You may need to change a car battery at any time and having a flat car battery can cause real problems, especially if it’s unexpected! Your car battery will probably die at the most inconvenient of times, because well, that’s just life really! However, if you’re in need of a car battery change, there are actually a few things you can keep an eye out for which may indicate that your battery is about to die first. If not, our latest blog shows you how to change a car battery in 10 easy steps.
5 signs your car battery is about to die:
- When you turn the engine on, it’s sluggish and takes longer than normal.
- Your engine light may appear when your battery is weak
- If your battery is 3 years old or above, you should check its condition just in case!
- Loss or low electric power such as windows lights heaters etc.
- Your battery fluid level is low.
How to change car battery in 10 steps:
1. You can purchase your new battery online or you can pop into any garage or car parts supplier.
2. Make sure you are parked on a flat, level surface, the handbrake is on and the engine is turned off. You should also keep your car keys on you in case the central locking switches on during! Before you touch anything, you should wear eye protection and gloves as car battery acid can leak and it is highly corrosive!
3. The car battery is usually located under the bonnet but check in your handbook if you can’t find its whereabouts. They can sometimes be in the boot or even under the rear seat in some cars. The battery is a rectangle box with two cables attached to it.
4. Inspect the battery with a torch before you touch it to look for any leaks or cracks. If this is the case, you are best off getting a mechanic to change it instead.
5. If it’s safe to do so, remove the plastic cover from the battery to reveal the two battery terminals. One will usually be a plus sign for positive with a read lead and a minus sign for negative with a black lead.
6. Disconnect the negative lead first using a spanner and gently unscrew the nut on the black lead and then wrap it in duct tape or equivalent. Then repeat for the positive lead and wrap in duct tape.
7. When you have disconnected both leads, you should be safe to remove the battery carefully. Car batteries can also be heavy so take care when lifting.
8. Pop the new battery in its place. Connect the positive lead first and then tighten the securing nut with a spanner. Then repeat for the negative lead.
9. Replace the plastic cover if there was one.
10. You should now be ready to drive away with your new battery in place! Also, remember to dispose of your old car battery at a local scrapyard or recycling centre
Whilst it can be easy to change your car battery at home, it’s best to have a verified mechanic or car dealership do this for you if you feel unsure of any of the above steps.
Check out our other ‘how to’ guides…
How to jump start a car
How to change your car’s oil
