How To Change Battery?

Step 1. Remove cables from battery terminals

For vehicles with a negative ground, loosen the nut and bolt that holds the battery cable clamp to the negative terminal (this will be labelled with a minus sign or 'NEG'). If your car has a positive ground, you would loosen the positive cable first (your manual will tell you which your car has and the correct order for removing battery cables).

Step 2. Remove the screws or fasteners holding the battery in place; then Remove the Battery

Remember where you put the battery screws and don't let them roll under the car. Wear gloves while carefully lifting out the battery.

Step 3. Inspect the tray the old battery was resting on

If the tray underneath is rusty or shows any corrosive deposits, dissolve a little baking soda in some water and use this solution to clean the tray. Don't do this without putting gloves on first. This is also the time to give your battery terminals a clean.

Step 4. Position your new car battery on the tray

Double-check that it's facing the same direction as its predecessor and is seated firmly.

Step 5. Replace the screws/fasteners to the new battery to secure it in place

The battery should now be free of any possible 'wiggle'.

Step 6. Reconnect your battery cables in the reverse order in which you took them off

(E.g. in a negative ground car the positive cable is reconnected first). Make sure all reconnected clamps are grabbing the posts in a solid grip.

Step 7. Dispose of your old battery properly

Because batteries are toxic and corrosive they must be disposed of legally and responsibly. Special recycling centres will accept old batteries and charge you a nominal amount to dispose of them for you. Old car batteries do NOT go in your rubbish or recycling bin.

Important points to consider

Don't always automatically assume that your vehicle problem is due to a dud battery. Your underlying problem may be something else: a faulty alternator or starter motor, for example. A professional diagnostic test can sort out the true cause of the issue.

Today's cars are more technologically complex than ever before and all the modern on-board computers and electrics are susceptible to shorting out.

One of the most important steps that professionals take when replacing your battery is to ensure a second power source is available so you don't lose computer settings and the security code you need to operate the radio.

Your radio security code may be written down somewhere in your car manual but if you have no record of it, you'll usually have to contact your car dealer to get the code again so you can use the radio. Some dealers will charge a fee for this