

Tools

1.    Wrench
2.    New car battery
3.    Wire brush or battery terminal cleaner
4.    Clean water
5.    Rust-O-Lieum primer
6.    White lithium grease
7.    Safety glasses and rubber gloves
8.    Socket and ratchet
9.    Baking soda

Before You Change the Car Battery

1.    Park and work in a well-ventilated area.

2.    Be cautious when changing the car battery. While it generally is easy to change the car battery, there are some risky situations – most notably leakages – which should prompt you to take it into the auto shop. Car batteries contain sulfuric acid capable of burning your skin and anything else it might come into contact with.

3.    Make sure you have the correct battery size and voltage for your car.

Steps

1.    Remove the battery. To remove the old battery, first turn off the engine. If the battery is leaking or looks like it may leak through any visible cracks, use a wire brush or battery terminal cleaner and scrub the battery with baking soda and clean water. This will help neutralize the battery acid.

2.    Once the car battery is removed, you will need to disconnect the cables. Use the wrench to loosen the bolt that is marked (-) for negative by turning it counter-clockwise. Remove it completely. Then detach the positive cable, marked (+) in the same manner.

3.    Using the socket and ratchet, take off the battery hold down, which might be on top of the battery or clamped to the side of the battery. Now, lift the battery out of the terminal and place it aside. Be careful; it is heavy.

4.    Clean out the battery terminal with the wire brush or battery terminal cleaner using a mixture of clean water and baking soda. Let it dry.

5.    Before you replace the battery, check for corrosion or rust. If there are signs of rust or corrosion, spray the affected areas with some water and then spray some Rust-O-Lieum primer. This will ward off further erosion. Remember to let everything dry before replacing the new battery.

6.    Replace the new battery. Put it in the tray, lining up the positive/negative terminals on the correct sides. Use the socket and ratchet to replace the battery hold down. Replace the positive cable and tighten the bolt in a clockwise fashion using the wrench. Do the same for the negative cable.

7.    Spray both terminals with White Lithium Grease to prevent corrosion. Make sure both bolts are secured tightly – if they are not, the car may not start.

8.    Close the hood, start your engine and you're off!


Sources:
DIY: How to Change Your Battery. About, Inc. 18 October 2006. http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/blba ttery.htm/
How to Change Your Car's Battery. eHow.com. 18 October 2006. http://ehow.com/how_112575_change-cars-battery.htm l/
Learn2 Replace a Car Battery. Learn2.com. 18 October 2006. http://www.americredit.com/customer/tools/learn2ch angecarbattery.htm/=